About The Show:

“When you are really taking a painstaking approach to make sure the ingredients are of a high quality, the work and effort that goes into that are that much and it lasts a lot longer”.

- Stephanie Kirkpatrick

Stephanie Kirkpatrick, an entrepreneur with a knack for wholesome food, found her footing in Northwest Arkansas. She started with Bartleby's, a food truck renowned for its delicious, all-natural cutlet sandwiches. As the truck gained traction, Stephanie realized the need for a broader platform to reach more customers.

That's where Ozark Natural Foods Co-Op came in. This community-focused grocery store embraced Stephanie's vision, offering her products a coveted spot in their refrigerated section. The partnership couldn't have been more fruitful; Bartleby's items quickly became a hit among the Co-Op's clientele, who appreciated the quality and flavor of her offerings.

Now with a line of sauces and nuggets in the pipeline, Stephanie credits much of her success to the relationships and opportunities provided by the Co-Op. Her business is not just surviving, but thriving, thanks in part to the supportive and like-minded community that the Co-Op has cultivated.

What You Will Learn In This Episode:

• Unearth the importance of promoting local establishments in fostering communal development.
• Learn the gains of collaborative food marts in supporting fledgling businesses.
• Examine the variety of bulk provisions in grocery outlets that cater to diverse needs.
• Realize the obstacles encountered by small ventures owing to supply network disturbances.
• Be inspired by a triumphant account of a small business thriving via community backing.

All this and more on this episode of Ozark Natural Foods The Co-Op Podcast.

Important Links and Mentions In This Episode:

• Visit Ozark Natural Foods store in Fayetteville, Arkansas to purchase original breaded and spicy nuggets along with fan-favorite Bartleby Special sauce, vegan honey mustard, spicy sauce, and vegan ranch from Bartleby’s Food
• Connect with other local vendors, such as Ozark Natural Foods, The Coop Beverages, and SAP Top Farms to learn about small business growth and overcoming hurdles.
• Follow Bartleby’s Food on Facebook.

This Episode is Sponsored By:

Ozark Natural Foods

Connect More With Ozark Natural Foods:

• Grab our Newsletter 
• Email Us at Info@ONF.Coop
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• Connect With Our LinkedIn Page
• Learn more about the History of Food Coops

We get by with a little help from our Co-Op Members and Friends!

Please consider rating and reviewing our podcast on Apple Podcasts or your Podcast player of choice. A little Love goes a long way. 

ONF – COOP – STEPHANIE KIRKPATRICK, BARTLEBY'S

ONF Open [0:00]

Welcome to Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop Podcast featuring stories and information about the largest food Coop in Arkansas based in Fayetteville and serving all of Northwest Arkansas. The Coop has been around for 50-plus years, providing community and encouraging a love of food that is good for us and our planet. Learn our history and standards of quality. Meet our Coop members, employees, and vendors and understand why being locally focused is vital to our food, products, and economy. The Coop has leveraged cooperative economics here in Northwest Arkansas to bring the freshest and the best food to our whole community. Listen to Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop Podcast today to learn why.

Randy Wilburn [0:58]

Welcome to the Ozark Natural Foods Coop Podcast. I'm your host, Randy Wilburn and we have a great episode in store for you today. We are sitting down with Stephanie Kirkpatrick from Bartleby's to learn more about her experience working with the Coop as a vendor, and we've had other vendors on this podcast, and I was really excited to have Stephanie join us. Stephanie, how are you doing today?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [1:23]

I am doing great. I am just finishing up all the holiday orders and getting ready for my own vacation. So I'm excited about that.

Randy Wilburn [1:30]

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [1:53]

Yeah, of course. So I started with a food truck and then during the pandemic, I had to close the food truck down for safety measures. And I started doing a frozen line and the Coop, I was a member of the Coop already and I love shopping there. Every time I walked into that store, it just felt like everything was curated so beautifully. And so when I went to them with samples of my items, and then they accepted me into their supplier vendor program. I was just so excited and they've been amazing to work with as far as being just very supportive of featuring my brands really going out of their way for local brands is something that I really loved about shopping there and now I really love it about being a vendor there.

