Today, I want to share with you the inspirational story behind Kate’s Real Food, the energy bar company founded by Kate Schade.

Before Kate Schade started her own energy bar company in 2010, she was enjoying the skier life in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Between days on the slopes and nights waiting tables, Kate was always on the move—and she needed energy food that could keep her going, but which was also made from healthy, organic ingredients that tasted great. 

story behind kates real food

When she couldn’t find it, she went ahead and made it herself! Her solution became the original Tram Bar: a pocket-sized energy bar made from the tastiest organic ingredients she could find. 

And that was the start of Kate’s Real Food!  Once Kate perfected her recipe, she started sharing her bars with friends in the mountain tram line. It didn’t take long before she established a loyal following; the Tram Bar was an instant favorite! 

After many years of steady encouragement, Kate finally decided to take on her greatest adventure: selling her bars.

story behind Kate's Real Food

Today, the Tram Bar-along with six more amazing flavors – goes by the name Kate’s Real Food and continues to inspire people as they pursue a healthy lifestyle. They’ve stayed true to their roots: making great-tasting food using wholesome, organic ingredients to fuel your next great adventure.

Today I am delighted to share Kate’s inspirational story with you as well as her hopes for the future and her advice for other women who want to launch their own business.  

Interview with Kate Schade, the story behind Kate’s Real Food

Can you tell me what inspired you to take the leap to launch Kate’s Real Food as a brand, and can you describe your brand to us in a few words? 

 There were a few small things that inspired me to take the leap, but there was one aspiration that  continues to be my drive. 

 For one, I knew I had a great product. Friends constantly asked for them. I also had a sole  proprietorship for the bars beginning in 2005 when I started selling them at the Farmer’s Market in  Jackson Hole. It was a side hobby then, but I also got in a few stores locally, created a website, and  was getting customer requests from around the country. Still, as a side hobby, I grew very slowly and  organically for the next few years.  

 I met my current business partner in 2010. With the prospect of a good partner, I was finally inspired  to take the leap.  

 But, for me, it was not about the bar, it was about where the bar would take me. My aspiration,  which still holds true today, was to inspire people to eat healthier, to eat organic as much as possible,  and to get out and adventure more, play more, move the body, experience the outdoors! It equates to  happier, healthier people in a healthier world.  

story behind Kates Real Food

My brand.  

  •  To me, my brand is about living real, living the good life.  
  •  It means experiencing life’s textures and flavors. 
  •  It means living and exhibiting good values, always working to be a better version of yourself, being  honest and genuine.  
  •  It means taking care of yourself, and educating, showing, or inspiring others to do the same.  

Can you tell us what makes Kate’s Real Food unique compared to other  brands? 

story behind Kates Real Food

Kate’s bars are made with real, premium, whole ingredients, and unlike other bars on the  market, we use organic honey instead of other processed or artificial sweeteners. Each bar  is USDA-certified organic, gluten free and non-GMO. The texture of our bars is crunchy, soft  and chewy. Each bite is an experience and they have a fresh homemade taste the day you  open them.  

Can you tell us a little about your career path prior to launching Kate’s  Real Food? Did you always have an interest in nutrition?  

I honestly have to say I did not have a career path, and at times it bothered me. When I was  younger, I thought a writer, an artist, or a photographer. Perhaps that is still in my cards. 

Nutrition has definitely interested me. There are so many different ideas, and so much  science around nutrition which can be fascinating, but for the most part I think the foods that  our planet gives to us are the best, and those that are grown naturally (organic and pesticide  free). 

I also find merit in the ways of the Weston A Price Foundation. It may not appeal to  everyone, but to me it just makes good sense. I think most people have their own sense of what they think is good in nutrition, and what resonates with them. These days, we can find  science to back whatever belief we may have.  

Can you take us through the process of designing, prototyping, and  manufacturing your first product? 

Easy, I kept creating my own bars from ingredients that were in my cupboard for years.  Finally, I landed upon the recipe that started the company, the Tram Bar (Peanut Butter Milk  Chocolate). Originally, they were for my own personal use, and the recipe is still pretty much  the same today.  

Where do you sell your products? Are you able to purchase them from  somewhere other than your website? 

Kate’s can be found nationally at Katesrealfood.com, REI, and Amazon. Also, regionally in Whole  Foods, select Natural Grocers, Lazy Acres, King Kullen, Harris Teeter, Bristol Farms, Central Market,  Market of Choice, King Soopers (in June) and Raley’s.  

Your brand is noted for its clean ingredients, sustainable practices and  great taste! Can you describe what you mean by clean ingredients and what does  this mean for your brand ethics? 

