The 7SS 2025 Journey Wrapped!

Oh it's been a year for 7 Summits Snacks. I can only imagine that each year I sit down to write this end-of-year message, I’ll want to say the same thing… the highs were higher and the lows, lower. Every step forward into entrepreneurship really tests me, stretches me, and continues to build a level of resiliency that I didn’t know I had. And yet, I still deeply believe in this brand and the sheer potential that we can have as a functional snacking business. More importantly, as we continue on our journey, it’s the growing external validation that motivates me to take another step forward toward our goals.

I recently shared some of the "unhinged" things we did in 2025 just to get through the year. They say it’s important to take a pause and reflect on the journey travelled, and admittedly, I don’t do that often enough. As a business owner, it’s too easy to think about all the challenges ahead, and my natural yearning to problem solve and find solutions leaves little time to think elsewhere. But when I reflect on one of the most rewarding aspects of mountain trekking, I personally find that looking back down to see where you came from is such a powerful feeling, noticing the switchbacks and boulders and clearings that you just stepped through. However, this feeling is only second to looking at the top of the peak you conquered from the bottom to say “hey, I did that!” It’s only in those moments that you can deeply appreciate the experience you just created.

🧗 Not to harp on some of the challenges that we made it through, but for those who didn’t see the post, here’s the top challenges we overcame in 2025:

• Started the year with zero chocolate because we had no manufacturer. Flew to the UK with zero chocolate, Isaac, with the help of my sister Leanna instead of Jason, because he was double-booked.
• Went back 6 weeks later to the UK, this time with Jason (and Isaac). Still with 0 chocolate and funded by grant money to effectively carry out more market research. Over these two trips we better understood the supply chain and route to market, in addition to building an email list of over 100 folks who are interested in fuelling their next adventure with chocolate.
  • Did you know I’ve raised over $280,000 over 5 years in “free” money through grants, crowdfunding, or competitions?
• Made it through the first 6 months of the year by asking our Moms for money for payroll and production. Our Moms have been the absolute unsung heroes of 7 Summits Snacks this year, helping us to continue our operations as we climb higher. My Mom even drove from Edmonton to Banff in a chocolate emergency so we could have product to sell at an event after we ran out.
• Between Leanna, myself and Tom, someone has day tripped to Calgary, Canmore or Banff at least monthly just to be in the room. Thank you to Movement51 and Canadian Food Innovation Network for opening doors for us in 2025.

There were still countless hours of sleep lost from sky-rocketing chocolate prices, ingredient swaps, packaging changes, cash flow stresses, border hang ups, store placements and fights over best before dates, and yet, we close out 2025 with some really big wins to set the guides for 2026.

🚀 The biggest milestones we reached in 2025 include:

• Finding a new manufacturing partner who puts great care and attention into creating our chocolate energy bars.
• Finding a space in Edmonton to make our bars so that we are never out of stock online again.
• Hiring and retaining great talent to allow the day to day ship to smoothly sail while I tackle new prospects.
• Winning two competitions based on our storytelling capabilities, the $10,000 Pizza Hut Equal Slice Pitch Competition and the RooTree Foundations Super Marketer grant.
• Partnering with Unity FC to help legitimize that chocolate is fuel.

What have we learned from all of this?

I feel like now more than ever, it’s time for me to return to the vision, mission and values of 7 Summits Snacks, and to stay connected to the community that helps carry us forward.

Wishing you all a healthy, adventurous 2026 ahead.

Kristyn