With only eight ingredients per bar, B.O.S.S. Food Co.’s® bars could be the poster children for clean labels. “Our products are very clean. We don’t use any preservatives, artificial sweeteners or even natural flavoring,” explained Andrea Spirov, CEO, and Founder of B.O.S.S. Food Co. “Our flavors are pretty complex and I think ingredients should stand on their own. They’re also certified gluten free, certified Paleo, and the people who consume them tend to demand cleaner, more premium products.”
Holistic perspective
Consumers, particularly the consumers of good-for-you products, are increasingly taking a holistic perspective when it comes to products and packaging. “The people who are consuming natural products tend to have a holistic view of what they’re putting in their bodies, and what their environments are made of,” said Andrea. “It’s important to them to know that the packaging and the products that they’re consuming are going to be good for both them and the environment.” For these consumers, the combination of clean label product with compostable packaging was a great match.
Growing with TIPA
“We’re a growing brand right now – very small and just forming relationships with our first distribution partners. The design is really nice and the packaging looks very good. It’s exciting to be growing in the United States as TIPA grows,” said Andrea, adding that she had first discovered TIPA packaging while going through the Natural Products Expo West exhibitor list.
“I was really looking for ingredients, but along the way, I came upon some potential packaging partners listed there and I made contact with Elz Hotam, TIPA’s vice-president of sales, and went from there. We’ve now been talking for about a year and a half. I’d be surprised if I wasn’t one of the first people that he started speaking with in the United States about compostable packaging,” Andrea said with pride.
Designed for doers
The story of B.O.S.S. Food Co. began in 2013 when Andrea found herself in a personal wellness rut. She was tired, stressed, and unable to become pregnant. She embarked on a quest to fix her health, and in less than 18 months, had undergone a complete transformation – based on exploration, research, and determination to change her diet, her lifestyle, and her circumstances.
Andrea became pregnant without intervention and had a beautiful baby. Her body was strong and she felt better than I ever had. Her on-the-go lifestyle, however, had not been conducive to healthy eating. She found that despite shelves full of “choices,” many grab-and-go convenience foods contained unrecognizable ingredients and additives. Even when they filled her up, these products also filled her with things she didn’t want and didn’t need. There had to be a better solution.
Blended. Original. Superfood. Snacks.
To find a healthy on-the-go snacking solution Andrea focused on combining only superfood ingredients that had similar beneficial properties, and after an entire summer of testing combinations with family and friends, “took creations to the mouths of the masses.” In 2015, B.O.S.S. Food Co.® was born – and got its name from its value proposition: Blended. Original. Superfood. Snacks.
With bowls and measuring cups and “several pinches of passion,” Andrea and her team created five different bars: MOVE®, THINK®, SMILE®, RESTORE®, and DAZZLE™.
“Designed to help your hunger. We are here to help you soar,” Andrea concluded with a smile.
