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

It started with a problem. For me, a chocolate scientist, it was the struggle of eating another gross-tasting energy gel during my marathons. For my sister Leanna, it was finding wholesome chocolate that spoke to her as an elite athlete and personal trainer. Both of us were deeply dissatisfied with the options available to fuel our lives and adventures- 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

Rooted in science, I was obsessed with finding the perfect blend of nutrients to provide a sustained energy release for an hour of running. This was coupled with us tasting many different chocolates until we found the perfect flavor, as we knew our product had to work AND taste amazing. To test our first bars, we leveraged an online community of endurance athletes to trial our bars while they hike, bike and run. 

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

I’ll never forget the first time a real athlete came to us at an event to share the elation they experienced after our bars truly helped them on their journey. What gratitude I felt in that moment knowing that we made a difference in an athlete’s life. We knew the product was delicious and worked, but having that external, real life validation was a lift we needed, and proof to retailers that chocolate is the answer. 

We quickly learned that creating an amazing product was only half the battle. We had to master a whole new world of business management - something we were not experts in. 

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. I 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. She 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!