🔒Nutrition startup aims to ‘mix’ things up for women in menopause

Two Portland-based entrepreneurs have joined forces to launch MenoPantry, a startup that aims to provide healthy nutrition in the form of protein-rich smoothie mixes for women going through menopause. “If you ask, ‘What’s missing from the nutrition of most women in menopause?’ the answer would be that most women don’t get enough protein, enough fiber or enough plant variety,” Kate Howe told Mainebiz. “Our goal is to educate women about the benefits that nutrition can bring, and make it simple and joyful to eat this way more consistently.” Howe, 51, a designer and brand strategist, founded MenoPantry with Caitlin Hosmer, 59, a licensed clinical dietitian who has spent her career using nutrition to manage chronic conditions in integrated care settings at two major Boston hospitals. With MenoPantry, the duo is targeting the estimated 75 million American women experiencing menopause, a life stage that typically occurs between ages 45 and 55 and is defined by 12 consecutive months without menstruation. Symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats and cognitive difficulties often referred to as “brain fog,” with treatment options ranging from lifestyle changes to hormone therapy. After connecting through a mutual friend, the duo spent a year doing research before launching MenoPantry to support women in midlife through nutrition education, community and foods designed to support strength and vitality. The entrepreneurs note that while menopause is technically defined as one year after a woman’s last period, nutritional needs don’t end at that point but rather intensify. The protective effects of estrogen on bone density, cardiovascular health, muscle mass and cognitive function continue to decline, and nutrition is one of the most powerful remaining levers for protection, they contend. They also note that supporting the gut, muscle, bone, blood sugar and inflammation through proper nutrition is best done as early as possible, as Hosmer has practiced throughout her life.

Menomix debut

MenoPantry started with two smoothie mixes — plant protein and whey protein — in a product line called Menomix, which the founders describe as whole-food functional nutrition. On their own, the mixes provide 21 grams of protein, six grams of fiber and nine grams of plant nutrients, with those values increasing when blended with milk, fruit, or greens. While there are other smoothie mixes on the market, Hosmer said that nothing targets the age group MenoPantry is going for. "We don't have 50 ingredients, but the ingredients we have are pretty powerful ingredients," she said.

Both mixes are manufactured in Georgia and retail online for $54 each for a 14-day supply. The owners are also aiming for distribution at local retail outlets and cafes. Three more products are in the early stages of development, though without specific launch dates, as MenoPantry taps into a global market projected by GrandView Research to soar from nearly $18 billion in 2024 to more than $24 billion by 2030. As the business evolves, Hoser and Howe are learning from their experiences in the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs’ Cultivator program. They’re also contestants in the current season of “Greenlight Maine,” a business-focused series often likened to a friendlier version of “Shark Tank." While the long-term goal is to build a national brand, the founders are starting close to home. This weekend, they’ll host a small launch party for 15 to 20 guests to introduce the products, share samples and begin building buzz around MenoPantry. "We started this venture, both after 50, without 'platforms' or the backing of a big company or investors," Howe said. "What we have is our community —  friends, and women with a shared experience. That is who we made this for and how we are spreading the word."