Kyya Plans to Go Nationwide in 2016
by February 1, 2016 12:00 am 95 views
Kyya Chocolate in Elm Springs plans to quadruple its output and go nationwide in 2016.
Seeking a $250,000 investment in exchange for a 20-percent stake in the company, the chocolatier was one of four companies to present at the monthly Natural State Angel Association meeting on Jan. 25 at the Crossmark Center for Collaboration in Bentonville.
The number of retail stores carrying Kyya Chocolate increased from 21 to 127 between May and December of 2015, Boosey said. The products are sold in stores in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas and are shipped nationwide.
If current negotiations move forward with three retail chains, it could add more than 900 stores and put the brand on a nationwide platform by year’s end.
“It has gone so far beyond what we envisioned when we dreamt this up on an airplane three years ago,” said Boosey, a former senior account manager for Dell.
Kyya Chocolate, formed in 2013, is currently participating in the U.S. Small Business Association’s ScaleUp initiative, run locally by Startup Junkie Consulting in Fayetteville.
The company also intends to add one or two members to its small staff this year.
Other presenters at the NSAA were Life Equals of Kansas City, Missouri, RNvention of Youngsville, Louisiana, and WorkHound of Des Moines, Iowa.
The NSSA is a group of more than 300 accredited, local angel investors that meet monthly.