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Meet Rob and Tania McCormack of FishSki Provisions in Boulder

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob and Tania McCormack.

Rob and Tania, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Tania and I (Rob) met in college at 18 years old. We’re a husband and wife team behind FishSki Provisions. Our three favorite things in the world are fly fishing, skiing, and Southwestern Food. FishSki Provisions gives us the opportunity to share our favorite things with the world. We make awesome tasting, easy prepare Southwestern comfort foods and give back at least 3% of sales to grassroots conservation or access efforts that improve Fishing and Skiing.

We started FishSki in October 2016. For years friends had been pushing us to sell our Hatch Chile backpacking and rafting food recipes. I (Rob) was a flyfishing guide years before getting a desk job. An opportunity to guide in the Russian Far East (a long dream of mine) became available. Tania set a deal with me: I could go guide in Russia if we started FishSki Provisions when I returned and here we are three + years later and our Southwestern mac and cheeses and cheese grits are available in over 225 stores, as well as online, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com; and we’ve given nearly 5% of sales to volunteer Trout Unlimited chapters, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers chapters, and watershed protection groups in the Southwest.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been as smooth as gravel! Grocery is a really challenging business and one neither Tania or I had past experience in. There was a stiff learning curve and plenty of trial and error. One of our biggest challenges (past and current) is competition from large grocery competitors. In many stores, Kraft and General Mills (Annies Organics), have bought up all physical shelf space in grocery stores leaving no place available for small businesses like ours to sell. Luckily along the front range, we’re fortunate to have plenty of great small and independent stores (Peppercorn, Jax, Leevers, and many more); local grocery chains (Luckys), and local sections in some larger grocers (Safeway and Sprouts) where we’ve been given a shot.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with FishSki Provisions – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We make awesome tasting, easy to prepare Southwestern comfort foods. We currently make and sell:

-Hatch Green Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese;

-Hatch Red Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese;

-Jalapeno, Hatch Green Chile, Cheddar, Yellow Corn Grits; and

-Hemp Extract Hatch Green Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese w/ 35 mg CBD.

All our meals are inspired by the foods and culture of the Mountain Southwest and require just water and no straining to make. We have a genuine connection with our recipes: we use the best and most authentic Southwestern ingredients we can find. All meals are vegetarian and made with NON-GMO milk, peppers, pasta; rBST free milk; and real Hatch Chile from New Mexico farms. Our packaging is recyclable, portable, packable, and weather-resistant to take on adventures or keep around for when you might not have much in the house. We develop the recipes and still pack FishSki Provisions ourselves. Different from most easy prepare and outdoor meals: we don’t use freeze-dried ingredients. Finally, as far as we know we’re the only ones out there making full meals with hemp-CBD.

We’re really proud of the regular online customers we’ve developed relationships with. Our online (and in-store) customers have greatly helped us spread the good word about FishSki to their friends and families. We’re a small business and rely chiefly on word of mouth to get FishSki Provisions out there. It’s worked, so far we’ve had online customers in 49 states, but always need a hand getting the word out about how great our food is! We’re also proud of our growth in stores, over the past year we grew from 35 store shelves to over 225 (and we’ll be in 415 + stores in 2020). Finally, we’ve been able to give back, since we started we’ve given nearly 5% of our sales to grassroots conservation or access projects that improve flyfishing or skiing.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love Boulder and the Front Range for access to the outdoors, our great friends we share adventures with, and our group of friends with other small businesses who share, support, and mentor each other. As for dislikes, Boulder is changing fast, beyond the growing traffic we’ve noticed people are a lot less friendly to each other: don’t always be in a rush and say good morning to each other again!

Pricing:

  • Hatch Green Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese – $3.99
  • Hatch Red Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese – $3.99
  • Hemp Extract, Hatch Green Chile, Garlic, Cheddar Mac and Cheese w/ 35mg CBD – $5.49
  • Jalapeno, Hatch Green Chile, Cheddar, Yellow Corn Grits -$3.75

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
All images from/by FishSki Provisions.

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