At just 24 years old, Andrew Gravdahl is working to transform the way people think about their morning coffee.
As the owner of Complete Creamer, a first-of-its-kind protein-packed coffee creamer, Andrew is working to carve out a unique niche in the food and beverage industry. With 15 grams of protein in just 2 fluid ounces, Complete Creamer is poised to become a game-changer for health-conscious coffee drinkers.
However, bringing a food product that is this groundbreaking to the market is no small task.
Not knowing anything about the space and hearing, ‘this isn’t going to work,’ could have been enough to stop us, but we had this drive to push forward and prove it could be done.”
The Explosive Beginning
The idea for Complete Creamer came to Andrew in an unexpected— and messy—moment. Sitting in a Wisconsin restaurant, he tried to add a protein packet to his coffee. The result? A burst packet and protein powder everywhere. Frustrated, he turned to Google to find a liquid protein coffee creamer but came up empty-handed. That’s when inspiration struck. He texted his brother, Jayce, and together they decided to monitor the market.
“A month or two later, we just said, ‘Why not us?’ And now, we’re in the final stages of bringing this product to market, about to get ready to bring into market,” Andrew said. “That took a long time though.”
In total, Andrew and his brother Jayce have taken about three years to get to this point. Many would have quit much sooner.
“We started off by going to a food research lab in California—they told us it wouldn’t work. Every meeting felt overwhelming at first,” Andrew said. “We had no idea what to say or do.”
Despite the initial challenges, Andrew and his brother, an economics major from the Air Force Academy, leaned on their entrepreneurial spirit and expertise.
“Not knowing anything about the space and hearing, ‘This isn’t going to work,’ could have been enough to stop us,” Andrew said. “But we had this drive to push forward and prove it could be done.”
Eventually, their breakthrough came at South Dakota State University’s lab, where initial batches proved the concept was viable. “That’s when we knew we had something,” Andrew said.
Building Connections To Overcome Barriers
Creating a new product often requires significant resources. The two brothers funneled paychecks and savings into developing the product, and Andrew found resources such as InnovateND and SCORE that were great in seeking industry connections as well as additional funding. Through programs like SCORE, he connected with seasoned business coaches who offered invaluable advice. One early supporter even connected him with the founder of SunButter, whose network opened doors to additional resources.
The Gravdahl brothers also sought advice from Dorothy “Dot” Henke, the well-known creator of Dot’s Pretzels. Dot recommended keeping the Complete Creamer recipe a trade secret rather than pursuing a complicated patent process. “She said, ‘Be like Coca-Cola—just do your thing.’ So that’s the route we’re taking,” Andrew said.
Creating that perfect recipe and launching a food product isn’t cheap, as Andrew is learning. From hiring food labs to working with co-packers, the costs quickly add up. “We’ve invested more than the average American’s salary,” Andrew said with a laugh. To make ends meet, Andrew continues to work at a flexible warehouse job. “It’s tough, but necessary.”
Despite the financial strain, the brothers have stayed committed to bringing a quality product to the market. Unlike many competitors, Complete Creamer avoids artificial ingredients and added sugars, making the production process more complex but ensuring a superior product.
Prepare For Launch
With the product nearing shelf stability, Complete Creamer is close to hitting the market. Andrew’s team is working with the food science company behind Celsius to finalize production. “They’ve sent us plenty of samples, and each one has been better than the last,” Andrew said. Once the product is ready, the plan is to launch via e-commerce platforms such as Shopify, with hopes of expanding to coffee chains and grocery stores.
The initial lineup will feature three flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnut.
“There’s definitely a need in the market, and we’re confident we’ll be ready to meet it.”
While the road hasn’t been easy, Andrew is excited about the future.
“It’s been a big mystery figuring out where this is all headed,” he said. But with a strong network, a market-ready product, and a clear vision, he’s confident in Complete Creamer’s potential to revolutionize the way people start their mornings.
“It’s really cool to see people be kind and genuinely supportive of what we’re doing,” Andrew said. “That kind of encouragement means a lot to us.”
Andrew’s Recommended Podcasts
