Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 6 26 S TA R T U P S & E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P F O C U S Finding local vendors As they tested products, the Brodeurs gravitated to certain suppliers. It found that Keuka Gold potatoes from Bell Farms in Auburn have the ideal starch content and cook to a nice golden brown. Maple syrup comes from Kinney's Sugarhouse in Knox. Salt comes from Maine Sea Salt Co. in Marshfi eld. Spices come from Gryff on Ridge Spice Merchants in Dresden. Scott Brodeur is instrumental in business operations. "He's got a background in everything from cus- tomer service to warehouse, and he's also an Army veteran, so he's great at trouble-shooting and at building systems," says Kelly. In addition to the Brodeurs, the company now employs two part-time workers. eir distributors truck about 50 cases per week — 3,000 to 5,000 1.25-ounce bags—throughout Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire; they hand-deliver to local accounts; and ship direct for website and Amazon sales. Eventually, they plan to add equipment and employees, and increase output. Small businesses like this are vital to Freeport's economic well-being say, says Economic Development Director Keith McBride. And there's been a lot of development specifi cally around spe- cialty food products over the past three or four years. "We're seeing more and more choose Freeport because it's a place they can make and showcase products," McBride says. Freeport is an ideal setting for small producers because it already attracts high visitation as a center for national retail outlets such as L.L.Bean, he says. " e specialty food production niche thrives on being able to bring customers into their space, where they make the product and can show the care and high quality of the ingredients they're putting into it." He cites Maine Beer Co., Wilbur's of Maine Chocolates and Mom's Organic Munchies, all in Freeport, as good examples. e importance of small business to Maine's munici- pal and state economies can't be overstated, McBride says. " e reason our economy as a town does well is not only because of the larger, national brands, but because of the smaller businesses that are here, too," he says. " e national retailers are important to us. But it's also impor- tant for us to diversify and have a full range of businesses." And it's important for the town to support small businesses, he adds. " e national retailers have their teams in place," he says. "But when it comes to somebody like Kelly and her husband, that's when my phone rings. She needs that extra support, and sometimes all it is, is somebody says, 'Hey, let me bounce an idea off you.'" L S , a w r i te r b a s e d i n B a s s Ha r bo r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t @ . » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their The national retailers have their teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to teams in place. But when it comes to somebody like Kelly and her husband, that's when my phone rings. — Keith McBride, economic development director

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