Heather's Choice on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost and how to buy dehydrated snacks to enjoy the Alaskan outdoors

The proprietor of Heather's Choice, is highlighted on 'Shark Tank' Season 15 for her pocket-sized snacks and her kitchen-prepared meals that just require water
PUBLISHED JAN 13, 2024
Heather Kelly to pitch her dehydrated backpacking food and hiking snacks company in 'Shark Tank' Season 15 (ABC/ChristopherWillard)
Heather Kelly to pitch her dehydrated backpacking food and hiking snacks company in 'Shark Tank' Season 15 (ABC/ChristopherWillard)

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: Heather Kelly introduces the Sharks to Heather's Choice, her dehydrated meals for outdoor camping, on 'Shark Tank' Season 15. Heather's Choice, unlike other freeze-dried meals sold in camping stores, utilizes healthful, environmentally produced products.

The whole meal is cooked before it is dehydrated, making it more flavorful than freeze-dried equivalents.

Heather's Choice stands out as a light in the realm of outdoor experiences, where the lure of the wild collides with the need for food. Heather, a resilient and adventure-driven entrepreneur, founded the company, which is destined to make a mark on the entrepreneurial scene when she pitches it on 'Shark Tank' on January 12, 2024.

Heather Kelly to introduce 'Shark Tank' Season 15 investors with her snacking company Heather's Choice (ABCChristopherWillard)
Heather Kelly to introduce 'Shark Tank' Season 15 investors with her snacking company Heather's Choice (ABCChristopherWillard)

What is Heather's Choice?

Heather's Choice's premise is straightforward yet effective: life is an adventure, and your meals should fuel that trip. Heather's Choice specializes in dehydrated meals and snacks for the outdoor adventure market, with a focus on health and quality.

The products, which are prepared with healthful components, claim to leave you invigorated, satisfied, and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.

Unlike standard free-dried meals that dominate the market, Heather's Choice uses a dehydrating method to retain the integrity of each meal. The difference is in the cooking method: Heather's meals are prepared before dehydration, guaranteeing that the rehydrated product tastes as good as a home-cooked dinner.

This distinguishes Heather's Choice, resulting in a product that is not only delicious but also nutritious.

Heather's dedication to sustainable sourcing is obvious in each dish. Heather partners with firms like Honest Bison to guarantee that her meals include grass-fed bison and wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon.

This not only improves the nutritional value of the meals, but also demonstrates a commitment to ethical and ecologically responsible methods.

Heather's business spirit was sparked by a personal need: a scarcity of appropriate wilderness meals that matched her dietary requirements. She experimented with her food dehydrator, inspired by a desire to produce meals she could eat anywhere on the globe, and discovered a new and tasty approach to outdoor dining.

Heather's meals are popular with the outdoor population since they are both tasty and healthy. There are alternatives for breakfast, supper, and lunch.

Breakfasts include muesli, buckwheat, and oatmeal selections. Dinner options include grass-fed beef shepherd's pie, spaghetti and meatballs, bison chili, and much more. She also offers Packaroons, a cookie/energy snack to take on the hike.

There are gluten and dairy-free choices as well.

Heather's Choice offers travelers delectable, nutritious meals and snacks (Instagram/heatherschoice)
Heather's Choice offers travelers delectable, nutritious meals and snacks (Instagram/heatherschoice)

Who is the founder of Heather's Choice?

Heather founded Heather's Choice Company and is a sports nutritionist and trained psychology coach. She has collaborated with thousands of individuals around the world to create healthy eating programs.

In 2011, she planned a journey to Alaska's Sanctuary River in quest of healthful, lightweight, shelf-stable foods, but came up empty-handed. Following this, the concept of dehydrating food emerged.

Heather's road to establishing Heather's Choice is as dynamic as the things she makes. Heather's athletic experience, as a two-time NCAA National Champion in women's rowing and a CRCA/Pocock All-American, served as the foundation for her thorough grasp of nutrition.

With a degree in Evolutionary Nutrition and a certification in eating psychology coaching, she set out on a quest to transform the outdoor food sector.

Heather Kelly founded Heather's Choice in 2017 (ABC/ChristopherWallard)
Heather Kelly founded Heather's Choice in 2017 (ABC/ChristopherWallard)

What is the cost and how to buy Heather's Choice?

Meals cost between $8.95 and $15.95 per serving. Packaroons cost $2.50.

Heather's Choice is available at many independent sports goods shops, REI, the company's website, and on Amazon.

On Instagram, users rave about the product as they write, "Packaroons are a fanny pack essential! 🙌."  Another user chimed in, "Congrats from a U.K. fan, I’ve enjoyed picking up my packaroons in Anchorage then eating them around the world…and sharing it on Instagram 👍."

Some people also wrote, "Just tried this flavor yesterday, it’s incredible!"  A fourth person added, "❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ these!!" 

Every meal from Heather's Choice is created by hand, and certain items are also gluten-free (Instagram/heatherschoice)
Every meal from Heather's Choice is created by hand, and certain items are also gluten-free (Instagram/heatherschoice)

Where is Heather's Choice now?

Heather's path from ideation to the launch of Heather's Choice was not without hurdles. Producing a product, she discovered, was a massive effort that required perseverance and devotion.

Heather's dedication to providing a high-quality product that represents her ideals of health, sustainability, and adventure has received significant support from the backcountry community.

Heather launched the firm in 2017 with a successful Kickstarter campaign that earned $54,074.

Her business began as a bet between friends.

"Triple Dog dared me to start the business in the summer of 2014. I'd say it's been a steep learning curve for me," she told youralaskalink.

Heather's Choice is more than simply a collection of dehydrated meals; it's a testament to one woman's drive to reinvent outdoor eating. We can only imagine how Heather's healthful, packable meals would benefit the outdoor adventure industry when she pitches her creative business to 'Shark Tank'.

Heather's Choice is more than just a brand; it's a culinary companion for individuals seeking food and adventure on their outdoor trek.

Heather is most likely looking for a Shark to assist her in relocating her operations from Anchorage, Alaska, to anywhere in the lower 48 states in order to cut manufacturing expenses.

For people who appreciate the Alaskan outdoors, Heather's Choice offers meals with added water and dried snacks (Instagram/heatherschoice)
For people who appreciate the Alaskan outdoors, Heather's Choice offers meals with added water and dried snacks (Instagram/heatherschoice)

Who will steal the deal?

This is a pretty narrow business, yet there are some huge corporations in it. Sharks prefer to avoid these sorts of items.

We don't see Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Candace Nelson, or Lori Greiner making a bid. We believe Heather's only hope is Daymond John.

He is a passionate outdoorsman, so this may appeal to him on a personal level. It's unclear whether this translates into an offer, but Daymond is her last hope.

'Shark Tank's Daymond John may invest in Heather's Choice (ABC/ChristopherWillard/Instagram/heatherschoice)
'Shark Tank's Daymond John may invest in Heather's Choice (ABC/ChristopherWillard/Instagram/heatherschoice)

'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 10, airs on ABC on Friday, January 12, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Heather's Choice, Viberide, Dingle Dangle, and Fishwife.

For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

RELATED TOPICS SHARK TANK (2009)

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