WNC baking company rolls out healthier kids cookie

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CITIZEN-TIMES.com

WNC baking company rolls out healthier kids cookie

By Flynn

STAFF WRITER

September 6, 2005 6:00 am

ASHEVILLE - Immaculate Baking Company founder Blackwellknows

the recipe for encouraging kids to consume a healthier snack: " If it

tastes good, they will eat it, " he said.

The ville-based purveyor of handmade, award-winning cookies

is rolling out a new line of children's treats that are designed to

be a healthier alternative to longstanding snacks.

And despite names such as " Choca Doodle Doo " and " Hunka Chunka

Chocolate, " the new cookies are low in fat and saturated fat, have

no cholesterol, are flavored with fruit and are 100 percent organic,

Blackwell said.

" We were focused on making a better cookie for kids, " he said. " It

took me two years to develop these. "

The product made its retail debut Aug. 20 to an eager audience at

natural food supermarket Earth Fare in Westgate Shopping Center,

said Earth Fare community coordinator Marcia Greenstein.

" They started selling well that day, " Greenstein said. " We had a lot

of happy children. "

As rates of childhood obesity rise, Earth Fare leaders said the

company was pleased to offer a healthier children's cookie. " We all

have a part to play in turning this around, " Greenstein said about

obesity concerns.

Blackwell said he has two children, and doesn't want them eating

typical sugar and fat-laden snacks all of the time. As a benchmark

for the new product, Blackwell said he came up with a recipe that

complies with a new California law limiting the amount of fat and

sugar in school system food.

Tapping into increasing interest in healthier snacks and vending

machine contents, Blackwell said the company's initial run of 12,000

trays has already sold out. " We've been burning the midnight oil to

get the orders out, " he said.

Formed in his Flat Rock garage in 1995, Blackwell said the company

began commercial packaging in 1999 and now has 13 employees,

including five in the company's ville production facility

and sales representatives stationed in New Hampshire and California.

In addition to Earth Fare, the cookies will soon be available at

other natural food stores in the region, Blackwell said, and can

also be bought via the company's Web site. On store shelves,

Blackwell said the cookies are designed to cost $4.99 for eight 2-

ounce packs that contain 4-5 cookies.

Although they are marketed to children, Blackwell said adults can

enjoy them as well. " They're really good, " he said.