Since Bentley is a business school and the holiday season is quickly approaching, I thought that it would be fitting to discuss a rapidly growing New England entrepreneurial business that is hitting significant milestones. Bare Life Coconut Hot Cocoa Mix is having a hot start to winter, with its first appearance on the QVC Network, the popular national shopping channel, and the addition of Whole Foods stores throughout New England as the latest in a growing network of retail and online locations.
The popularity of the signature hot cocoa mix continues to accelerate, as Bare Life and its founder Ali Lazowski continue to receive recognition for their gluten-free, dairy free, vegan, coconut hot cocoa.
Lazowski appeared on QVC on October 28, as Bare Life’s hot cocoa mix received rave reviews live on-air. QVC is currently offering an exclusively designed, specially priced, box of 20 packets.
“The most delicious hot chocolate,” is how one QVC host summed it up; “yummy and chocolatey… just awesome,” added the co-host of the network’s Gourmet Holiday segment.
Entrepreneurial Beginning
Lazowski started the company after being diagnosed with cancer and Lyme disease in her junior year of college that caused her to re-evaluate her diet. She needed foods that were gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free — and actually tasted good. Developing the original recipe began in her kitchen.
Bare Life’s Coconut Hot Cocoa Mix is made with only five organic ingredients: coconut milk, coconut sugar, cacao powder, ground vanilla beans, and kosher pink Himalayan salt. It is Organic, Kosher Pareve, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Paleo, Vegan, Plant Based, Non-GMO, Corn Free, Refined Sugar Free and Soy Free; without any preservatives or fillers. The company sources its ingredients from fair-trade friendly companies, ensuring all their products come from sustainable businesses that offer fair market or living wages to their employees.
Bare Life has been awarded the Best Allergen Friendly Cocoa Mix in the Northeast region of the United States by Lux Life Magazine’s Food and Drink Awards. In describing the Bare Life hot cocoa, Lux Life noted that Lazowski “created a delicious, five ingredient, and allergen friendly, coconut hot cocoa that’s gluten free and vegan, that everyone can enjoy!”
Since launching the company in 2017, Lazowski has been featured in the Fempire Podcast, which features women entrepreneurs nationwide, as well as locally on CT Live on NBC Connecticut, Better Connecticut on WSFB, and FOX61. She has been recognized as one of the 40 Under Forty by Hartford Business Journal and Connecticut Magazine in 2018. Bare Life had a cameo during last year’s holiday season in a Lifetime movie filmed in Connecticut.
Whole Foods Market Adds Bare Life Hot Cocoa This Month
Whole Foods Market is adding Bare Life’s hot cocoa mix to its shelves in 36 locations throughout New England. That means beginning this month, customers will see the Bare Life 10-pack of single servings in all 28 of their Massachusetts locations, as well as 3 in Connecticut, 2 in New Hampshire, 2 in Rhode Island and 1 in Maine. What makes this even better is that the closest Whole Foods to Bentley University is only a mere 13 minutes away, so there’s no reason to go try this out!
“My goal in starting Bare Life was to create foods, like our Coconut Hot Cocoa mix that worked for people living with allergies and sensitivities and actually tasted great, so that having allergies would no longer mean missing out on delicious treats,” Lazowski said. “So it’s so humbling to receive recognition, as we continue to reach more people — that means we’re achieving our mission!”
Recipes on the Web
The Bare Life website, www.eatbarelife.com, also features a variety of tasty recipes featuring the coconut hot cocoa mix. Among the easy-to-prepare recipes currently on the site: Kristina's Coconut Hot Cocoa Brownies, Hot Cocoa Protein Muffins, Bare Life Hot Cocoa Pancakes, and Hot Cocoa French Toast.
Statistics show that many Americans live with chronic illnesses, allergies and sensitivities:
· 133 million Americans (40% of the population) live with chronic illness, and even more are affected by them
· 15 Million Americans have food allergies
· 22% of the American population have food sensitivities, and that has us tied for the highest food sensitivity rate in the world
Available on Amazon
In addition, Bare Life’s coconut hot cocoa mix is available on Amazon. Both the 10 serving pouch and a specially-designed box of 10 single serving pouches are available from Amazon, featuring packaging that is environmentally friendly. Since being added to Amazon in February 2020, Bare Life has had sales in nearly every state in the nation, as word of the product continues to spread. In Massachusetts, which is relevant for us Bentley students, staff, and faculty, Bare Life hot cocoa is also available at Flatbread Company in Bedford. So, if possible, I would definitely recommend getting some Bare Life Hot Cocoa for this fast-approaching holiday season.
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