At Kate’s, we know that what you eat matters. That’s why we use only organic simple ingredients in all of our products. From our gluten-free oats to our dark chocolate, know that each bite  contains the best-quality, best-tasting, and healthiest organic foods we can get our hands on. 

story behind Kates Real Food

This means no chemicals and no artificial sweeteners. To satisfy your sweet tooth, we use  organic honey and fruits like dried cherries or dried mango. We keep it simple – only whole  food ingredients that you can see and taste. 

Similarly, could you explain to our readers what you mean by sustainable  practices?  

At Kate’s we constantly aspire and work to improve our sustainability practices where we are  able to. We practice what we hope all households will practice — recycling, energy efficiency,  and waste reduction. To keep the conversations current, we are continually looking into  more sustainable packaging that will work well with our products. We look forward to paving  our own growth in sustainability and our ability to influence others to do the same.  

Organic ingredients are always our priority. Organic farming does not pollute the land, nor our waters with pesticides– providing for a healthier environment and healthier ecosystems.  Improved soil health from organic farming practices produces more nutrient dense foods and  contributes to the natural lifecycle of our environment. Additionally, buying organic supports  more sustainable wages for farmers.

Whenever you choose Kate’s, you are choosing ‘the good life’ and a legacy of value to pass  to future generations. Eat organic. Pay it forward.  

What kind of person is a “Kate’s Real Food” customer?  

You could be an adventurer, an athlete, anyone with an on-the-go lifestyle, health conscious,  ingredient conscious, lover of “food experiences.”  

What has been the biggest challenge/ hurdle you have faced so far?  

Again, in all honesty, my biggest hurdle, yet also my biggest achievement has possibly been  “staying power.” Through the darkest moments of the business, the darkest moments of my  partnership, when you want to run away, retreat back to the womb, become a different  person with a different life . . . through all of this, I stayed.  

“This too shall pass, “ I would tell myself. It’s a process of changing the mindset. It’s knowing  that in that very moment, maybe that’s how I felt, but the next hour, or the next day would  bring something different. It’s finding the silver lining, finding the educational experience, and  finding out a little more about the self. It’s not easy. It takes practice, and I still practice it.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives  today. Can you tell us what are the biggest challenges you are facing as a woman  in business during this pandemic? And how are you overcoming them?  

 Kate’s Real Food has had the good fortune of being in the natural food cpg industry. I  currently have no challenges as a woman in business during this pandemic. We are still  growing and have a ton of room for growth. We provide a healthy organic product and have  not even touched the surface of our capabilities and of a name known and trusted in the  industry.  

What are your aspirations for the future? Where would you like to see  your brand 5 years from now and are there any imminent plans for the company  that you’d like to share? 

In part, I can simply repeat what I mentioned to start, “My aspiration, which still holds true today, was,  and is, to inspire people to eat healthier, to eat organic as much as possible, and to get out and adventure more, play more, move the body, experience the outdoors! It equates to happier, healthier  people in a healthier world.  

Five years from now, I’d love to see Kate’s Real Food as a leader of good living, promoting and  helping people to live better whether through experiential education, helping organic farmers, getting  more kids outside in adventure, the list could go on and on.  

Watch us as we grow into this role for health.  

What words of advice do you have for any female entrepreneurs trying to  launch their own brand?  

Seek out advice on your questions, thoughts, concerns. Be as educated as possible on  what you are starting. Test your product in the marketplace and know that it works with  consumers. Know your numbers and margins. Research the industry. Have a plan. 

Before going to investors, know that you need them, and why. Research the heck out of the  investment world. Seek good legal counsel and understand everything you are signing.  

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Kate!  

story behind Kates Real Food

Kate’s Real Food have recently launched their newest all-natural energy bar flavor, Dark Chocolate Mint, a perfect snack for the carry-on or road trips! 

Kate’s makes seven delicious energy bars with real, premium, whole ingredients,  and no artificial sweeteners. Each one is USDA-certified organic, gluten free,  non-GMO, and sweetened with organic honey. Other Kate’s flavors include  Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Cherry & Almond, Peanut Butter  Hemp & Flax, Mango Coconut, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, and Lemon Coconut  & Ginger. 

Their recipes are carefully created to provide you with sustainable, long-lasting  energy to help you power through your day and each product is filled with  nutrients from whole foods, making them the perfect snack, or worry-free  replacement meal for those busy days. Join their mailing list and get 30% off  your first order. 

story behind Kates Real Food

I hope you enjoyed this interview with Kate about the Inspiring Story behind Kate’s Real Food , and join me next Monday for the next interview in the Inspiring Women Series. , when I will be interviewing Lizzy Klein from Mazi and Zo.