January 2024 - Emily Austin
Dear Chelsea Approved Community,
As we reflect on the incredible journey that was 2023, Emily (me), Chelsea, and Adam – are so thankful for the warmth and enthusiasm we've received from each and every one of you. This year has been amazing, filled with stories, new partnerships, and delightful gluten-free cookies!
A Sweet Start
In January, we celebrated our first sale, marking the official launch of Chelsea Approved and the introduction of our four first products – Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Banana Bread Mix, Pancake Mix, and Snickerdoodle Mix. This moment was a finish line after lots of work and the wicked awesome support of our Kickstarter backers who believed in our vision in November 2022. But that first mailed baking mix was also the start of this big year!
Growing Roots
February and March saw us enter the Vermont community as we participated in our first indoor farmers market at the Shelburne Indoor Market at the Teddy Bear factory. This marked the beginning of a beautiful journey of introducing our products to our neighbors.
Partnering with Black River Produce
April was a turning point as we partnered with our first distributor, Black River Produce in VT, venturing into the retail and food service markets.
We embarked on ride-alongs, where we met retail and food service customers, and shared our baked samples with everybody we saw. We closed 2023 with a total of 77 new locations, including 56 retail markets/coops and 21 food service locations!
In August, the Black River Produce Food Expo allowed us to sponsor the Monday Night Dinner, connect with retail buyers, and introduce our products to a wider audience.
Farmers Markets, Demos, and More
In May, we got to see our products on a grocery store shelf for the first time! Healthy Living Market was our first coop partner, and placed our products on the shelf at their South Burlington and Williston stores. Soon after, we got to host our first in-store product demo, sharing the joy of Chelsea Approved with new customers.
Throughout the summer, we dove into farmers markets in Shelburne , Winooski and Jericho , VT. Engaging with new customers, sharing baking mixes and cookies, and hearing your stories made these markets truly special.
We attended the UVM Alumni Market (Emily and Chelsea’s alma matter), where we got to connect with UVM students and families! We met so many wonderful people, including a few other folks with Crohn’s Disease that loved connecting with Chelsea and learning about her journey.
In November, we took a trip to NY state to present our products to buyers at TOPS Market and Price Chopper, setting the stage for exciting collaborations in 2024.
New Product Launches
November marked the launch of two new products – our Brownie Mix and Sugar Cookie Mix – just in time for the holidays! Customer LOVED trying our Brownies and Sugar Cookies, and many people enjoyed making our Sugar Cookie Mix into Gingerbread Cookies for the holidays.
Connecting with our Online Community
Growing our online presence has been such a fun experience for our team. Through our website and blog, we've shared delicious recipes like pumpkin bread and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies . With over 700 followers on Instagram, we've engaged with a community that shares our passion for gluten-free and vegan baking. We’ve connected with people all over the US, and have shipped our baking mixes to 36 states (green)! If you have friends or family in those Tan states below, order them some baking mixes with the discount code “ SHARE15 ” so we can fill the map! :D
Excited for 2024!
As we do our 2023 data analysis, we are so excited for the year ahead. With more retail partners, an expanding distribution network, and a growing online presence, Chelsea Approved is ready to grow! We are thrilled to continue being a part of your holidays, gatherings, and baking traditions.
As we look forward to the sweet adventures, we thank you for being a part of our Chelsea Approved family. Here's to another year of baking joy, creating memories, and spreading love through the magic of gluten-free and vegan delights!
Sweet regards,
Emily (me), Chelsea, and Adam
