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Three years ago, 23-year-old single/Latina mom Kim Prada started making a healthy on-the-go snack alternative to eat during the day.
Prada was busy all the time and was always on the go. She explained she wanted to feel full for a longer time, but not snack on junk food so she bought a mixer and began experimenting with recipes.
Prada began making power bites and donated a batch of them to her mother’s church. Prada’s mom encouraged her to sell the bites, which she began doing during COVID. However, it wasn’t official - and Prada wanted to get the licensing and the LLC, but didn’t know what to name her business. She said she received an overwhelming amount of support from the community, and felt they were giving her a tribe-like atmosphere, so she named the business “TRIBE” in honor of them.
Now, at the age of 25, Prada has turned TRIBE POWER BITES LLC into a full-fledged business that is booming with 15 partnerships and a movement to bring people together.
“Nothing was ever intentional,” Prada said. “It was really based on me providing a healthier snack for myself and those around me; something I love to do while making it as a job.” She continued, “I’ve seen more customers. I’ve gained more relationships, more partnerships and that really is my motive. The business is great, the product is great, but I have a huge passion for people and humanity. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing something that you love and making connections I hold close to my heart.”
TRIBE POWER BITES are locally homemade, glutenfree and kid-friendly. The most popular flavor is the white cinn (abbreviated for white cinnamon roll) one of Prada’s first flavors she came out with when she started made with old fashioned rolled oats, vanilla extract, honey, peanut butter, and white chocolate chips dusted in white cinnamon cane sugar. As well as the ‘OG’ M&M chunk, dark fantasy, cookies and dream, white cherry delight, espresso chip and glen cocco which is vegan. For the remainder of the summer, Prada will have ‘gimme s’more’ tribe flavor filled with mini marshmallows, milk chocolate chips and coated in gluten free graham crackers. In the fall, she’ll do caramel apple and pumpkin spice.
Springfield resident Barbara Mason saw a friend’s post on Facebook about TRIBE POWER BITES. This was her first order and she ordered two flavors, the ‘OG’ M&M chunk and glen cocco. “Both flavors were delicious,” Mason said. “She is very responsive to texts, customizes your order and offers delivery.”
Holyoke resident Jocelyn Roby mentors with EforAll and met Prada when she was in the program and has watched her business soar. Roby’s favorite flavor is the white cinn. Though she has a peanut allergy, Roby does custom orders using sunflower butter instead of peanut butter. “Kim is absolutely amazing,” Roby responded. “She is an extremely hard worker and cares so much about her business and customers.”
When Prada started TRIBE, her daughter Mia was two years old. She is 5 now, and has been there making orders with her mom and trying out flavors with her. “Not only have I grown, and my business has grown, but my daughter has grown with me,” said Prada. “I wanted to make sure that I had a job where my daughter could be with me, and I’m blessed to even experience that with her.”
Prada’s current goals are to prioritize her catering, website and shipping for the fall and winter. She is also looking to build more partnerships and prioritize family. Prada said she wants to be more present with her daughter and doesn’t want to miss any milestones in her life. In the near future, Prada would like to open her own commercial kitchen. She explained the commercial kitchen would open a lot of doors for her, providing more space for her and TRIBE to grow.
“You have to find that motivation and purpose to ‘what is your why’ and why do you keep going. My why is my daughter,” Prada said. “She is my motivator, and I would not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for her, but also just motivating other single moms and Latina moms.” She continued, “It doesn’t matter what background you come from. If I can do it and I came from the trenches, a lot of people can do whatever it is that they believe in with hard work and diligence.”
Customers can purchase TRIBE POWER BITES through their online shop, their partnerships or in person at their pop-up events. Their website, www.tribepowerbites.com and social medias are updated weekly with their TRIBE lineup and TRIBE TOUR, a monthly lineup of where people can connect with them in person. They put out a new tribe tour schedule each month.
TRIBE POWER BITES 15 PARTNERSHIPS
1. AUNTIE CATHIE’S KITCHEN - AGAWAM, MA
2. MAGIC BLEND - AGAWAM, MA
3. ELITE NUTRITION - EAST LONGMEADOW, MA
4. LIDS LIVE WELL - CHICOPEE, MA
5. COMMON GROUNDS - WILBRAHAM, MA
6. THE YOGA SHOP - LUDLOW, MA
7. RAMOS DETAILING - SPRINGFIELD, MA
8. BETTER LIFE WHOLE FOODS - SPRINGFIELD, MA
9. SALON SOLACE - EAST HAMPTON, MA
10. HEALTHY FLAVORS BY DOMINIKA - WESTFIELD, MA
11. CARA MIA MED SPA - SUFFIELD, CT
12. BOOST BOWLS - WEST HARTFORD, NEWTOWN & BETHEL CT
13. DEERE CREEK FARM - GRANBY, MA
14. THE ARTERY - HOLYOKE, MA
15. CUBITS CO-WORKS - HOLYOKE, MA
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