Becoming the S'Mores Guy: Mike Nelson '07

What inspired you to create North Mallow?
 
The outdoors have always been a big part of my life. I worked for several years as a YMCA camp counselor, and I loved being around the bonfire. I’ve made a lot of s’mores over the years, and I got tired of the standard s’more and started creating my own marshmallows. In 2014, I started doing some small events while still working at the YMCA like concessions and deep fried s’mores at fairs and festivals. People kept asking me if I catered, and that is how North Mallow started. We cater our Build Your Own S’mores Bar for weddings, corporate events, and mitzvahs with our homemade marshmallows and graham crackers!

 

 

We moved from small events and fairs to a lot of catering events. We went from farmers markets to having our products sold in grocery stores in 2017. In 2020, we were catering 150 events per year, which was great. Then COVID hit, and we lost all of our bookings. In a last ditch attempt, I connected with my cousin in Denmark to help develop a graham cracker that could be used in a s’mores kit. After development, I went on Twin Cities Live to pitch our new product. It went well, and the s’mores kit saved North Mallow. Now, we sell our S’mores Kits, Hot Cocoa Kits and Travel Campfires on our website and do custom corporate gifting as well as continue to cater events.

 

 

In 2018, we catered 18 events for the Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium. North Mallow was also at Justin Timberlake’s CD Launch Party (shoutout to Jessica Biel and her MN roots)! I also remember Ecolab’s 100th anniversary as a highlight.

 

Tim Rosenfield (Breck’s former Upper School history teacher). He was great! He is the reason I started off my college career as a history major.  I also have fond memories of Mr Moos’ English classes.
 
How are you helping others?
 

I want to grow North Mallow as a business to bring joy and the true experience of the campfire for everyone! A few years back, we created a scholarship fund that helps kids go to camp. Last year, we sent a student to Campfire in Excelsior, MN, for overnight camp — fully paid. We want to grow the scholarship program. I’ve always wanted to do that because camp changed my life — socially, emotionally, and developmentally. How great is it to share camp with kids!

 

 

Yes! We are the official cocoa vendor for the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup. This is the first World Cup race to be held in the USA in 20 years. Find more information at: https://loppetcup.com/. 

 

Mike and his wife, Christine, run North Mallow in Long Lake, MN. They have a daughter and one more child on the way!

You can buy some yummy North Mallow S’Mores at https://northmallow.com/.