A handful of food and beverage producers launched here in the last few years, many with national ambitions, are making Austin a rising entrepreneurial city for food manufacturers. Several are piggybacking on Austin-based Whole Foods Market Inc., which aggressively promotes local food makers.
During the last decade, Tiff’s Treats, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Boomerang’s Gourmet Veggie & Meat Pies, Austin Cake Ball, The Sticky Toffee Pudding Co., organic baby food maker NurturMe and pet food maker Nulo have made strong entries in the Austin market. For many, initial success has come largely from forging their way into Whole Foods Market and Central Market as initial gateways to consumers while they work toward national distribution.
Meanwhile, one well-known food entrepreneur has returned to the Austin market with a new venture making snack chips from beans. Bean Brand Foods Inc., which produces Beanitos, is the brainchild of Doug Foreman, who founded baked tortilla chip maker Guiltless Gourmet Inc. in the late 1980s and later sold it.
“I’ve been consistently doing something with food most of my career,” he said. “I like trying new things and find Austin to be a great launching pad.”
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