Green and Gluten-Free for Dogs
Despite growing up in a family of restaurant owners, Chris Roberts, originally from Bangor, with help from his partner Renee Johnson, began experimenting with delicious recipes not for humans, but rather for dogs. In 2007, Chris and Renee began selling their gluten-free, ginger-flavored dog biscuits on the artisan website esty.com. Baked out of the basement of the couple’s home, the ginger biscuits were an instant hit, bringing in requests from stores around the country. Because the recipes use milled buckwheat instead of grains, like wheat or corn, they are safe for dogs that have gluten allergies. After the creation of a second recipe and some commercial packaging, Barkwheats Biscuits was officially born in April of 2008. Now available in over 300 stores in the US and Canada in addition to online retailers, Barkwheats Biscuits has grown in leaps and bounds in less than two years.
Chris and Renee are not only dog-lovers, they are also committed to being as green a company as possible. Barkwheats Biscuits are unique in that they are they gluten-free and also because they are made with organic buckwheat berries that are grown by local farmers here in Maine. In fact, according to the company’s website, more than 95% of the ingredients used to make the biscuits are actually produced by neighboring farms. Not only does this practice support organic farming, but there is little to no transportation needed to bring the ingredients back to the bakery. “We purchase our ingredients directly from the farmers that grow them,” Chris says. “We feel it’s worth the extra effort to support small scale farming.” The only ingredient that Chris and Renee are unable to buy in Maine is ginger, purchasing it from a group of farmers in Belize who are members of a fair trade association. As a result, Barkwheats’ Ginger and Parsley Biscuits are the first dog treats to carry a “Fair Trade Certified” label. “Fair Trade Certified” products must adhere to certain standards for fair pricing and labor as well environmental practices. “(Our customers) want to see that their money is going for good rather than bad, and that they can have a connection to family farming here in Maine and in Belize,” Chris says. This is, in part, why he believes that their business will continue to grow, in spite of turbulent economic times.
In addition to the Barkwheats Biscuit’s ingredient sourcing, Chris and Renee employ other green practices in the daily operations of their business. They recycle whenever they can, use energy- efficient machinery in the production process and turn off electric devices when they are not using them. They throw all the food waste left over from baking process into a compost bin. Barkwheats Biscuits are also packaged in boxes made from recycled materials and in liner bags that are 100% compostable. Their labels are printed with vegetable- based inks, which are non-toxic and safer to the environment They use 100% recycled paper for their printing projects and are looking to create a paperless office in the new year. They also purchase wind credits from a company in Maine that offers businesses carbon offsets when they give financial support to “clean power” companies. As stated on their website, “These are all simple choices that go a long way to creating a sustainable environment.”
Barkwheats Biscuits now come in four flavors, all grain-free and gluten-free. Chris and Renee are still the only bakers and producers of the biscuits, making up 1000 boxes per week. Their products are carried by several local retailers, including Planet Dog in Portland. “We’ve grown our business well over 150% in 2009. Pretty exciting stuff,” Chris concludes.
For more information about Barkwheats Biscuits, visit www.barkwheats.com
For more information about clean energy credits, visit www.green-e.org
Comments
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June 15th, 2010
I started using this brand about a year ago and my dog loves it. I had never had a dog with such an issue. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to take care of him.
That’s so great! I’m going to get some for my pup.