Meet Kayla Aguilar of Lord Laird’s, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Aguilar.

Hi Kayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have really been an entrepreneur since the age of 7, long before I even knew what the word meant. I was always finding ways to make something out of nothing, whether it was designing homemade cards that looked store-bought, asking neighbors if I could walk their dogs, baking huge cinnamon rolls, deep-dish pizzas, or specialty cookie boxes, or even putting on little performances with my brother where we would sing for money. Creativity has always been second nature to me, and Michaels and Hobby Lobby became my second homes. I spent so much time there that I even got to know the store managers by name.

My first official business was Queen Netzo Jewelry, which I started as a child in Maryland while my mom was battling breast cancer. The name is a tribute to her nickname, “Netzo,” and creating jewelry quickly became both a passion of mine and a way to cope during that difficult time. With my Aunt Myra teaching me the basics, I quickly fell in love with the beads, the textures, the shapes, and the joy of creating something beautiful. I started off making stretchy bracelets for family and friends who came to visit my mom during her last days, and it grew from there. Looking back, that business represents resilience, because it was born out of one of the hardest seasons of my life, and love, because every creation carried my mom’s memory and the care of those around us. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Years later, in 2017, my dad and I built Lord Laird’s Premium Lemonade from the ground up. It began when he was struggling with acid reflux and started experimenting with natural ingredients like lemons, aloe vera, and raw honey. We made batch after batch in the kitchen, bottling everything by hand, and from the start we agreed: no artificial ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup, ever. Our last name, Laird, actually means “Lord of the Land,” so when it came time to name the business, it felt right to call it Lord Laird’s. What began as a remedy is now our mission to make healthy taste good.

My third venture is Mobars, another creation I worked on with my dad. We wanted to change the game when it came to energy bars because most of them are filled with processed ingredients, highly inflammatory seed oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and unrecognizable additives. So, we created a “Natural Luxe Energy Bar” with real ingredients your body can recognize and benefit from, like chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, dark chocolate, raw honey, cinnamon, Himalayan pink salt, and a few other simple ingredients. They are soft and flavorful, almost like an oatmeal cookie, but packed with protein and fiber. Every Mobar is made in small batches, sealed, and labeled by hand, and we stand on the belief that healthy should actually taste good.

Today, at 27 years old, I feel like I am still that same curious, creative kid, but now with businesses that truly reflect who I am and what I believe in. From jewelry to lemonade to Mobars, each venture has been a step forward in combining creativity with purpose. I carry with me the resilience I learned from my mom, the entrepreneurial drive I share with my dad, and the belief that what you create can have a real impact on people’s lives. What started as small ideas at the kitchen table has grown into brands that stand for quality, authenticity, and heart, and I am grateful to keep building on that foundation every single day.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. My journey has been filled with ups and downs, but each challenge has shaped me into the entrepreneur I am today.

With Queen Netzo Jewelry, my first business, the challenges came from learning how to focus. In the beginning, I made every type of jewelry you could imagine—bracelets, necklaces, earrings, anklets—but eventually realized I had to narrow my focus. I decided to specialize in handmade wire-wrapped Swarovski crystal rings, which allowed me to put my energy into what was both meaningful and sustainable. That was one of my first lessons in niching down and understanding what truly works for me.

With Lord Laird’s Premium Lemonade, the road was much longer and harder. We started in 2017, but didn’t become fully legalized to sell until May 2023. Food and beverage is a tough industry because everything has to meet strict safety standards before it can be sold. One of the biggest challenges in the process was figuring out how to develop the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plan completely from scratch, without any guidance. I spent an entire year researching, printing manuals, highlighting pages, and piecing together my own plan. My food inspector was impressed with the work, but I still had to take the HACCP manager course to make it official.

