Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Moore.
Mark, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My wife Renee and I started White Rock Granola in the fall of 2011. We had met in Austin nine years earlier when I stayed at her B&B, the Lazy Oak Inn. I was astounded by the ‘Breakfast’ aspect of the experience, where among the peppered bacon and fabulous pastries was the best granola I had ever tasted. I told her that she had to sell it, and she said other guests had said the same and she was considering it. Cut to 2011 and Renee and I are married and living near White Rock Lake in Dallas, Renee’s daughter Lee, a Central Market pastry chef, tells us that CM is looking for a Texas made granola to feature in their ‘Local’ foods – and we all knew the time was right to dive in. So we prepared two sample 10 ounce bags, and printed a hastily designed logo on some Central Market grocery bag paper for our label. We hand delivered the product and later we got the call – a thumbs up to proceed – and we were off and running.
We used a rental commercial kitchen in Garland and experienced making the granola on a much larger scale. During this time we met the owners of Ro Ro’s Cinnamon rolls who were also using the rental kitchen. They invited us to share their commercial kitchen space that was under construction near the Spillway on White Rock Lake, just a few minutes from where we live. We were thrilled and took them up on their offer.
As we were encouraged by friends, family and the bakery staff at Central Market, we started introducing new flavors. Renee had a spicy sweet flavor in mind, followed by a chocolate almond, a ginger snap, a peanut butter, etc. Eventually we landed on six distinctive flavors in six different sized packages.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Renee had a full time job when we launched White Rock Granola, working as the store manager at the Festive Kitchen in Dallas. As the granola business grew, it became impossible to do both properly, so Renee retired from the FK in 2015. From then on, we decided to participate in the Dallas Farmers Market and soon after, St. Michael’s Farmers Market and Highland Park Village Local Market. Central Market orders grew and we started spending more time producing. Our online business also exploded, as the Dallas Farmers Market is a very popular destination spot for out of town guests. Keeping up with all the orders and growth is a constant challenge, but we love getting feedback from people all over the US.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with White Rock Granola – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
White Rock Granola is a small-batch granola company located in East Dallas. We honor diversity in our business and community and respect our environment. Our goal is to produce the best tasting granola anywhere and share it with as many people as possible. We hire as our representatives those who have open hearts, open minds and generous spirits.
You can find us online, at the Central Market stores in Dallas, Plano, Southlake and Austin, at the Festive Kitchen in Richardson and Dallas, the Hyatt Reunion Tower, Opening Bell Coffee, The I Love Juice Bars, Market Provisions at Dallas Farmers Market, the Dallas Arboretum Gift Shop and Rooster Hardware.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We’ve have several related products that we test at the Farmers markets, many of which we are developing logos and packaging for. We’re also looking at much larger venues, such as the yearly War Eagle Fair near Rogers, Arkansas.
Pricing:
- 4 oz package – $4
- 10 oz package – $8
- 16 oz package – $10
- 40 oz package – $20
- 24 10 oz bags (one case) – $120
Contact Info:
- Address: 9135 Bretshire Drive
Dallas, TX 75228 - Website: www.whiterockgranola.com
- Phone: (214) 562-1815
- Email: whiterockgranola@hotmail.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/whiterockgranola/
Image Credit:
Mark Moore
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