An 18-year-old entrepreneur from Northern Kentucky has scaled a childhood hobby into a growing food brand now carried at Disney World and several other prominent national outlets. The business, which specializes in freeze-dried candy, began as a kitchen project and has expanded into a storefront, a commercial kitchen operation and a staff of 14.
From small projects to national retail partners
The founder traces her business roots to early informal ventures — paper routes and homemade jams sold at markets — and credits social media for a pivotal idea. After discovering freeze-drying on TikTok, she invested savings in equipment and shifted her product mix from jams to freeze-dried candy. That pivot led to a new business name and a move into commercial production.
"I've had a business since I was so young. I mean, even when I was 8 years old, I had a paper route, and I would go door to door," she said.
Her products are now sold through a mix of owned and partnered channels. Retail placements include a company-owned storefront in Florence, Kentucky, and listings at regional and national attractions and retailers.
- Owned location: Florence, Kentucky storefront and commercial kitchen.
- Theme parks and attractions: Disney World (multiple locations), Six Flags parks across the country, Cincinnati Zoo.
- Retail partners: Jungle Jim's and other outlets.
Business scale and future plans
The company employs 14 people while its founder remains a full-time student at the University of Kentucky. She says the early hands-on earnings from selling jams funded the freeze dryer that became the cornerstone of the current product line.
Looking ahead, the entrepreneur aims to broaden distribution within additional Disney properties and the Disney Cruise Line, expand a signature product line — branded "dirty soda" kits — and explore mobile retail through a potential food truck. Those moves would deepen national footprint and diversify revenue streams beyond live-venue sales and brick-and-mortar retail.
| Channel | Example |
|---|---|
| Owned retail | Florence, KY storefront |
| Theme parks | Disney World, Six Flags |
| Zoos & specialty grocers | Cincinnati Zoo, Jungle Jim's |
Why it matters
This case highlights several trends relevant to households and small businesses: how social media sparks product innovation; the importance of starting capital even at a micro level; and the role of strategic retail partnerships in scaling a consumer food brand. For households, it underscores opportunities for young entrepreneurs to monetize hobbies; for small businesses, it illustrates a growth pathway from local markets to national venues through targeted product adaptation and distribution deals.
As she pursues expansion while attending college full time, the entrepreneur's next steps will show whether the model — social-media-inspired product development, small-batch production, and selective national partnerships — can sustain wider growth and continued job creation.