Randy Wilburn [2:37]

Okay, well, that's awesome. Obviously, the pandemic had a challenge for everybody that had a business or has a business, especially a food business or any type of service business, for that matter. Could you tell us a little bit about Bartleby's and what makes Bartleby's so special?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [2:54]

Yes, absolutely. So Bartleby's is 100% vegan but not only that, it is super high in protein and it's just a great meal when you don't want to eat 17 times a day as a vegetarian or vegan, or if you're reducing your meat consumption. This is something that will fill you up and feel really hearty without all of that extra heaviness that comes with meat. And so I think that's really special. And then everything else that we do is made from scratch, like all of our nuggets and cutlets are made from vital wheat gluten cooked in an oven here in Arkansas, sliced up and breaded by hand. And so I think that really sets it apart as far as the quality compared to other big brands that you see out there.

Randy Wilburn [3:39]

When I think of Bartleby's, I think of some of the sandwiches that you guys made out of your food truck. A lot of those like you said the cutlets those are actually available in the refrigerator case at Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop and as well as the nuggets if you will. Is that the extent of products that are available through the Coop?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [4:03]

Randy Wilburn [4:31]

Can you tease the type of sauces that you will be potentially putting on the shelves at Ozark Natural Foods?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [4:36]

Yes, so we have four sauces available on the truck. I'll probably start with our special sauce, the Bardoli special sauce, which is sort of like the fan favorite. And then I'll move on to our spicy sauce and then our vegan honey mustard which I lovingly call the sweet and tangy mustard and then we have a vegan ranch as well and the vegan Ranch is the most complicated of them. So I'm saving that one for the last

Randy Wilburn [5:02]

When you are really taking a painstaking approach to make sure the ingredients are of high quality, the work and effort that goes into that last a lot longer. I would imagine that you have to test and retest just to make sure things are of the quality and level that you would expect.

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [5:27]

Yes, exactly. And also changing from making it for the food truck for customers to pair with their sandwiches to a bigger bulk in bottling it can change how you do the recipe. And so I just want to make sure that the taste and quality are just as high from the food truck to the shelf.

Randy Wilburn [5:46]

Well, as they say, it's got to be shelf stable, right? So you want to make sure that something is going to last. So eventually, in the near future, depending on when you're listening to this, you'll be able to actually go into Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop and purchase the cutlets or the nuggets, and then also get the sauces that you would also find at the food truck as well. So there are a lot of opportunities there. Did you ever in a million years imagined that you would be involved with the Coop?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [6:17]

No, but once I started the frozen line, and I got them their samples I now can't imagine being not in the Coop. So yeah, there was a time when it felt very surreal to walk into this place that I love shopping at and see my items on those shelves. It's like surreal is the best way to describe that.

Randy Wilburn [6:42]

And so what would you tell the uninitiated about the Coop, maybe one thing that you learned about it when you became a member and then you started putting your product on the shelves at the Coop? What would be one thing that you really learned about it that was surprising to you, and really puts you at ease in terms of knowing that I'm doing business with an organization and a company that gets it and that matters, but then also that this is a great place to continue to grow what you're doing at Bartleby's.

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [7:12]

I think the best thing about the organization as a vendor is that all of the employees know my product and know me so when I go to do a delivery, they're like, oh, hey, Stephanie, we'll put these in the freezer for you. And everyone kind of knows Bartleby's. I've been stopped while I was shopping by an employee being like, oh, like just recommended your nuggets to another customer. And I'm like, thank you so much, that's amazing in the community and the support there is unmatched.

Randy Wilburn [7:42]

I think that is kind of cool and it's the serendipity of it. You're not only a member but you're also a provider of products to the Coop. Have you had a chance to interact with other vendors that are part of the Coop and maybe learn something from them as you got started with Bartleby's?

