On Point Adventure Foods: Fueling your outdoor expeditions with quality and innovation
Justin Aust and Sabrina Beal have created shelf-stable, freeze-dried meals perfect for every adventure.
If outdoor adventure is your jam, you’ll love what Sabrina Beal and Justin Aust have created. To solve an issue they faced personally, the outdoor-loving duo made high-quality, shelf-stable, freeze-dried meals and snacks perfect for any adventure. Recreation opportunities in the Alleghenies make the ideal home for On Point Adventure Foods.
“We started On Point Adventure Foods as much out of frustration as we did innovation,” Beal said. “If you’ve ever done much backcountry hiking and exploring, you quickly realize that the freeze-dried meals on the market lack quality and nutrition. We aimed to make nutritious food with real, home-cooked ingredients available to the outdoor community.”
“It was a necessity to improve on what was out there. We were very disappointed with the quality of foods available to easily pack for backpacking and other outdoor activities. We wanted the best quality,” Aust added.
Access in the Alleghenies
Living in the Alleghenies region has provided Beal and Aust with the perfect backdrop for their business. “We are blessed to have the Alleghenies right at our doorstep. From farmland to rock cliffs, we have an abundance of wilderness in our backyard,” Beal said. “Whenever we get frustrated with daily life, we just grab a meal and some snacks and head for the trailhead just minutes down the road. It serves as our proving grounds for our products.”
If you’ve ever done much backcountry hiking and exploring, you quickly realize that the freeze-dried meals on the market lack quality and nutrition. We aimed to make nutritious food with real, home-cooked ingredients.
In addition to access to the beautiful terrain of the Alleghenies, the team also has access to business coaching with their Startup Alleghenies coach Matt Reckner. “Everyone at Startup Alleghenies sees the potential in our area and community,” Aust said. “They’ve provided positive encouragement and ideas for growing our business, from marketing to online sales. We look forward to growing our business and continuing our relationship with Matt and the team at Startup Alleghenies.”
“Justin and Sabrina offer a product that fits perfectly in this region,” Reckner said. “Outdoor rec and adventure is an appealing characteristic here, and their foods offer a solution for those looking to fuel their bodies while exploring.”
Their freeze-dried treats have traveled around the country.
Crafted with care
The couple takes pride in their products, making everything from scratch. “We make the foods ourselves,” Aust explained. “Everything is made from scratch. Even the biscuits are made from scratch. We cook, prep, package and freeze-dry in our commercial kitchen. It’s just us, doing everything from sales to shipping.”
Their combined experiences of cooking and enjoying weeks-long hunting trips led them to create convenient meals. “Our meals are designed for convenience,” Beal explained. “Just rehydrate them, and you’re good to go. No need for preparation or creating a mess. They can be used for various applications, making them perfect for any adventure.”
Our passion for the outdoors and adventure is ingrained in our business model and vision. We believe in people and enjoy being a part of our customers’ adventures.
On Point Adventure Foods offers a wide range of products, but what about the best sellers? “Our snacks, fruits, candies and meals are all popular,” Aust said. “For meals, we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner options like sausage biscuits and gravy and stuffed pepper soup (a western PA staple) that are best sellers. As for snacks, our ice cream sandwiches and cheesecake are the number one sellers. Skittles are the most popular candy.”
Beal shared, “We’re very open-minded and innovative. We love to be able to share our products with the public and enhance their experiences, whether it’s on backcountry adventures or casual snacking.”
The passion and vision of the team drive the success of the business. “Our passion for the outdoors and adventure is ingrained in our business model and vision,” Aust said. “We believe in people and enjoy being a part of our customers’ adventures. We love hearing about their past and planned trips, whether a family vacation to Florida or a life-and-death wilderness adventure in Alaska. Life’s an adventure!”
The team has even created the perfect sweet treat—ice cream sandwiches that won’t melt!
Food, adventure and advice
On Point Adventure Foods has already seen great success, particularly in brand recognition and reaching people from all walks of life and geographic areas. “Our biggest success has been brand recognition and reaching people in general,” Beal shared. “We truly believe we’re not just in the food business but the adventure business. We see our next big steps in growing our customer base nationwide and organically through old-fashioned word-of-mouth advertising and digital commerce.”
Aust shared this advice for other entrepreneurs: “Just go for it! Follow your passion, and don’t make excuses. Life is too short not to pursue what you love. Success will follow.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
