Client Showcase

Trails End Bison Ranch

A Saskatchewan Product is Launched … into SPACE!!

Astronauts living on the International Space Station at the end of 2012 will taste a little Saskatchewan flare. Trails End Bison Ranch’s Buffalo Stix – Cranberry Craze was one of 12 uniquely Canadian foods to head into space through the Canadian Space Agency’s Snacks for Space competition. The competition was held in honor of Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut, who will take the helm of the International Space Station at the end of this year.

Proud owners Kevin and Judy Wilkinson are excited to have their healthy meat snack with added cranberries as part of the astronauts in-flight menu. Talk about exploring new markets!!

Interestingly enough, their product was nominated by a mystery man in Edmonton and the Wilkinsons didn’t know about it until they received an email from the Canadian Space Agency, informing them they had been nominated and successfully chosen.

Since the news proliferation of their product going into space, the Wilkinsons finally received contact from their mystery nominator, Jeff. Judy and Kevin were able to personally thank him for enjoying their product so much that he took the time to nominate them. “We are extremely grateful to Jeff. This has really opened new doors for our business,” says Judy.

Judy and Kevin have done several interviews on television and radio and numerous newspapers picked up their success story. They are local celebrities as people recognize them or their product at tradeshows and craft shows. Many more shows are in the works for Trails End Bison this year to capitalize on this opportunity. They have received orders from three Pharmasave Drug Stores to carry their product and sales have been brisk for these two entrepreneurs.

Loyal and new customers are sending their congratulations to Kevin and Judy. “We always knew your products were far out,” one customer wrote in to Judy. Another said “Your product sounds really suitable for earth travellers (backpackers) as well as space travellers – good sustenance for multi-dimensional rovers of all kinds.”

The product is high in protein, low in fat, contains no trans fat, and is higher in iron compared to beef or pork jerky. Judy and Kevin developed the buffalo-cranberry snack and enlisted the Food Centre in finetuning the formulation. “Since the Food Centre’s inception in 1997 and 350 products test marketed, this is a first ever for the food industry in Saskatchewan,” says Dan Prefontaine, Food Centre President. “The product’s use of traditional bison and cranberries is innovative and supports industry diversity. The Food Centre is extremely proud to be part of Trails End Bison’s success.”

Trails End Bison currently manufactures their product at the Food Centre’s federal facility and at Drake Meat Processors in Drake, Saskatchewan.

Find their products at these Saskatchewan locations: Pharmasave Drugstores in Kindersley, Prince Albert, and Radville
Saskatoon in Saskmade Marketplace and Creative Compliments
Regina in Museum Gift Store
Lloydminister in Muscles and More

Buffalo Stix is available online at http://trailsendbuffalostix.com/. Send us an email: trailsendbison@sasktel.net