A New Twist
A Chicago couple uses pretzel logic to build a successful business with sweet projections.
Vital Stats:
Kimberly and Scott Holstein, 37 and 38, co-founders of Kim & Scott's
Gourmet Pretzels
Company:
Chicago-based gourmet pretzel manufacturer
2004 Projected
Sales: More than $6 million
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Twist of Fate:
Within a week of meeting Scott in 1994, Kimberly shared her love of
combining sweet and salty snacks and the idea of spicing up
traditional soft pretzels with different flavors. After Scott
painted a flying pretzel on a piggy bank for her, with the
inscription "Dreams made upon deposit will come true,"
the couple decided to make the dream a reality.
Prime
Location: The Holsteins launched their business in 1995,
keeping pretzels in two freezer chests in their Lincoln Park
apartment, which was surrounded by a perfect testing ground of
coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Initially hiring a bakery, they
opened their own pretzel bakery within nine months to keep up with
demand.
"We're
really inspired by entrepreneurs who can make money and make a
difference."
Tastemakers:
With 20 flavors as varied as apple pie and spinach with feta
cheese, their pretzels are sold nationwide in gourmet delis and
cafes, as well as inside Barnes & Noble, Borders, movie
theaters, Starbucks and at NASCAR races. Their big break: Winning a
QVC invention contest in 2002 landed them airtime. The couple sold
120,000 pretzels in their first two appearances, which helped them
land sales with national coffee chains/cafes and grocery delis, and
sent sales skyrocketing on their Web site.
Social Club:
The Holsteins will open their first pretzel bakery cafe in the
Chicago suburbs in fall 2005. Kids will be able to twist their own
pretzels and dine on pretzel sandwiches. And the couple has another
passion: Pretzels for Peace. Influenced by the
Ben & Jerry's franchise his family owned, Scott says
the company's initiative is to "bring peace [to] the
world, through education and making a difference." A portion
of the profits goes toward children's programs, including
classes in their bakery about pretzels and entrepreneurship.