Good Business Box

Barkwheats

By Katy England
edge staff writer
kengland@themaineedge.com

STOCKTON SPRINGS " When you think of buying all-natural food, you may not think about picking up something comparable for your four-legged friends. But Chris Roberts and Renee Johnson have created a booming business doing just that.

Using all certified organic ingredients, mostly from Maine, they have created Barkwheats, all-natural biscuits that Roberts bakes right in his home in Stockton Springs and distributes to approximately 100 businesses across the United States.

"I was inspired by the local food movement happening," he said. "When I got back to Maine, I wanted to make dog biscuits that really utilized local ingredients supplied by local farmers."

They first sold the biscuits on Etsy.com before branching out to pet stores and natural food centers.

Some farmers have contacted the pair in the hopes of inspiring new organic flavor combinations, including pumpkin and blueberry from farmers across the state. "We're getting to the point where people are coming to us," he said.

Roberts purchases ginger, which can't be grown in Maine, certified Fair Trade from Belize. Both are planning a trip to visit with the farmers who grow their ginger this April.

Barkwheats produces anywhere from 150 to 400 boxes a month.

Roberts and Johnson envision further success as they continue to grow and make contacts with other farmers across the state. Roberts said he hopes that they can open up locations across the U.S. that utilize local ingredients from each state, creating small, local niche markets for each.

"It's amazing to me how many people are enjoying what we're doing and appreciating what we're doing," said Roberts.

But buying local and trying to operate a business that helps support local farmers and healthy food is something that comes natural to Roberts. He said that he tries to think of how his decisions will affect everyone, not just him and his business, explaining that if you just look at the bottom line at the expense of others, you'll eventually run out of product.

"It feels to me when you have to make a decision you know in your gut whether it's a right decision or not," he said. "People need to take into account all of the people in the chain and take a look at how it's benefiting the environment on the whole."

For more information about Barkwheats or to find a store that sells their biscuits, visit www.barkwheats.com.

If you have a business success story that you would like to share, e-mail us at yournews@themaineedge.com or call 942-2901.