May 1, 2006, Oakland, CA --Trail mix will never be the same again thanks to the inspiration two hikers found in a tiresome pre-made package. Less than one year after their brainstorm of a hike, Gabe Bruck, 25, and John Winslow, 25, have reinvented a somewhat stale and predictable category by launching the Internet's first customized trail mix company: Barking Buffalo.

Located at www.barkingbuffalo.com, the concept is as straightforward as the slogan: "Design it, Name it, Eat it." With 24 high quality ingredients to choose from, featuring premium items such as California dried apricots and peaches, Scharffen Berger dark chocolate, SemiFreddi's Biscotti Bits and Café Fanny Granola, Bay Area natives Bruck and Winslow are aiming to reinvent the trail mix concept while providing their customers with top quality basic ingredients and offering some hard-to-find, Bay Area favorites.  

"For John and me, the concept was pretty simple--our entire business plan was to create a trail mix that we would use ourselves and want to tell our friends about," said Bruck. "Essentially what the prepackaged mixes from club or grocery stores have to offer is convenience. After that, it's downhill. Either the stuff isn't very fresh, or it doesn't have exactly what you want or if you're like me, you're picking the raisins out of the bag," added Winslow. "With Barking Buffalo, you create your own mix and name it. It's completely personalized for whatever the customer wants. We don't make anyone have raisins in their mix unless they want them! Ultimately, we want to make people happy."

In addition to providing an ingredient list, the Barking Buffalo site also allows customers to create a mix based on the ingredients' nutritionals. The site is designed to give users a breakdown of protein, natural sugars, carbs, fats, etc., before the mix is ordered to ensure that customers have both the flavor and the nutrient profile they want.

The 24 ingredients are divided into three categories based on ingredient price. "Standard" ingredients such as peanuts, raisins and pretzels sell for 59 cents for every two ounces; "Premium" ingredients such as Café Fanny Granola, California dried peaches and yogurt raisins sell for $1.09 for every two ounces; and "Supreme" ingredients, which include Bay Area favorites such as Semifreddi's Almond Biscotti bits, Marich â Chocolate-Covered Espresso Beans and Scharffen Berger chocolate chunks sells for $1.59 for every two ounces.   Consumers can design their own 12-ounce bag of Barking Buffalo Custom Trail Mix for an average cost ranging between $4.50-$6.00, priced competitively against everyday prepackaged mixes.

For those who want the convenience of a grab-and-go product, but still want something more interesting that your typical mix, Bruck and Winslow created a line of ready-to-eat mixes called "No Brainers." Featuring the "Wake-Up Mix" (Semifreddi's Almond Biscotti bits, California dried apricots, roasted almonds and chocolate-covered espresso beans), the "Grazing Mix" (sun-dried peaches, roasted and salted cashews, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and Scharffen Berger chocolate chunks), the "Stampede Mix" (roasted and salted cashews, golden raisins, soy nuts, dried cherries, and sunflower seeds), and the "Classic Mix" (raisins, peanuts, granola, chocolate covered candies, and pretzels), "No Brainers" are packed daily per customer orders. "They're pre-designed, but not prepackaged," notes Bruck. "These are quick order mixes and are just as fresh as the custom product."

With grab-and-go meals, from energy bars to ready-made smoothies, on the rise, Bruck and Winslow see a tremendous opportunity for growth for Barking Buffalo Custom Trail Mix. Bruck and Winslow know from personal experience and as trend spotters that just about everyone is eating on the run in some way or another--college students trying to grab some protein in between classes, weekend exercise warriors, traveling business execs who need to pack a high-energy snack in the laptop cases, busy moms who shuttle between career needs and soccer practice. "We really think that this is the right product for what's happening today. There's so much junk out there, whether it's super caffeinated, corn syrupy energy drinks or fruit snacks that contain zero real fruit.   Barking Buffalo is the real thing for real energy--anywhere, anytime," says Winslow.

Located at www.barkingbuffalo.com , the site also features interesting travel stories by and for hikers, bikers, clubbers, programmers, health nuts, etc., an adventure gallery, an electronic newsletter, all designed by the founders who believe that they shouldn't take themselves too seriously, despite the fact that they've created a serious product. "At the end of the day, we want to make our customers happy and for them to have a little fun while connecting with us," Bruck concluded.

Press kit materials are available online at www.barkingbuffalo.com