Boulder’s Skoop raises $850,000 to make retail push with food powders

BOULDER – Skoop LLC, a Boulder-based startup that makes nutrient-packed food powders, has raised $850,000 funding round as the company looks to expand its distribution model into traditional retail stores.

Co-founder Greg Stroh said Wednesday that the company is already selling its powders, which can be mixed into any beverage, in Alfalfa’s Market and doing a test run at the Whole Foods on Pearl Street in Boulder. He said the company, which to this point had sold online and through a community of hand-picked distributors that included places like gyms and doctor’s offices, would be talking to other natural foods stores as well.

“It’s been good because we’ve been able to work out some of how to position and sell the products,” Stroh said of the initial approach. “We’re pretty happy with our partners right now and feel like we’re ready for retail.”

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Stroh, a co-founder of Izze Beverage Co. before it was sold to Pepsi Co. in 2006, founded Skoop in 2012 with Alex Bogusky and James Rouse. Bogusky is a former partner in advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Rouse is a naturopathic doctor who, with Stroh, previously co-founded Mix1 Beverage Co., which was eventually sold to Hershey before it closed.

Skoop launched its first product, A Game, in 2013. A Game is said to provide the nutrients of 10 servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving. Since that launch, Skoop has added a plant-based protein line called B Strong and a line geared toward skin health called B Lovely. The company donates a portion of each package of powder sold to the Chef Anne Foundation in Boulder to help fund Mission Nutrition grants that aid schools in getting more fruits and vegetables in front of kids.

Stroh declined to disclose revenue but said the company is growing.

“It feels good,” Stroh said.

The $850,000 comes from the founders and angel investors and will be used, Stroh said, on building inventory and ramping up marketing efforts to get into stores. Skoop raised a $1 million round of funding in 2013.

Stroh said the company has seven full-time employees at its office and warehouse in Boulder where its product is stored. Skoop’s products are manufactured by a pair of Colorado co-packers.

Stroh said Skoop is focusing solely on Colorado with its retail strategy right now to avoid getting spread too thin early on.

“We want to go deep in Colorado,” Stroh said.