Our inaugural spotlightee is Perfect Fuel Chocolates. CIC team member Jesus Rivera reached out to the creator and CEO, Nicolas Warren, to learn more about himself, his product, and his team.
What is Perfect Fuel? What do you do/make?
Perfect Fuel makes dark chocolate energy bites. [They are] 100% organic, super-dark and pure – no refined sugars – and packed with 500mg of ginseng for long-lasting endurance, a shot of real espresso beans for a quick boost, or with a serving of ground chia seeds for satisfaction sans calories. Perfect Fuel is only sweetened with a coconut sugar which is lower glycemic than brown rice syrup and much more nutritious. Gluten free, soy and dairy free, each energy bite is only 80 calories and very satisfying because of the pure and rich flavor.
Each energy bite is designed to be the right portion and can be eaten in the morning, mid afternoon on a long day, or 30 minutes before a workout for a boost. […] Perfect Fuel is absolutely guilt free for you and the environment.
What about your energy bites sets them apart from ‘traditional’ snacks?
The Dark Chocolate Energy Bite is the healthy alternative energy snack for an active lifestyle. This pioneering product is unique because it is not produced like traditional confectionary products. Perfect Fuel utilizes a trade-secret process to make chocolate with unique ingredients that previously presented prohibitive manufacturing difficulties. Dark Chocolate Energy Bites deliver a 100% USDA certified organic natural boost of ginseng, espresso bean, or chia for a feel good pick-me-up without any refined sugars, soy, dairy, gluten, or fillers of any kind. There are fewer than under 100 calories each Energy Bite and the main ingredient is pure cacao, a highly acclaimed and nutrient-dense superfood. Even the individual wrappers are certified compostable at home.
When/how did you realize you needed to make a product like this?
While camping out the night before a triathlon in 2010, […] Nicolas […], noticed he was missing his ginseng, an important part of his pre-race routine. He began to wonder why he couldn’t mix his ginseng with his chocolate just like nuts, or into his trail mix just like chocolate. That would be one seriously healthy snack. Adding ginseng for the extra health benefit would be…. Perfect [sic].
Give us a brief rundown of your company history.
Nicolás found mentors locally and discovered YouthTrade to help get his [business] off the ground. Sustainability and health are in the ethos of what Nicolas was trying to accomplish so the alliance with Whole Foods and their core values seemed perfect. In 2012 Perfect Fuel introduced a truly innovative and new product to the convenient energy market: the Dark Chocolate Energy Bite. Only 18 months later, in 2013, Perfect Fuel won the Rising Star award for #1 new product category leader at Whole Foods Market. Perfect Fuel was started by a triathlete and marathoner who makes his own real food snacks for his demanding workouts and fast-paced American lifestyle. Now you can find Perfect Fuel among health-conscious snacks at high-end supermarkets, airport terminals, and hundreds of other fast-casual retail outlets.
Now, tell us how cool you are.
Perfect Fuel has been highlighted in Supermarket News, Boston Herald, and the Boston Business Journal for making waves in the industry and respected for thought leadership in nutrition. Perfect Fuel does not force the consumer to sacrifice healthier decisions for the sake of convenience. For example, Perfect Fuel was invited to be the exclusive healthy snack sponsor for the largest team of triathletes to quality and compete at the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, HawaiI.
Perfect Fuel is approved and represented by Olympic athletes, but available and enjoyed by the weekend warrior. Perfect Fuel is replacing inferior products in office break rooms and local lunch spots near you. Without venture capital or private equity investment, Perfect Fuel has achieved remarkable growth in only 3 years and is independently owned by Nicolas Warren and Miles Masci, not part of America’s corporate confectionary industry.
Find out more about Perfect Fuel at www.perfectfuel.com.
