

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brit Williams.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I embarked on a granola bar journey in 2015. It all started when I noticed the lack of nutritional value in the granola bars my husband was eating. Determined to create something better, I crafted a granola bar that was both delicious and packed with essential nutrients, free from unnecessary additives.
Over the next few years, I whipped up these wholesome bars for our family and shared them at events I managed. Then, in early 2019, something magical happened. At a nationwide natural food store event, the staff couldn’t stop raving about my bars—they insisted I should sell them. That encouragement fueled my courage to share my creation with even more people!
But it wasn’t just about granola bars. As I pondered how our bars could stand out, I taught our young son about manners. The impact of a simple “No, Thank You!” versus a plain “No!” struck me profoundly. If such a small phrase could ease tensions with a child, imagine the transformative power of manners in all aspects of life. And so, manners became our brand’s purpose. Our granola bars are crafted from simple, gluten-free, and dairy-free ingredients. They’re wrapped in eco-friendly packaging, but that’s not all—they carry a message that matters. Manners mean respecting others, even when we disagree. We’re all humans striving to do great things; sometimes, we need a gentle reminder to be kind to one another.
My hope? Our granola bars have become a daily delight for people—a tasty reminder of the incredible power of manners. Since selling my first granola bar in 2019 and making them in my kitchen with a “cottage food” license selling on Insta-story and local farmers markets, I now produce in a commercial kitchen, fully licensed and selling in Minnesota Grocery stores and Co-ops and growing our footprint across the nation. We have kept our goal of simple, nutritious ingredients, earth-friendly packaging, and a product that comes with a message all along the way. We’re proud to have launched our 6th granola bar called the “Thank You” – an almond, vanilla bar – in February 2024!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve been taking this journey one step at a time. I figure out one thing and then figure out where to go next. The most significant challenges have always been the learning curves of each new step. They come with unknowns, tough decisions, and faith that it will all work out if I do it with the right intention. That’s been the basis of how I run the business – are the intentions right, does it align with the mission, is it the right thing for the customer, does the customer want that, does losing money here ultimately set us up better later?
Some of the learning curves have been:
- Trademarking our name, Please & Thank You, and finding out a cookie company already took it because cookies are too similar to granola bars in the eyes of trademarks, we had to change our name, which is how we landed on P&TY Granola Co.
- Figuring out the formulation for a bar after we moved from one package type to another. It worked in the first package, but with the new packaging barriers, the formulation wasn’t correct, and we needed to quickly change a recipe because of a longer-term decision we made on the package type.
- I found out the more prominent distribution companies don’t want me because I’m too small. Still, I can only get into some stores if I’m with a regional/national distribution company.
Challenges and learning curves will always arise, but I’m proud of our one-step-at-a-time approach to figuring out how to keep getting my granola bars out to people.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Fueled by Respect: Granola Bars that say “Please & Thank You.” We express respect for others by using good manners, and in our busy lives, sometimes we need a hint of the importance of manners. P&TY Granola Co. has that goal.
At P&TY Granola Co., we care about 3 things:
- Create healthy and tasty bars with high-quality ingredients without extra additives, gluten- and dairy-free, using only natural sweeteners (honey & agave). We make our nut butter to decide what goes into our products.
- We should offer granola bars that remind us about manners – every bar is named after a manner, even in our name! Manners show mutual respect in a world where a little kindness can make a big difference.
- Making bars that don’t make more for the earth – our wrappers and packaging are eco-friendly. They are the perfect snack for kids and adults that are on the go.
When you bite into one of our chewy bars, it will taste delicious and fill you up with all the proper nutrients. Beyond their taste, our products are an invitation to act with respect. We name all of them after manners to spread kindness and remind people that even though we may disagree, we can still respect each other as humans. Our mission is to make loyal fans who eat our products every day and, in turn, are invited to act with respect and make a difference every day.
What matters most to you?
My customers and their satisfaction with a snack that is delicious and healthy. It’s a way of connecting them to the world with simple, daily prompts to look after yourself and be mindful of others and the planet.
Pricing:
- Sampler Bundle – try one of everything – $24
- 5-pack of granola bars – $16
- 10-pack of granola bars – $30
- 15-pack of granola bars – $41
- Bag of granola (8oz) – $11
Pricing:
- Sampler Bundle – try one of everything – $24
- 5-pack of granola bars – $16
- 10-pack of granola bars – $30
- 15-pack of granola bars – $41
- Bag of granola (8oz) – $11
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ptygranolacompany.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptygranolaco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PTYGranolaCo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britneybryant/
Image Credits
https://skylarrae.photography/