Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I I N O. X V I I When Bixby was embraced by Whole Foods it put the operation into high gear. S M A L L B U S I N E S S Kate McAleer Founder, owner, CEO Bixby Chocolate M cAleer has won multiple awards, including Gorham Savings Bank's $30,000 LaunchPad compe- tition in 2014, the New York-based Tory Burch Foundation $100,000 pitch competition in 2016, the $25,000 Greenlight Maine Grand Prize in 2021 and this, year, the national Good Food Award and three Specialty Food Association sofi awards. A 2014 Mainebiz NEXT list honoree and 2019 Small Business Administration Maine's Young Entrepreneur of the Year, does product collaborations with Maine companies like Split Rock Distillery, Maine Grains and Allagash Brewing Co., and plans to open a chocolate café in Waterville. Products, manufactured in Rockland, are in Whole Foods, Hannaford, Market Basket, Shaws, Stonewall Kitchen, Rosemont, Walmart and L.L.Bean. Certifications include organic, non-GMO, kosher, gluten-free and vegan. C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 » A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 2 2 12 P H O T O / DAV I D C L O U G H Embracing collaboration and entrepreneurial spirit to grow a chocolate business B Y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r Kate McAleer founded Bixby & Co. in 2011. A New York University graduate, she combined her interests in cultural history with the culinary arts, earned diplomas in pastry arts and culinary management and recently earned an MBA in food marketing.

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