Then COVID hit, which stalled everything. In 2021, I tried to get into the Flint Farmers Market commercial kitchen, but there were no spots available. In the meantime, I practiced making lemonade at Hoffman’s Deco & Deli. While it was a valuable experience, it was still just a deli shop and not the certified commercial kitchen I truly needed. Because of that, I couldn’t move forward with my Wholesale Food Processor license. On top of that, I had to complete my Process Authority Review and Nutrition Facts panel before I could legally sell. During that waiting period, I decided to put my energy into something new, which is how MoBars came to be.

With MoBars, my challenges looked a little different. I launched the brand in 2019 while I was waiting on approvals and licensing for the lemonade, because I didn’t want to sit idle. The problem was that MoBars fell under the cottage food law, which meant I could only make them at home and sell them locally. I wasn’t allowed to ship them online or distribute them to stores, which limited my ability to grow the brand the way I envisioned.

I also knew I wanted MoBars to eventually sit on store shelves right next to Lord Laird’s Premium Lemonade, but to do that, they needed licensing, packaging compliance, and the same level of food safety reviews as the lemonade. After nearly three years of waiting, I finally secured a spot at the Flint Farmers Market commercial kitchen and obtained my Wholesale Food Processor license for both products on May 19, 2023.

And through all of this, one of my biggest ongoing challenges has been trying to do everything as one person. Scaling two food and beverage products at once takes a team, and learning how to manage growth without burning out has been a constant balancing act.

Looking back, the entire process was filled with delays, red tape, and frustration, but it also taught me patience, persistence, and problem-solving at a level I never expected. Every roadblock forced me to grow, and crossing that finish line made the victory even sweeter.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lord Laird’s, LLC is a family-founded business built on the mission to make healthy taste good. We specialize in creating premium, better-for-you food and beverage products that combine real organic ingredients with uncompromising quality.

Our first and signature product, Lord Laird’s Premium Lemonade, was born out of my dad’s search for relief from acid reflux in 2017. What started as a home remedy using lemons, aloe vera, and raw honey has grown into a premium beverage brand that even spent a year on shelves at Meijer Market. Made with organic ingredients and never with high fructose corn syrup or artificial additives, our lemonade is both refreshing and better for you. While our Meijer placement has ended, you can still find us in a few local shops across Michigan, and we’re actively working to expand into new retail locations.

In 2019, we expanded with MoBars, our “Natural Luxe Energy Bar.” Unlike many bars on the market that are dry or packed with processed ingredients, MoBars are soft, flavorful, and made with simple, organic ingredients your body actually knows what to do with — chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, dark chocolate, raw honey, and more. They are designed to be both nourishing and delicious, whether enjoyed as breakfast, a snack, or even a dessert.

What sets us apart is our commitment to transparency and authenticity. Every product we create is made with purpose, crafted in small batches, and designed to prove that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. I am most proud of how far we’ve come — from kitchen experiments to retail shelves — and of the trust we’ve built with our customers who value real ingredients.

At Lord Laird’s, LLC, our vision is bigger than just drinks and bars. We want to continue creating products that make people feel good about what they’re putting into their bodies, while carrying forward the legacy of family, resilience, and passion that started it all.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is creating something that brings joy or value to others, whether it’s through my businesses or in my personal life. I love seeing someone enjoy a bottle of lemonade I poured my heart into or a snack bar made with wholesome ingredients that truly nourish them. My deepest happiness also comes from sharing those wins and everyday moments with my family, because their love and support remind me why I keep going. Impacting others while being surrounded by the people I love is what truly fills me with happiness.

Pricing:

• Full pricing available at lordlairds.com
• Full pricing available at getmobars.com
• MoBars: $4.25 each | $16 small box (4) | $30 medium box (8) | $42 large box (12) — more at getmobars.com
• Lord Laird’s Premium Lemonade: $6.00-$6.75 per 16 oz bottle — more at lordlairds.com

Contact Info:

• Website: lordlairds.com & getmobars.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kayla.the.ceo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lordlairds.lemonade/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kayla.theCEO
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/getmobars