Energy bar company expanding

An Ovando company that processes its energy bars in Columbia Falls was one of seven Montana businesses to receive an economic and development grant from Gov. Steve Bullock on Dec. 9.

Omnivore Inc. will get more than $15,000 from the state’s Big Sky Trust Fund to study ways to increase production of its popular Omnibar products.

Made with beef raised on company owner Cooper Burchenal’s Two Creek Monture Ranch in the Blackfoot River Valley, Omnibars have been produced for Omnivore by Vandevanter Meats, on Trap Road in Columbia Falls, for nearly two years. The company applied for the grant because Vandevanter was nearing capacity.

“We’re staying with Vandevanter,” Burchenal said. “Our market focus is on the Northwest, from here to Seattle and here to Denver. That’s a lot of people.”

Omnibars have been cited in Runners World and Outside Magazine, and the company has a contract with Kroger stores to sell Omnibars in 31 Fred Meyer stores.

“The Kroger broker was impressed by how our product connects farm to table,” Burchenal said.

The Two Creek Monture Ranch cattle are 100 percent pasture raised and hormone free. The beef is combined with dried sweet potato, flax seed or other ingredients to create an energy bar in four flavors — chipotle barbecue, cranberry rosemary, roasted peanut and mango curry.

“You can get a lot of Omnibars from one cow,” Burchenal said, but he’s already looking at ways to expand beef sources beyond his ranch. One source he mentioned is Ranchers Original, a Helmville-based beef company with a focus on good land stewardship.

Burchenal has served on the boards of several conservation groups, including Nature Conservancy of Montana, Five Valley Land Trust and the International Wildlife Film Festival.

His wife Anne Fogel Burchenal helped create recipes for Omnibars. She’s involved with several environmental groups, including Five Valleys Land Trust and Working Dogs for Conservation.

Their business partner is Brent Ruby, a triathlete who is director of the Montana Center for Work Physiology and Exercise Metabolism in Missoula. He has a Ph.D. in exercise science from the University of New Mexico.