Foraged and Found - A Business Lending Success Story
About the Client
Foraged & Found (F&F) is a Ketchikan, Alaska-based specialty foods manufacturer with a mission to become a nationally recognized specialty food brand that sustainably brings delicious Alaskan-native foods to the world stage.
The business started in 2018, operating under the Cottage Food Laws, and has now grown to include national retailers such as Whole Foods Markets. The product line consists of 3 Kelp Pickles flavors, three Kelp Salsa, and two varieties of Kelp Pasta Sauce.
F&F has unique access to aquatic and land-based plants that only grow in their region of Alaska. The business concept takes native Alaskan food ingredients and turns them into household products the average American consumer enjoys. They want to celebrate the nutritional, ecological, and flavor benefits nationally and believe food tastes better when it comes straight from the wild to your table. With that in mind, they aim to sell to health-conscious individuals who enjoy indulging in gourmet specialty foods.
F&F recently landed a contract with Whole Foods Market, the world's largest organic and natural foods retailer, with more than 500 stores in North America and the UK. F&F has received its first PO from Whole Foods. The business had more orders coming in than they could fill. Their biggest challenge is the short harvest season for kelp, which is April - October, peaking in June and July. The business needs access to capital quickly to fulfill its new contract.
A Word from the Client
We can’t thank Cook Inlet Lending Center enough for their incredible support during a critical time for our business. When the kelp harvest season hit and our cash flow took and unexpected dip, we were in a real pinch. That’s when the team at CILC swooped in and saved the day.
Talk about quick action! They didn't waste a moment in understanding the urgency of our situation. It felt like they were as invested in our success as we are. Within no time, they had our funding sorted out, allowing us to get back to doing what we do best – harvesting kelp and delivering quality products.
What struck me most was their responsiveness. Anytime I had a question or needed an update, they were available with answers. It’s rare to find a lending partner that genuinely cares about your business’s well-being.
Thanks to CILC, we didn’t miss a beat in scaling up our operations. Their dedication to our success didn’t just keep us afloat, it propelled us forward. It’s clear that they understand the challenges of small businesses like ours and their willingness to go the extra mile sets them apart.
Cheers to the CILC Team – you turned what could have been a disaster into a success story for Foraged & Found!