IT ALL STARTED in the spring of 2011 when the CEO of MANA Nutrition contacted us (Alex and Mark). Mark was finishing up his studies in Greece and Alex was living in China. We were both presented with a simple email, inviting us to return to the US and help spread awareness about one of the most devastating inflictions in the developing world:

severe acute malnutrition.

The good news is there’s a cure. MANA Nutrition produces a ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) made from peanut butter fortified with essential vitamins. With three servings of MANA’s peanut butter based therapeutic food each day, a child on the brink of death can be totally revived in four to six weeks.

Not only does MANA save lives; it delivers the proteins and nutrients needed for proper brain growth during crucial development phases. 

This means that children can do better than merely surviving. With healthy brains and bodies, they can thrive.

There’s more good news: you can help! 

We knew this good news story had to spread. We bought a 1971 Winnebago on ebay, called it the Manabago and hit the road for a 12,000-mile journey across the US. We went to schools, churches, waffle houses…any place that would hear us out. We had mechanical setbacks from time to time but overall, we were inspired and felt our efforts were making a difference.

Then, the Manabago exploded.

The exact cause is still unknown, but most people agreed it was a hot spot in the brakes that helped some flames find the propane tanks. It was game over…for an evening. We still had events to get to and a message about winning the battle against malnutrition. No good journey is an easy journey and we knew it couldn’t end with the Manabago, so we packed what little stuff we had remaining and hitchhiked the last 2,500 miles. By the end of the Manabago tour, we knew we needed something more sustainable. We needed a more effective way to help good spread.

 so…

WE STARTED A PEANUT BUTTER COMPANY CALLED GOOD SPREAD. We’ve already produced our first (sample) batch of peanut butter mixed with organic honey and organic sea salt. We’ve got a few retailers lined up and they feel the same way we do.

• It’s natural.
• It’s convenient.
• It’s just.
• It’s good.

MANA Nutrition really liked it too so they’re letting us use their factory in Southern Georgia to produce it and that makes a lot of sense because for every one of our peanut butter packages sold, we are donating a package of therapeutic food via MANA. As if all this wasn’t enough good news,World Vision agreed to act as our implementation partner to deliver the therapeutic food generated through the sales of Good Spread. Yep, you heard right.

So here’s how it all breaks down:

• Your stomach craves peanut butter and your heart craves justice
• You buy a packet of Good Spread peanut butter (mixed with honey and sea salt)
• Because of your purchase, we send a packet of MANA therapeutic food to a child who needs it (delivered by World Vision)!

GOOD SPREAD PEANUT BUTTER IS A BUY ONE, GIVE ONE!

MONEY

WHY DO WE NEED YOUR MONEY?

Because making delicious, individually packaged peanut butter with organic honey and organic sea salt actually takes some serious factory action. In the first week of November our factory in Fitzgerald, GA will be cranking out a full shipment of our product.

Perfecting tastes, assessing costs, etc

The initial production run includes:

– Ingredients

– Mixing

– Packaging

– Design (w/customized plates that stamp our design)

– Shipping (to get Good Spread from the factory to retailer shelves)

– Stocking (because each retailer has a shelf fee)

(Prepare to have your mind blown…)

When you add all these factors together – compounded with the miscellaneous costs and the fact that we need to produce enough Good Spread in our initial run to carry us for the next 6 months (Estimated break even point)…it comes out to roughly $65K.

I know that sounds like a lot and that’s because it is. All things considered, it’s a lot because out of it, we get a lot.

100,000 packets of Good Spread to be precise.

Think of it like someone who’s producing a new album.  Though they have the heart and determination to make it happen, they need a whole lot more than a guitar and some fans.  They pay for recording, mixing, art work, producing and even a label fee!  Think of Good Spread like that…but rather than getting great tunes for your ears, you get great tastes for you mouth.

If you’re still in disbelief about the cost, then call one of our friends at MANA:

855-438-6262

…they’ll tell you what’s up.