Daniel Berg was a high school athlete who headed to the gym most mornings before school, and regularly played basketball with Berg his parents and brothers. But one afternoon, hungry and tired after practice, he stood in front of the kitchen pantry staring at the Berg shelves of candy, chips, and sugary cereals, and decided it was time for his family to get as serious about their nutrition as they were about fitness and exercise. He and his mom put their heads together to create a snack that they could all enjoy as part of a truly healthy life-style. After doing some research on how the body metabolizes sugars, proteins, fats, and fiber, they created their first “Berg Bites” in two different flavors: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate and Almond Butter and Jelly. Skeptical friends used to the Berg household’s abundant sugary treats were initially unsure what to make of a snack that was free of gluten, soy, dairy, and GMOs. But after a taste, they soon came on board as Berg Bites’ first big fans. Before long, Daniel was playing around with packaging designs, going to classes, and rolling Berg Bites all day and night to sell in college at George Washington University, where he built up a huge following and won an entrepreneurship award that allowed him to build his fledgling business. Then came the hard work of scaling up.

As one of the first businesses to enter the Union Kitchen space, Daniel says, “I wouldn’t have been able to do any of what came next without Union Kitchen. It’s a great community where we help each other out.” Although the thrill of seeing their products on the shelves at the grocery store often drives makers like Daniel to build quickly, he says he had been warned against turning production over to large-scale co-packers, who often cut corners on quality. He encourages would-be food entrepreneurs out there to grow slowly and steadily, building a dedicated customer base who will find their own way of enjoying your product.

Some customers share that they love the Banana Bread Bites with morning coffee, some treat the Banana Chocolate Mighty Bite like a healthy dessert, and others rely on the Sunflower Butter Bites for a slow carb release during workouts. He also learned that as much as he loves to play with ingredients— he was an early adopter of organic pea protein to replace soy —not bowing to pressure to keep generating new products means his company’s healthy products have guaranteed him healthy finances, too. “Don’t worry about your competitors,” he says; “focus on what you want to make.” The best news for those looking to emulate the success of Berg Bites? Daniel still makes time for fitness, is proud of the company he’s built and of his employees, and he never takes the chance to live his dream for granted.

And yes, he still loves sharing his Berg Bites with his family and friends. 

bergbites.com