Stamford foodie concocts ‘magic potion:’ healthier frosting for snacks on the go
STAMFORD — Nearly everyone had a guilty pleasure during the early lock down days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Alexa Ozimek, it was a spoonful here and there —and again — from a little tub or two of cake frosting in her Stamford apartment.
What if those irresistible spoonfuls could be guilt-free? wondered Ozimek — and others as well who fronted her $10,000 to concoct a healthy frosting snack for the consumer.
Ozimek is calling it “Frost,” with “Simply Vanilla” and “Fudge Brownie” flavors initially planned with no artificial sweeteners and beneficial ingredients — including protein.
Frost will come in 1.3-ounce “sachet” pouches that can be carried with ease and torn open for a quick snack. Ozimek said she plans to sell it initially on Amazon, but anticipates in time lining up grocery chains to sell it as well.
“I remember just sitting there and saying, ‘imagine if I could just eat that frosting right out of the tub and not feel bad about it,’” Ozimek said. “I love fitness, but I love food and I love sweets — so it’s this hard combination to get right, as I’m sure many people can agree with.”
Ozimek grew up in New Canaan, attending the University of Connecticut as did her parents and sisters. She is keeping her day job with a company that sells sun-care products, with plans to grow Frost as a side venture, she said.
Product development was an adventure, taking dozens of batches for Ozimek to land on the right mix of ingredients, she said.
“It is like trying to make a magic potion, between getting the sweetness right, getting the texture right, getting the flavor right,” Ozimek said.
On the Kickstarter crowdfunding website, Ozimek raised $10,000 in just a month and is aiming for initial production this fall with retail distribution by early next year.
She said she plans to add more flavors in time, as well as jars for home shelves. Ozimek said home bakers can use Frost as a healthier cake icing in addition to a snack.
In a study this spring, Boston Consulting Group and Information Resources Inc. indicated large consumer packaged companies lost market share during the pandemic to small labels, as inventories for some products drew scarce on store shelves and shoppers tried out alternatives that stuck.
IRI had previously singled out two food categories for especially impressive pandemic momentum — “protein-on-the-go” options like belVita bars and “better for you” snacking labels like Skinny Pop popcorn.
But a few old guard names made the list as well that are familiar in kitchen cabinets — notably Betty Crocker and Pillsbury.
There’s a happy medium in balancing what to have when you just want an indulgence, Ozimek said.
“There are so many times throughout the day when we’re reaching out for a snack, whether it’s after lunch, on the run, or as a late-night dessert,” she said. “A granola bar is not always going to satisfy that sweet tooth. … Healthy snack alternatives shouldn’t have to be bland or boring.”
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