Windham Wheat by Castleton Crackers Recommended by Whom You Know! Great Job Whitney!
Castleton Crackers has a delicious line of hearty, natural crackers. Their Windham Wheat is no exception. It’s a simple, wheat cracker, with a delicious and hearty taste. I tried the Windham Wheat cracker with some simple peanut butter. It worked great for a healthy, easy and simple snack. I’ll definitely turn to this in the future when I need something quick, but healthy to keep me going during the day.
Crackers can be a great way to snack. They are a quick and easy way to fend off hunger pains. When reaching for a box at the store, however, make sure you grab the best ones! Castleton Crackers are hand made in Vermont with all-natural ingredients, and you can taste it! I love their Windham Wheat crackers. They have a great flavor, and they are a healthy alternative to many other snacks. Sometimes, I even spread on a little peanut butter for some extra energy!
Maybe it's that hint of maple syrup that gives this cracker its special finish. Maybe it's the fact that it's made with ancient traditional methods, hand cracked, delightfully large and generous in its portion size. Castleton Crackers makes great flavors of crackers, but the Windham Wheat is a basic necessity for your next cheese tray. Or just to snack on, all by itself. When chowder time rolls around, it may just be the new cracker on the table, too. Maybe it's the prejudiced point of view of a cracker lover, but Castleton has hit the mark with their artisanal approach to food. The flavors, and the top notch ingredients make for an excellent cracker. Buy a box for your guest, but be sure to stash one for yourself, for guilt-free moments with a great glass of wine.
If you think you know wheat crackers, think again! Thanks to Whitney's Castleton Crackers, wheat crackers have gotten a whole new life. Their Windham Wheat crackers have a slightly buttery taste, and are a terrific accompaniment for cheese, chutney, hummus, and just about anything else you can think of using a wheat cracker for. Like all of Whitney's Castleton Crackers, these crackers are all-natural, handmade, hand-cracked, and contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. I paired them with roasted garlic hummus, and was delighted by the hearty wheat flavor, as well as the rustic look and texture. I will definitely be keeping these on hand for lunches and snacks!
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CASTLETON CRACKERS
By Whitney Lamy, founder
A Passionate Beginning
Five years ago, after losing my job in arts management, I realized that I love food and I love to feed people good food. My dream was to start my own food company. And not just any company, I saw a Vermont niche.
With my interest in art and baking, long ago I came across a recipe for homemade crackers from the 1800’s. Who makes homemade crackers I thought? I adapted the recipe to reflect the wholesomeness of Vermont. Most crackers contain refined sugars. I replaced the sugar with all natural pure Vermont maple syrup. Over the years I baked my homemade crackers for family and friends to much enthusiasm. Many would encourage me to sell the crackers. I always put the idea on hold until I started paying attention to the growth and creation of Vermont artisan and farmstead cheese companies around the state and the formation of the Vermont Cheese Council.
Thinking there might be a niche for a Vermont artisan cracker to complement all these wonderful Vermont cheeses I began my market research. I visited numerous gourmet and food co-op stores in Vermont and realized no company was creating a unique artisanal cracker.
This motivated me to start my own business producing all natural Vermont artisan crackers. With two daughters in college the family capital was pretty much spoken for but I was determined to move forward. I evaluated the pros and cons and new I was, “passionate” about my delicious crackers and that I was my number one asset.
A Recipe for Homemade Success
I took action and Castleton Crackers was born at the Rutland Winter’s Farmers Market. The farmer’s market turned out to be a wonderful resource for little investment. Every Saturday, I was face to face with potential customers getting feedback seeing if I got repeat buyers and testing price points. The exposure of Castleton Crackers at the farmer’s market led to retail interest around the state. Within several months I signed on with my first distributor of Vermont specialty foods.
I faced and continue to face the odds of a new food business success and failure rates, having to wear all the hats such as sales and marketing, production, and limited funds especially during an economic downturn. I stayed on track and was committed to my brand of crackers. I chose to work with a manufacturer to produce and fulfill my cracker line rather than invest in a facility, equipment and employees. Although I introduced a new product into a market that was already saturated with specialty crackers I stayed focused. I feel strongly that the Vermont brand of high quality and sense of place only enhances my product.
From My Kitchen to Stores and Homes Across the Country
Five years later, Castleton Crackers are now sold nationwide through eight distributors. Currently, stores the size of Whole Foods, Hannaford’s and Price Chopper carry Castleton crackers as well as small specialty cheese shops and co-ops. Sales have continued to grow 30% annually. Without a PR agent on the payroll, The New York Times promoted Castleton Crackers in an article, “Crackers With a Good New England Crunch” (Food Section, February 16, 2011) along with the popular Rachael Ray Show featuring Castleton Crackers as “the snack of the day” on May 16, 2010.
Feeding and Funding Great Success
In January 2013, Castleton Crackers was purchased by the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company in South Woodstock, VT. I remain with VFCC and head up the Castleton Specialty Food Division, overseeing sales and marketing, production, quality control and development of new products.
Castleton Crackers
Castleton, Vermont
