Keto-approved products have seen a surge in availability everywhere from local grocery stores to large retail outlets like Costco. In the swell of popularity, low-carb and keto-friendly brands have emerged, bringing forward new options for Keto (a diet made up mostly of the avoidance of carbs) dieters.

"As well intentioned as grocery outlets are, they're not able to keep up with the Keto demand," says Rob Benson of Explorado Market, a ketogenic grocery store and treat company based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Explorado Market launched a subscription box of keto baked goods for shoppers across the United States, starting in October, the company announced. The Keto Bake Box subscription (with free shipping) costs $54.98 per month and includes such bakery products as bagels, brownies, cookies, donuts and cupcakes. The variety of each box changes with the month.

“More importantly, there are keto brands that just can't scale efficiently, given the cost of ingredients and distribution," says Benson, who in 2018 with his wife, Kendra, opened one of the first brick and mortar, keto-specific grocery stores in the United States. The opening of the store came after the buildout of their own facility to produce retail-ready Keto products.

Explorado Market produces grain-free and keto-friendly baked goods, bake mixes, chocolate chips, nut butters, and more. Explorado Market is more than just online or retail distribution. It is a hybrid of brick and mortar grocery, online sales and product manufacturing, and the concept is working well, according to the owners.

"We didn't know if there were enough people locally to support a Keto diet themed grocery store. We just went for it," Benson says.

In April 2019, the Bensons announced they had decided to build their own commercial kitchen to produce popular keto and paleo food product Fat Fit Go. After a negative experience with a co-packer, they said, the couple felt forced to find a new solution. They wanted to have more control over each step of the process. Fat Fit Go is handmade in-house in Fort Collins.

“With full control in our own kitchen and not having to rely on another company to create our product we’ve been able to reduce the cost and improve the quality of our product,” Rob Benson says.

The Bensons also created a new machine that allows them to package nut butters in 1-ounce sachets on the same day they create the nut butter, ensuring freshness for customers. After receiving feedback about the packaging, Fat Fit Go was on a mission for improvement. The duo took this relaunch opportunity to change their packaging, which now provides an indented tear top, allowing for a better experience.

Co-founder Kendra Benson adds, “We’re completely hands on, when we produce Fat Fit Go it’s immediately getting packaged which makes it perfectly fresh.”

Fat Fit Go is a blend of healthy, high fat ingredients available in small pouches that you can take with you anywhere. The pouches fit in your pocket, making it easy to fuel your body with long-lasting energy from premium, plant-based food. The company sells two products: Premium Chocolate Keto Nut Butter and Keto Chocolate Chips.