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Entrepreneurs

MADE Winners - Food & Beverage Category

By Staff Reports, posted Mar 6, 2020

Blue Shark Vodka

bluesharkvodka.com
Year founded: 2019
 
Number of employees: 5
 
Top official: Mark Bloomquist, founder
 
Company description: A family-owned and operated vodka company based out of Wrightsville Beach
 
Target market: “Adults (21+) with an affinity for an exceptionally smooth tasting spirit.”
 
Company growth: “After launching last summer, we expanded across the great state of North Carolina. Our family is continuing our focus on the dilemma of blue sharks. Blues are among the most docile of all shark species, so we are working on ways to preserve this misunderstood member of the shark family.”
 
How did you originally come up with the concept for your product? “Each year our family travels around the world. Our idea for Blue Shark Vodka grew from our fascination with spirits, especially those with unique packaging and exceptional quality. Most importantly, we sought to create a clear spirit like the waters we love to dive – with a smooth, clean taste.”
 
What are your future goals for the product? “We will organically grow our customer base and dive deeper; expanding strategically.”

Lyssa Cakes

lyssacakes.com
Year founded: 2019
 
Number of employees: 3
 
Top official: Alyssa Grace, owner and manager
 
Company description: Cakes, cupcakes and custom cake art bakery
 
Target market: “Anyone who likes sweets and anyone needing dessert for an event”
 
Company growth: “We’re still fairly new, but business is growing steadily.”
 
How has your product helped impact the region’s economic development? “We're still fairly new, but we look forward to increasing our workforce and bringing more business to this area of Mayfaire [Town Center, where the shop is located].”
 
How did you originally come up with the concept for your product? “My parents owned a bakery and ice cream shop while I was growing up, so I’ve been baking as long as I can remember. I became interested in custom cake art by watching shows like Ace of Cakes with Duff Goldman. It’s unique and not something that everyone can do.”
 
What are your future goals for the product? “To increase business and be able to add additional cake artists. I’m also starting to add cake and cupcake decorating classes so I can share my passion with everyone.”

Sweets and Spirits Bakery

sweetsandspirits.com

Year founded: 2017
 
Number of employees: 3
 
Top official: Melanie Smith, owner/baker
 
Company description: “Making memories with food to help our customers achieve a healthier lifestyle by providing ketogenic, gluten-free and sugar-free options”
 
Target market: “We have identified health conscious, obesity, low carbohydrate, ketogenic, celiac disease, gluten sensitive, autoimmune issues and diabetics as our target audience.”
 
How has your product helped impact the region’s economic development? “We have been able to provide our product to several local small businesses and restaurants. We continue to seek more businesses in our region.”
 
How did you originally come up with the concept for your product? “I began keto two years ago and quickly realized that I could use food to help others achieve a healthier lifestyle.”
 
What are your future goals for the product? “We hope to expand our shipping and as always we are working on new exciting products. Recently we launched our Noatmeal and Keto gluten-free sugar-free granola.”  
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