Later this week, we’re giving away a fun Easter basket chock full of Pottery Barn Easter decor and tabletop items as well as some great Easter brunch-inspired edibles from local San Francisco companies. Make sure to keep checking back to enter the giveaway! Today, though, we’re getting to know one of those local companies featured in our giveaway. Meet Matt and Dave, who founded San Franola Granola after being inspired by Dave’s father’s quest for better health (that’s them with Dave’s dad in the photo below.
Matt and Dave answered a few interview questions for us about their company’s story and why they love living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
San Franola’s proprietary recipe took 12 years to develop. Can you give us a bit of background?
It started with Dave’s Dad. Inspired by his goal to improve his health, he was determined to create a healthy and nutritious snack. For 12 years he experimented and tinkered with a new granola recipe. Most granola is baked in butter and sugar, what if there was a way to capture amazing flavor and heighten the nutritional benefits? A family recipe was born and it worked so well that it convinced two best friends to quit their traditional jobs and bring a healthy crunch to snacking.
Can you tell us a little about your granola’s unique taste?
Freshly Roasted makes a difference. Other brands develop their flavor profile by baking in butter, flour and sugar, our unique process combined with natural ingredients including almonds, oats, cinnamon and molasses creates a rich, robust taste and big, crunchy clusters.
Why is San Franola so much better for you than other granolas?
Our Freshly Roasted recipe allows us to take out the bad (less sugar, butter and flower) and put in the good (10 grams of protein plus higher fiber than other brands).
How did you choose your different granola varieties?
With our distinctive and robust taste, we didn’t want to overcomplicate things. Our recipe stands for itself. We have two versions, With Raisins or Without Raisins and two packages, our 12 oz. re-sealable bag (perfect for the kitchen) and our 1.55 oz. Single-Serve Box (designed for on-the-go healthy snacking).
What is it like to work with your best friend?
We have always been active, our friendship started in third grade on the soccer field. Being fitness minded, it is no surprise we started a company designed to make snacking more nutritious. This is not just a business, but a passion, which is made even more rewarding by sharing the successes (and the challenges) with someone you trust completely.
Why did you name your product San Franola?
The Bay Area epitomizes the principles of the brand: nutrition, active lifestyle, and entrepreneurship. We get more inspired and passionate each day that we walk around our hometown.
What is your favorite thing about the Bay Area?
Innovation. Growing up here creates a can-do mentality, not just in tech, but in the food space as well. We are constantly stimulated and rewarded by other entrepreneurs who share our mission in making better nutrition more delicious and accessible to all.
Make sure to check back later this week for a chance to win our Easter basket giveaway, which includes four packages of San Franola Granola.
Love that it is more healthy!