Here I am, writing all about IT, all about IT

But on the second holiday day of the new year, let's talk about Olivier salad

By the way!

At the end of December 2025, RIA Novosti ranked the salad 2nd among the most popular dishes on the Russian holiday table.

75% of respondents prepare it
(out of 1,200 respondents, mind you)


I think even if it's not on your table right now, you still know its recipe well. After all, the ingredients are the simplest.

I decided to find out if anyone became a unicorn ($1 billion) with these products or not? And if so, what's the secret?

Here's what I dug up!
Take a spoonful of salad
Read, take notes

Potatoes
The first to make a billion on them was American John Simplot.

How?

His engineers developed the first commercially viable technology for producing frozen french fries. Then - an exclusive supply deal with McDonald's


Carrots
Here, I would give the title of "carrot billionaires" to the Grimm brothers (but not the ones who sang about eyelashes)

It was their company that popularized baby carrots, which in the 1990s revolutionized vegetable consumption and made their production super profitable.


Eggs
The first to receive a $1 billion valuation from selling chicken eggs was Oleg Bakhmatyuk

He managed to build a wide distribution network in the CIS and dozens of other countries, after which he conducted an IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2010


Beef
Brothers again. Now from Brazil. The beef business brings billions to the Batista family.

The success formula is this:

Federal support program + investments from a state bank = aggressive acquisition of international competitors during their financial weakness


Peas
I'm sure you already know! It was peas that became a symbol of financial success for the Bonduelle family

The secret? Fast canning and freezing technology (the process from field to can takes only a few hours). No other competitor could provide such product quality


As you can see, Olivier salad gives not only extra kg, but also a bunch of insights on multiplying profits

1) Have a viable MVP for a big pain point? Aim for an exclusive deal with the top-1 client in the market

2) Sometimes the surest path to super profits is to reassemble the generally accepted market standard

3) Even in a "red ocean," a strong GTM strategy and a well-built sales system will definitely add money to your accounts

4) Fighting competitors for market share? Maybe it's easier to buy them?

5) High quality standards + proper positioning + brand = a claim to become #1 in the market

Mayonnaise, onion, salt, and pepper - add to taste.

Remember - if you can become a unicorn on carrots and potatoes, then in IT, it seems, there are also chances

Positive vibes