From Kitchen Table Dream to 200 Shelves: The Struggles of a Small Business

It started with a problem. For Leanna, it was the struggle of choking down another gel during a long training session. For Kristyn, it was the gap between gourmet chocolate and functional nutrition. Two problems, one solution: what if endurance fuelling actually tasted good?

That was the spark that became 7 Summits Snacks. Not as a business plan, but as a mission. A delicious rebellion against chalky gels and synthetic-tasting bars.

If you had told us then that our kitchen experiments would one day be fuelling athletes in over 200 retailers across North America, we would have laughed. But here we are. This is the story of that journey—the late nights, the melted chocolate, and the five key steps that took us from prototype to powerhouse.

Phase 1: The Chocolate Lab Experiments

Kristyn's background as a Godiva chocolate scientist met Leanna's endurance athlete pain points. Our kitchens became R&D labs—testing cocoa percentages, perfecting the melt, and balancing electrolytes with exquisite flavour. "Does this provide sustained energy while tasting like a treat?" we'd ask our tired-but-willing athlete testers.

The Lesson Learned Here: Don't compromise on either taste or function. We went through so many iterations before landing on the perfect balance of clean energy and gourmet chocolate experience. That chocolate scientist meets endurance athlete combination became our secret sauce.

Phase 2: The First Miles & The Reality Check

The first time an actual athlete bought our bars at a local running shop and came back asking for more, we knew we were onto something. That first website order? We celebrated like we'd won a race. But with those first sales came the first reality check.

We were chocolate lovers and athletes, not business experts. We quickly learned that creating amazing functional chocolate was only half the battle:

• Supply Chain: Sourcing clean, functional ingredients that could survive in a chocolate bar
• Temperature Testing: Making sure our bars wouldn't melt in a race-day backpack
• Nutrition Timing: Balancing fast-acting and slow-release energy sources

Phase 3: The First Retailer "Yes" (And The Miles of "No's" Before It)

Landing our first running store felt like crossing a finish line. Leanna walked in with samples and our story: endurance athlete and chocolate scientist creating fuel that doesn't suck. The owner, tired of hearing complaints about traditional fuels, immediately got it. He said yes.

What we don't always share is the countless other stores that said "we already have energy bars," "chocolate doesn't work for sports," or simply didn't understand why anyone would need functional chocolate.

The Lesson Learned Here: Every "no" refined our pitch. We learned to lead with the athlete pain point—every endurance athlete remembers that moment they dreaded another gel—and our unique founder story became our strongest asset.

Phase 4: The Tipping Point (& Hitting 200 Retailers)

The journey from 1 to 50 retailers was a steady climb. The jump from 50 to 200 felt like catching that perfect tailwind. This growth came because we built more than a product—we built a movement.

• We Solved a Real Problem: Athletes were tired of suffering through their fuel. Our bars became the solution they actually looked forward to.
• Our Story Sold Itself: Chocolate scientist + endurance athlete = instant credibility and an unforgettable origin story.
• We Made Retailers' Lives Easier: With education materials, proven sell-through, and margins that made sense.

So, What's Next?

Reaching 200 retailers is a milestone we're incredibly proud of, but it's not the finish line. It's like reaching base camp—we can see the summit from here. Our sights are set on new functional flavours, expanding into new sports, and continuing our mission to make endurance fuelling something athletes actually enjoy.

To anyone out there with a crazy idea that combines your expertise with your passion: your unique perspective is your superpower. That problem you can't stop thinking about? That solution that seems obvious to you but nobody's building?

Your starting line is waiting.

Ready to experience fuel that actually tastes good? Shop our endurance bars here.

Are you a retailer who wants to stock fuel that athletes love? View our wholesale program and get in touch!