Stephanie Kirkpatrick [8:03]

Yeah, absolutely. So I'm friends with Krista from Natural State Beverages and Trey from Fat Top Farms and they're both wonderful as far as being able to talk small business about our specific growing pains and hurdles as a small business. I really love picking their brains. And I remember when I first started making frozen foods, and I wasn't really sure how to drop off samples, or how to approach that whole ecosystem. Trey was like, why don't you just go to the front counter of the Coop and ask who would be in charge of the frozen section? They're really nice. They're so wonderful about local food and they would be so into trying your products. He really gave me that encouragement. And so I try and pass that encouragement on to anyone else who's trying to get a start. Just put yourself out there. The best thing you can do is ask and the Coop is the best place to start that because they are so 100% in on items and supporting their local communities and local small businesses which is incredible.

Randy Wilburn [9:18]

And I believe your dog agrees with us. So that's good, too. So tell me because I had a chance to talk with Krista on the podcast and we talked about being a vendor with the Coop and she also shared some of the same sentiments that you have. And then I'm familiar with the folks at Fat Top Farms. They make some amazing mushroom broth. They also make just insanely good jerky. There are just a number of vendors that are providing some really cool products to the Coop and, certainly, one thing that I think stands out based on what you said and what I've heard from other vendors is that everybody is really open to helping out, right? So if somebody listening to this, maybe has a product that they've made that's an all-natural product, and they've done it for a while and have wondered, well, I wonder if my stuff could be on the shelf at Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop, and the answer is yes, unequivocally. That's just it in a nutshell. And so I'm glad that you shared that story because again, it's not as hard as you think to get in the doors. I'm sure many of us have watched Shark Tank where somebody talked about dealing with a buyer from Costco or a buyer from Whole Foods and the hurdles that you have to go through just to get your product on the shelf, but because of the local nature of the Coop, for vendors that have a really good product that they want to share with the world, the Coop is potentially a great place to do that.

And that is just to add on. That is one of the reasons why I was so excited when I moved here to become a member and shop there very often because I knew whatever local products were coming out in this area, the Coop would have them on their shelves first because they don't have so much hoop-jumping and bureaucracy. There are just in it to help those local small businesses. And that's what is amazing about shopping there because you know you're going to get the best of Northwest Arkansas and support all those local small businesses that you want to support anyways.

If I remember correctly when we have spoken in the past, I believe you're from New England, or at least that was the last place you were before you moved here. I would love for you to comment on how Northwest Arkansas relates to you as far as that's concerned, being kind of a newer person. I've been here for about eight years now and I still feel like I'm a new kid on the block. How did that impact you and how have you felt being embraced so quickly by so many different vendors, and in so many different businesses including the Coop?

I lived in Boston for about seven years. I'm originally from Central Florida and so I have grown up with Southern foods and grits and collard greens and all of that from my parents. My spouse grew up in Rogers and so he lived in Rogers almost his entire life and then went to the University of Arkansas. And so when we were moving from Boston to this area, it just seemed really natural. I will say one of the biggest hurdles I had to overcome was living through that year in the pandemic. I was just so gung ho and ready to like, just be all in and figure out how to be part of this community and then I couldn't meet anybody for like a year. [RW – That’s tough]. It was such a bummer and in a lot of ways, I still feel like I'm new. When I'm standing next to my spouse who grew up in Rogers, I definitely feel like I'm the new kid on the block. As you said, I could be here for eight years, and still kind of feel that way as well. But the community itself is so welcoming. And they're like, oh, you're doing something cool, keep doing it and we'll support you, and that's been amazing.

I've personally had your cutlet sandwiches which are out of this world. I think you do on with a pretzel bun and with the sauce and everything else, just the marrying of the flavors, and to know that it's all-natural, which is really kind of cool too in terms of if you don't want to eat meat all the time. I don't eat red meat or pork, so for me, it's nice having some other protein options besides just fish and so I really appreciate the effort that went into what you've been able to create at Bartleby's.

