Granola lovers, rejoice! Local company McCabe's Granola recently launched three new flavors of its delicious homemade granola - PB & Chocolate, Delta Blueberry and Cran with a Twist.The new flavors are already in local coffee shops and regional grocery stories, including a couple nationwide.
Owner Kate Desmond calls the move "a huge leap" for McCabe's. She and co-owner Marie McCabe launched the company in 2006. They met as college roommates, but didn't realize the potential of Marie's recipe until she was in grad school at UC. There, she bartered homemade granola for computer repairs, a new bike and even a date.
"She would make (the granola) for me and my husband and we would just
devour it," said Desmond. "Everyone would we would let try it said the
same thing."
Desmond said they were always planning to expand - these new flavors were the top three from a two-year taste testing process.
"We've been really, really busy. It's definitely a huge leap. But we knew we could handle it," she said.
For these mixes, McCabe and Desmond continue the same work that made their original recipe so successful - using maple syrup, not sugar, and extra virgin olive oil, not canola or sunflower oil, in the mix. They make every batch by hand and locally.
They've even broken it down in their kitchen and compared the recipe to other brands. "We found out it has a lot more stuff in it," said Desmond. "It's full of seeds and nuts and that makes it granola that will stay with you."
Believe me, it shows - I can't claim to be a trendsetter, but I've been buying their original flavor since I first saw it in small plastic bags at Lookout Joe's. Desmond said that initial outreach to local stores really got the company going.
"We wouldn't be here without the support of the local businesses. They took a chance on us when we were two girls with granola in plastic baggies," she said. "Their support was tremendous, it was huge for us."
For granola recipes, info and to order McCabe's online, visit their website at www.mccabesgranola.com.
To find it in stores, try any neighborhood coffee shop (Coffee Emporium, Sidewinder, Lookout Joe's) or your local Kroger.
Desmond said they were always planning to expand - these new flavors were the top three from a two-year taste testing process.
"We've been really, really busy. It's definitely a huge leap. But we knew we could handle it," she said.
For these mixes, McCabe and Desmond continue the same work that made their original recipe so successful - using maple syrup, not sugar, and extra virgin olive oil, not canola or sunflower oil, in the mix. They make every batch by hand and locally.
They've even broken it down in their kitchen and compared the recipe to other brands. "We found out it has a lot more stuff in it," said Desmond. "It's full of seeds and nuts and that makes it granola that will stay with you."
Believe me, it shows - I can't claim to be a trendsetter, but I've been buying their original flavor since I first saw it in small plastic bags at Lookout Joe's. Desmond said that initial outreach to local stores really got the company going.
"We wouldn't be here without the support of the local businesses. They took a chance on us when we were two girls with granola in plastic baggies," she said. "Their support was tremendous, it was huge for us."
For granola recipes, info and to order McCabe's online, visit their website at www.mccabesgranola.com.
To find it in stores, try any neighborhood coffee shop (Coffee Emporium, Sidewinder, Lookout Joe's) or your local Kroger.
The local Kroger's on Yankee Road in Liberty Township, OH 45044 hasn't been carrying your granola lately. Why not? I asked and the representative of the store said the independent stocker hadn't been bringing it. I'd like to see it return. If it won't be coming back in which Kroger can I find it?
I too have been looking for McCabe granola and asked at the Kroger in Liberty Township. I was told it was seasonal and should be back in April. Is this true?