Makers of Kodiak SOLSTIX® Salmon Jerky Swim in Awards and Endorsements

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin presented Rob Baer and Mark Witteveen of Alaska Spirit, LLC the Leadership in Marketing Award at the 2007 Global Food Alaska Conference and Trade Show in June for innovative marketing of their shelf stable, high-protein Kodiak SOLSTIX® salmon jerky.

Kodiak, AK (PRWEB) July 14, 2007 -- Ask Rob Baer and Mark Witteveen of Alaska Spirit what the secret to their company's success is and they'll say, "The best things in life come in threes." The two Kodiak, Alaska entrepreneurs who manufacture and supply Kodiak SOLSTIX® salmon jerky to a diverse group of world-class athletes have won a prestigious award for their efforts.

First it was Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno who integrated Kodiak SOLSTIX® salmon jerky into his nutritional program and went on to win ABC's Dancing with the Stars on May 21. Then super middleweight boxer Wayne Johnsen added the salmon jerky sticks to his daily nutrition regimen and scored a unanimous victory at Madison Square Garden on June 9. The third kudo occurred on June 14 when the co-owners shook hands with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as she presented them with the Leadership in Marketing Award at the state's 2007 Global Food Alaska Conference and Trade Show.

"It was an honor just to be considered for this award in the company of some of Alaska's foremost food manufacturing leaders," said co-owner Mark Witteveen, adding, "When you have an idea, give it your best shot and run with it."

Baer and Witteveen entered the $10.4 billion-a-year snack foods industry in 2004 after refining a recipe for salmon jerky they initially created in their home kitchens. They have since received a number of grants to cultivate a brand identity, though they still hold their day jobs as fishery biologists. All income is directed back into the company.

Kodiak SOLSTIX® is made from wild-caught Alaska salmon caught in the pristine waters of Kodiak Island, a Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified sustainable wild salmon fishery. Salmon filets are blended with spices and then lightly smoked to give it a mild flavor, without drying out the jerky. The end result is a high-protein, gluten-free snack furnishing essential amino acids and--following the theme of threes--heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids with each package containing three Kodiak SOLSTIX®.

Baer and Witteveen developed the shelf stable seafood snack with nutritionally demanding athletes in mind, though Kodiak SOLSTIX® is the ideal on-the-go fuel for outdoor enthusiasts, office workers, teens--anyone looking for an all-natural, high-protein snack.

Alaska Spirit LLC proudly sponsors a core team of professional athletes as well as supplying personnel in the armed forces. The company recently shipped more than 1,000 packages of salmon jerky to Alaska-based military personnel in Iraq and is supporting 40 wounded soldiers visiting Kodiak Island for four weeks this summer as part of the Wounded Warrior Project which provides programs and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.

'The best things in life come in threes' continues as Baer and Witteveen pursue three marketing avenues: A sponsorship for an annual climbing competition at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, supplying school nutrition programs as part of the national effort to get healthier food in schools, and supporting U.S. national sprint cycling champion Giddeon Massie with Kodiak SOLSTIX® as he prepares for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

###