By Neil Moran
The story of the Great Lakes Snack Co. in Manistique winds through 47 states and family roots in the Upper Peninsula (UP) for Jill and Dustin Denkins.
The entrepreneurial couple left the hustle and bustle of corporate life in Boston in their twenties and returned to the UP – but not for long. They spent the next few years working and starting their family in Marquette and their hometown of Manistique. They then ventured out in an RV with four kids, then ages one to eight, in tow.
The family traveled nine years in five different RVs visiting all but three states. Dustin was able to work remotely for IBM, a job he took fresh out of college and continues to present. While on the road, they ran a membership-based business for families who were also living their lives on the road, called Fulltime Families.
The Denkins eventually returned to their hometown to launch Great Lakes Snack Co. which sells flavored pecans and pretzels out of a small storefront in downtown Manistique. Jill cooks for the company along with her children who help oversee day-to-day operation of the snack business.
“We have three teenagers who needed summer jobs, so it fit well,” says Jill Denkins, who is in the kitchen several times weekly whipping up seasoned pretzels and flavored pecans in small batches.
They order 500 pounds of pecans at a time from Texas and employ five people to keep up with demand. The business has done extremely well thus far. They have also added ice cream to their offerings. To meet the demand from holiday shoppers, they are adding specialty holiday items this year.
The snack products are distributed to 20 UP locations in addition to online sales. They also sell at farmer's markets and occasional events, like the Manistique Folk Festival held every July in the downtown district. The snacks are currently available at Midjim Convenience Store in Sault Ste. Marie.
“It (entrepreneurship) comes naturally to our kids. They constantly come up with ideas,” says Jill Denkins. “They see opportunities differently from those who haven't done it before.”
The children attended public schools until the second grade and then were “road schooled” while traveling around the country in their RV. Jill Denkins said the kids received a hands-on education on the road, visiting state parks and other attractions around the country while learning the academic skills they need to succeed.
“This is home,” says Jill Denkins. “Even when we were traveling, we were home for the summer.”
The Denkins family feels at home in Manistique where they mix up delicious snacks for people to enjoy across many of the places they have traveled and at home in the UP.
For product information, visit greatlakessnackco.com.