Two former college basketball teammates and brothers from Baruch College, Gerard and Devin founded Tuff Treats to bake protein cookies that taste more like dessert than the dry snacks they struggled to find. Based in Staten Island, the company bakes its cookies fresh each week using real ingredients and packs each one with 20 grams of protein, without seed oils or gluten. Tuff Treats ships its fitness-focused treats nationwide.
CALTEINBorn from a bodybuilder’s frustration with chalky protein snacks, CALTEIN makes small-batch protein butter cookies in New York City using real ingredients and familiar cookie flavors. Founder Aaron began testing recipes in his apartment kitchen after a Yosemite trip and still oversees every batch, including cookies that deliver 20 grams of protein per pouch without sacrificing a buttery, treat-like taste.
Sigma SnacksBorn from Pittsburgh-area founder Tyler Overmier’s experience as a collegiate swimmer, Sigma Snacks makes all-natural caffeinated energy cookies for people who need food and fuel in the same bite. Its soft-baked cookies combine 90 milligrams of natural caffeine with plant-based protein and are made in the USA without artificial preservatives. Overmier’s team brings together food-technology, culinary-development, and CPG manufacturing experience to develop the company’s portable alternative to coffee or a pre-workout drink.OAKMONT, PA
Bakery Barn, LLCBakery Barn is a Pittsburgh-area baked-goods manufacturer that has produced baked goods nationwide since 2000. It began with a baked protein meal replacement developed from vanilla protein powder and a chocolate chip cookie recipe, and says its proprietary baking technology is used to formulate its baked bars.PITTSBURGH, PA
The Nash Bar CoChad and Hanna make all-natural, 20-gram protein bars by hand in small batches at their Columbus, Ohio kitchen. The Nash Bar Co. began with Hanna’s homemade protein balls and Chad’s experience as a Youngstown strength coach, launching its first bar in January 2019 after the pair found no ready-to-eat option that combined simple ingredients with substantial protein. Each bar is handmade, pressed and packaged by the two founders, with recipes made to order for freshness.COLUMBUS, OH