Eddie's Energy Bars -- A High School Business
I was asked by my high school business teacher to create an energy bar for the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in 2004. After creating a recipe, the bar debuted at the Vermont Business Expo.
Garnering rave reviews, and with many people wanting the recipe, this event gave birth to my present business venture, Eddie's Energy Bars®. I call it Eddie's Energy Bars® because my father's name is Ed, and he has played an integral part in helping to keep my business running. I enjoy this venture because I am always on the go, meeting new people who have tried my energy bars!
I had eaten other energy bars before that were solid as a rock or flaky like a cracker. I did not enjoy them, so I knew what I wanted to accomplish: an all natural, no preservative energy bar. I wanted a bar that tasted good and beat out my competition in texture and nutrition. After recreating the recipe several times, I came up with the perfect recipe. I used fresh ingredients, and ingredients that were readily available to me at the local grocery stores and independent food markets. I kept on thinking "why hasn't someone else done this?" Every other energy bar has a very long shelf life, with many pushing the one year market. To me this was not food. You should just eat Twinkies if you want to eat something that will sit on the shelf for up to a year! We believe in fresh energy to get you through your days. After we developed the perfect recipe, which was our Cinnamon Raisin energy bar, I test marketed it on friends, family, and faculty at my high school. They all wanted more. I was now ready to jump start my business, and grow in to a larger, yet more localized market.
I am now pitching my product to stores around the country. We are currently in 15 retailers across several states, and looking to slowly expand as I head into my senior year at Bryant University. Our sales grew over 65% last year, and we are hoping to grow 10-15% this year. I could not have done this without the help of my parents, Jeanne and Ed, who have helped produce and distribute Eddie's Energy Bars when I am down at college. They are the foundation of my company.
We were recently featured in Entrepreneur Magazine's June issue as onf of 100 companies to watch--nation wide! This is very exciting for us, and will only further our mission to feed consumers wholesome and nutritious foods.
Live local and stay healthy!
Michael Adams, Owner
When business is tough and you are getting overwhelmed always know that your family and friends are behind you. We have gotten numerous large order for our energy bars and my parents, neighbors, and family friends have all pitched in to help bake Eddie's Energy Bars. They have connections to other people that may be the connection to propel your business to the next level. As the saying goes, "It's now what you know, it's who you know". Build a network of successful, smart people to help you.
