Local-foods company branching out

Local News

COMPANY FACTS:

NAME: Well Dressed Food

LOCATION: 95 Park St., Tupper Lake

HOURS: Retail store is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Tuesday

PHONE: 866-567-0845

ON THE WEB: www.well

dressedfood.com

Related Photos

Pancake mix Photo Provided
Spicy sauces Photo Provided

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July 25, 2010

By MELISSA HART Contributing writer The Press Republican Sun Jul 25, 2010, 03:28 AM EDT

TUPPER LAKE — After 20 years of managing a sales and marketing team in the corporate world, David Tomberlin's love of the Adirondacks inspired the southern native to make Tupper Lake his permanent home. Following a dream to do something centered on eating and entertaining led him to start a specialty-foods business.

The result, Well Dressed Foods, was created in 2006 and features a variety of products that celebrate the Adirondack region. Tomberlin and business partner Russ Cronin launched five products the first year, including Adirondack Crunchy Granola, which remains one of the company's best sellers. The granola is one of Tomberlin's favorite recipes — and all the recipes are developed by him — in a catalog of products that now spans 22 food items, including grilling sauces, jams, pancake mix and an assortment of food-related goods and gift sets.

Growing up in Atlanta, food was a big part of Tomberlin's childhood and he cites his family as placing importance on eating well.

"I learned a lot from them," he said.

As the line of products has grown, so has the company. The business has secured space in Tupper Lake to open a new production facility, ideally by the end of the year. The addition will create an estimated five jobs and allow Well Dressed Foods to offer copacking services to other companies that are expanding, he said.

Well Dressed's production is in line with the company's ideals of making locally based foods.

"Part of our slogan is 'products inspired by the Adirondack North Country,'" he said. "Whenever possible, we incorporate ingredients that come from here."

Some examples he cites are sauces sweetened with maple syrup, jam made from McIntosh apples, and honey in the granola and sold on its own.

"As much as you can use locally, the better," he said.

For the past three years, Well Dressed Food has operated at 95 Park St. in Tupper Lake, a space that includes a small retail shop. Tomberlin is looking forward to the upcoming expansion.

"We have a very local group of followers in Tupper, a really good following," he said.

In addition to the store, products are available at gift and specialty shops throughout the region and Whole Foods stores throughout the Northeast region: New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Tomberlin said. Most of business is wholesale, and he is currently seeking new outlets of stores looking to carry Well Dressed products. Customers can also buy directly through the company's website.

As the company grows, so does its recognition. Its sweet onion jam was recently chosen from 2,000 products to be a silver finalist in an annual trade association contest.

The New York Times has written about Adirondack Crunchy Granola, as well as the buckwheat and wildflower honeys, and the company has had spots on Rachel Ray's show and in Food and Wine magazine.

"We're pretty excited," Tomberlin said.