Snapshot 03/05
Lara Merriken, 36, founder of Denver-based Humm Foods
Entrepreneur: Lara
Merriken, 36, founder of Denver-based Humm Foods, maker of
the LäraBar
Description: a natural food company specializing in
whole, unprocessed foods
Startup: $150,000 in 2003
2005
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Projected sales: $4 million to $5 million
Enlightened: Four years ago, Lara Merriken was hiking in
the Rocky Mountains and snacking on her own mix of fruits and nuts
when she had a revelation: combine the ingredients to create a
whole-food product that's tasty, healthy and convenient. This
routine hike became a historic moment in Merriken's life, for
this was the day that the concept of the LäraBar was born.
Samples, anyone? This former junk-food junkie turned
health-conscious volleyball player in college spent two years
studying how to get her product into supermarkets. By working in
the nutrition department of her local Whole Foods Market as a
buyer, she collected tips on manufacturing and packaging.
Meanwhile, she ravaged the aisles of grocery stores, noting the
flavors of popular ice creams and cookies, and visited her
friends' workplaces with samples, constantly adjusting her
recipes according to their feedback.
Sweet tooth: The end result? Five mouth-watering flavors,
from Apple Pie to Chocolate Coconut Chew, with only two to six
ingredients each--all natural. Picked up by Whole Foods Market,
Wild Oats and even undergoing test runs in Costco, LäraBar has
an established presence in 46 states and Canada. Says Merriken,
"I feel I'm helping people understand the benefits of
putting good food in their bodies, and that's really what I
wanted to do anyway."