I run into a lot of people who either don't eat red meat or have alpha-gal, or they're allergic to meat, or maybe due to religious reasons, only eat certain meats. And being in such a meat-heavy part of the country that's just part of our culture. And people are also really looking to reduce their meat intake without giving it up, just for conservation reasons. And so it's, it's really cool to be able to provide something that's needed in that space. I've been really welcomed here. It's been awesome. I mean, it was a little bit of a leap coming from the Northeast and everybody's been so nice and welcoming.

Oh, that's good. I'm glad that's been your experience because that certainly has been mine. But I know that a lot of people listening to this have been here all their lives. This is all they know and then still there are some others like us that are newer transplants that have decided that Northwest Arkansas is a great place to call home and the Coop is a great place to shop to find all of the things that you need. What's your favorite, besides Bartleby's, because I'm assuming you would say that, what is your favorite item to purchase at the Coop?

You got to vote for yourself.

I know you have to, but I'm asking you to exclude that because that's a given because you make it but outside of Barbleby’s products and items that are in the refrigerated section at the Coop, what's one or two of the favorite items that you'd like to pick up?

I always try to get the fat top mushroom broth. It’s really awesome. Even gravies and add-ins like stock for rice and things like that. It's really flavorful. It's got a lot of that mommy flavor and I just think they do a really great job with that. I always get a root beer from Natural State Beverages as I'm shopping. It’s like my go-to drink as I'm shopping around. And then the Coop has an amazing bulk section. So I always try and get coffee from one of the local vendors, whether it's Mountainburg Coffee or Arsaga’s Coffee, or the Coop blend of whatever. And I have my coffee bag that I try to remember to bring with me so I don't create more waste. And then I always pick up grains and nutritional yeast and everything from that and flour from that bulk section too. And spices, they have a great spice selection, that's all bulk. That's a really neat area of a Coop.

I love that too. I would say that the bulk section at the Coop is probably one of the biggest that you're going to find in Northwest Arkansas in terms of its devotion to bringing in the kind of items that you do want to purchase in bulk and that you want to be able to easily find them and so can't find them at every store but you can certainly get them at the Coop. Granted, some of the challenges with supply chain issues that have affected every business also impact the Coop. It doesn't matter, they still keep finding ways to get most of those bulk products stocked there at the Coop and it's such a really beautiful bulk section. I would encourage anyone that's listening to this that has never been or spent any time in the bulk section to make their way over to that corner of the building and checkout. What I would say is probably the largest bulk section of food in Northwest Arkansas. Would you agree?

Yeah. It's awesome. Agreed. The other section I really like is The Homestead. I love walking through here. I always try not to spend too much money on plants. And then they have a really great selection of dog treats that are all high-quality dog treats. So I love shopping there for that. And then recently, I got one of those ball jars to grow my own sprouts on my windowsill. And they have a great selection of microgreens and sprouts that you can buy the seeds of and grow yourself at home.

I think you can even buy the Scoby for you to make Kombucha, not to compete with that Natural State Beverages, of course, but just to do a little hobby thing on your own at home by making some Kombucha. I tried the hobby thing many years ago with beer back in the days before the whole kit beer stuff that was available and it didn't work out too well for me. I'm not sure I'm going to go the route of trying to make my own Kombucha I probably would kill myself. But there are several people out there, including Natural State Beverages that have done a great job with the Scoby and have been able to create some amazing, amazing Kombucha. So certainly, if that is something that you're leaning towards, or want to try for yourself, there is that available. And that's another nice thing about the Coop is that you have access to some of these unique products that you can't find in every store.

A lot of the employees will be able to talk you through. I imagine a lot of the employees have tried to make their own Kombucha at home. I've met the local vendors who drop their items off and so they're really knowledgeable, which is very cool.

