The entrepreneur: Leslie Montie
The company: Wildtree
The turnaround story: For Montie, founder of Wildtree, her mission was to help her children live better lives. Wildtree was born in 1996 after Montie discovered both her children had medical conditions requiring special dietary restrictions. Though still working full-time to support her children, Montie used her chemistry background and paired up with her mother and father, both phenomenal cooks, to experiment with new ways to flavor and prepare foods. She began selling the all-natural concoctions out of brown paper bags at craft fairs across New England. Montie and her parents were overwhelmed by the response, prompting Montie to leave her job to develop the company and throw home parties. "The long nights working are so worth it," she says. "They're much better than the long nights I spent staying up with my children." In 2004, Wildtree partnered with The Southwestern Company and today brings in sales of $4 million. (read the full story)
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Wildtree Herbs' extensive product line consists of culinary blends, infused oils; sauces, dressings and marinades along with all natural fudge sauces. Each product is free of preservatives, MSG, fillers and anti-caking agents. Many are gluten-free, wheat-free, and all are quick and easy to use mealtime solutions.
Company founder, Leslie Montie, was inspired to put together her first creations from necessity. Both of her children had medical conditions that required special diets. These sensitivities to certain foods led her to enlist the help of her parents and some old family recipes. Word quickly spread and Montie began to receive requests. Not long after, at an annual craft show in Rhode Island, she was asked if she had ever hosted a home party. Montie held her first party in 1996 and turned Wildtree Herbs into a thriving home party business.
"My motivation was not only to provide healthy dietary alternatives for my family, but to help the thousands of families with the same need," says Montie. She also points out her products promote healthy, but flavorful lifestyles. "Not everyone has the time or talent to be a gourmet chef. Our products offer a quick and easy, and, yes, healthy way to control what goes on your family's table."
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