Success Story _ Canine Candy Biscuits
Canine Candy Biscuits | Fort Collins, CO
What started as a clever idea by a Northern Colorado dog lover has grown into Canine Candy Biscuits, a thriving business built on spent grain from local breweries, a surprisingly nutritious ingredient. Their unique spent grain biscuits are crafted in collaboration with breweries and homebrewers across Northern Colorado. This upcycled treasure creates all-natural, protein-rich treats that dogs love and sensitive stomachs tolerate. With a focus on minimal, purposeful ingredients, each biscuit embodies their "Biscuits with Benefits" motto, supporting dogs with allergies, sensitive stomachs, and specialized diets.
One of the key challenges Canine Candy Biscuits owners Juliana Knopp & Cody Boterman faced was educating consumers about the nutritional value of spent grain. The company worked to address this through outreach at farmers’ markets, local events, and partnerships with retailers, emphasizing the gentle yet beneficial nature of their treats for discerning pet owners. While the company was able to make headway, they realized they needed more help to move the company forward.
Enter the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Larimer. Through free one-on-one advising sessions with industry experts, the Colorado SBDC at Larimer provided invaluable insights into various aspects of the business. This tailored guidance offered reassurance and stability during the critical transition to full-time operations. The comprehensive support they provided equipped Canine Candy Biscuits with the tools and expertise needed to navigate strategic planning and operational challenges and strengthened their foundation, empowering them to pursue their vision with clarity.
This partnership has yielded actionable insights, fueled growth through strategically timed moves and helped secure partnerships with respected local retailers. The Colorado SBDC at Larimer’s guidance also facilitated key operational milestones, including hiring their first employee and engaging a bookkeeper for financial clarity. The tailored support Candy Canine Biscuits received has been a gamechanger, transforming vision into measurable success by enabling strategic, impactful choices in team building, retail relationships, and expert mentorship.
For more information, visit Canine Candy Biscuits.
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The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is Colorado’s most trusted business resource. We empower businesses to launch, advance, and thrive, ultimately fueling innovation, strengthening local economies, and driving economic vitality across the state. Since 1987, the Colorado SBDC has been the state's only nationally accredited, go-to resource for entrepreneurs and business owners at every stage. With 14 Service Centers, over 25 Satellite Centers, and a network of approximately 300 business experts, the Colorado SBDC delivers no-cost, confidential one-on-one advising, essential training, and vital connections to community partners.
The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Colorado SBDC is a partnership between the State of Colorado, Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Small Business Administration (SBA), Colorado’s institutions of higher education, local economic development organizations and local chambers of commerce.
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