They really are. And I think it's a testament to the people that they hire at the Coop. They're always looking for good people to work there. So certainly if you're listening to this, and you have the desire to get involved with a cooperative grocery store that's a little different than what you would find from a mainstream grocery store, I certainly would encourage you to check out the Coop for yourself and see what it's all about. Well, Stephanie, as we close out, is there anything that you'd like to mention before we say our goodbyes?

Just a big thank you to you for taking the time to chat with me and thanks to the Coop for all of their support for me and all the other small businesses. I think they're probably tired of hearing me say it but whenever I look at my numbers on my QuickBooks, they are my number one best seller because they really help the local businesses and it shows through how much I can sell [inaudible 19:59] other grocery stores because they know my product, they know me and they go out of their way to support local, and it makes a difference. And that's awesome. And then obviously a big thank you to everyone who shops at the Coop and supports us, small business owners. It's an amazing community to be part of.

Well, I certainly appreciate you and we will encourage folks to check out the Bartleby's products that you have available in the refrigerated section there at the Coop. What's a good website address and point of contact for you in case anybody wants to get information about the food truck and just other ways to connect with you?

They can always email me at Bartleby'sfood@gmail.com and then my website is bartleby'sfood.com. I have lots of recipes, both on our Instagram and on our blog and on our website if they're looking for ideas for at home with our cutlets and nuggets, or if they want to learn more about the food truck hours and our menu, I'm always happy to have them give me a call or shoot me an email. I always get really excited when people contact me and they're like, look what I made. It warms my heart and it gives me just so much motivation because some days are very long and when I get to see what other people are making with my items, that feeling is incredible.

It probably never gets old.

It really doesn't.

That's very cool. Well, there you have it, folks, Stephanie Kirkpatrick, the Founder of Bartleby’s. And I got to tell you, if you haven't been in her food truck, you need to check it out. And if nothing else, start at the food truck. Get one of those sandwiches. Are you still doing them with the pretzel buns?

We actually had to stop with the pretzel buns because of the supply chain. [Inaudible 21:47] but now we have [inaudible 12:50]. I'm hoping to get pretzel buns back sometime in 2023, depending on how the supply chain utilizes but the [inaudible] are really good too. [Cross-talking] fried pickles and all that good stuff.

That would be awesome. So I encourage anyone just to check it out there. And then once you've been converted, then I would tell you to just head up the block, or head up the street depending on where the food truck is located, and make your way to Ozark Natural Foods. And I'm sure that Stephanie or one of her team members in the truck will guide you and give you directions on how to get to ONF, the Coop so that you can pick up some more Bartleby’s to take home and put in your fridge. Well, thank you so much, Stephanie, we really appreciate you. This has been a great conversation. I hope somebody listening to this conversation that has a product that they've been working on and thought, you know, my product should be in the Coop, maybe they're encouraged by listening to your story, so we'll see what happens. And maybe we'll be able to look to somebody else and say, hey, Stephanie was the reason why they put their product in the Coop. So thank you again.

I love that. And they're more than welcome to reach out to me with all the questions because that's what I did when I started. So I'm happy to pass that on.

It's nothing like paying it forward. So thank you very much. [SK - Thank you]. All right, folks, we appreciate you taking the time to learn more about Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop. This podcast was developed to highlight a community created more than 50 years ago with a focus on the love of food that is good for us and our planet. We have plenty of stories to tell so stay tuned for more. I'm your host Randy Wilburn and we'll see you back here soon.

Thanks for tuning in to the Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop Podcast. Whether you are new to the area and looking for a healthy grocery store, or you've been here for ages but didn't know the whole story about Ozark Natural Foods, the Coop, this podcast is one of the best places to start. For more information about the Coop, please visit our website at onf.coop to learn more. That's onf.coop@ozarknaturalfoods, the Coop. We mean it when we say keeping it local since 1971.