What inspired Karen’s business?

Karen Grybko's business was inspired by her family's move to a small farm in New Hampshire in 1998. They started with a farm stand and farmers markets selling vegetables, but to boost sales, she began baking pies and cookies—which quickly outsold the produce.

The pivotal moment came in 2014 when a Whole Foods forager suggested the market needed a peanut brittle made without corn syrup. Karen perfected a recipe using pure local New Hampshire maple syrup instead, sparking the growth of her all-natural maple brittle line and transforming her home-based baking into a thriving specialty food business.

Business Highlights

Karen perfected her all-natural maple brittle with just four ingredients: nuts, butter, sugar, and syrup. The nut varieties are: Peanut, Walnut, Cashew and Almond. Traditional brittle is made with corn syrup, but she replaced that with pure New Hampshire maple syrup for those wanting to eliminate corn syrup and preservatives from their diet.

This has been a very successful year as she increased accounts to more farm stands and general stores in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Karen was also accepted into Sam Adam’s “Brewing the American Dream” program. Throughout all of this, she has stayed true to her recipe and continued to use her neighbor's maple syrup.

How has CWE helped Karen in her journey?

CWE played a critical role in helping Karen turn her idea into a solid business. During her initial consultation, she realized that having a great product wasn’t enough—she needed a full business plan and legal structure. CWE helped her establish an LLC, obtain a tax ID, set appropriate wholesale and retail pricing, and identify her customers. Through classes, one-on-one support, and workshops, Karen gained practical knowledge in marketing, operations, and long-term strategy. CWE’s guidance gave her the confidence to grow slowly but steadily, ensuring that her business was built on a strong foundation rather than just initial product interest.

How does she feel about owning her own business?

Karen experiences a mix of emotions as a business owner—she finds it empowering, satisfying, stressful, and tiring. It’s empowering because she gets to make her own decisions about what matters most to her business and her family. It can be stressful and exhausting when multiple wholesale orders come in at once, requiring careful coordination and effort to fulfill. At the same time, it’s deeply satisfying to see her customers happy with the products she has created, and to witness the growth of her business over time. This blend of challenges and rewards fuels her passion for what she does.

How has building her own business changed Karen’s life?

Running Maple Lane Farm has brought a new level of organization, strategic planning, and goal-setting to Karen’s life. Balancing production in her home kitchen with family and farm responsibilities has forced her to develop efficient systems and prioritize tasks effectively. Over the past year, she has taken on new wholesale accounts, updated her branding, and grown her social media marketing efforts, all of which have expanded her skills and confidence. Her business journey has also strengthened her connection to her farm, family, and community, creating a more integrated and purpose-driven daily life.

What has creating a business of her own done for Karen?

Owning her own business has added value to her family farm and allowed Karen to involve her family in meaningful ways. Her daughter has become more active in helping the business grow, and other family members assist with packaging, shipping, and farmers market sales. By keeping the farm thriving, Karen is helping ensure its long-term preservation rather than risking its sale or development. Beyond the farm, her business contributes to the community by offering locally made, natural products, supporting local agriculture, and demonstrating the value of small, family-run enterprises.

She wants you to know this about CWE

Karen credits CWE with giving her the tools and guidance necessary to turn a product into a true business. She emphasizes that CWE’s support is accessible, practical, and affordable, offering resources such as one-on-one consultations, classroom instruction, and virtual meetings. She looks forward to the new on-demand tutorials, which continue to provide flexible learning opportunities. For Karen, CWE isn’t just an educational resource—it’s a foundation for building confidence, strategy, and long-term business success.

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