Distler's™ : Pretzels With a Kick

pretzel logic

WCAX News

Made In Vermont Segment
2009

Burlington Free Press

New developments for spicy favorite
April 19, 2012

Maple and cool ranch are now among the pretzel flavors Alec Distler, 16, of Williston distributes across New England. What started as an eighth grade challenge project, selling to his pals, has grown into a full-fledged entrepreneurial operation, and a successful one at that.

Distler is expanding. His spiced up, sourdough pretzels have a new name, logo and packaging. The company known as Alec’s Spicy Pretzels, is now, Distler’s Pretzels.

Williston Observer

Alec’s Spicy Pretzels changes name
April 19, 2012

Spicy pretzel lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. Alec’s Spicy Pretzels didn’t sell out – it just changed its name.

“Everybody thinks Alec has sold the business,” said Williston resident Lynn Distler, mother of the family pretzel brand’s former namesake. “There’s a lot of rumors out there … like we sold it to Nabisco.”

The reason for the name change was much simpler.

KidsVT.com

Some young Vermont entrepreneurs are earning - and learning - their money.
April 1, 2012

Reading, writing, arithmetic ... and money management? Financial-literacy programs are popping up all over, to school kids on saving, spending and investing wisely.

But some eager young entrepreneurs don't need professional help - they're figuring out money matters on their own.

We found several local "biz kids" - between 8 and 18 years old - who are turning their hobbies and skills into fledgling business ventures. Some of them spend what they earn; others give most of their profits to charity.

NextUpVT.com

Alec’s Spicy Pretzels and young entrepreneurship in Vermont
September 2011

Alec has always been a fan of pretzels. This was largely in part due to the great taste of his family’s recipe. Alec’s family would always use the recipe, which includes the infamous “kick” of Cayenne pepper, to bake up a batch of pretzels for holidays and events. As a result, Alec began to put his family’s recipe to use by bringing pretzels to Williston Central School for fellow students. From that point on, it was all history.

As Alec’s pretzels were becoming popular among his classmates, Williston Central School introduced all 8th graders, including Alec, to the 8th grade challenge. Alec, with a passion for entrepreneurship, decided to put this recipe to the test. He started producing pretzels and selling them at the local Williston farmer’s market. Things would quickly start to grow for Alec and his small venture to the point where it is today.

Burlington Free Press

Williston boy's snack to be on Rachel Ray show
By Lynn Monty • Friday, October 23, 2009

When Alec Distler, 14, of Williston, created “Alec’s Spicy Pretzels” for a school project, he never imagined the snack be featured on a nationally televised program a year later. Monday his popular pretzels will be “Snack of the Day” on the Rachael Ray Show. It airs on WCAX Channel 3 in the Burlington area from 9 to 10 a.m.

Burlington Free Press

Hometown: Williston student creates pretzel business
By Lynn Monty, Free Press Staff Writer • June 10, 2009

Williston Central School student Alec Distler, 14, chose entrepreneurship as his eighth-grade challenge project. Last summer Distler took his favorite family recipe, and his all time favorite snack, and created the business Alec’s Spicy Pretzels.

These hard sourdough pretzels sprinkled with herbs and cayenne pepper have been flying off store shelves all over Chittenden County. They are in nine stores countywide. Distler’s new company has made about $9,000 to date. He just launched a new Web site www.alecsspicypretzels.com for people to purchase the snack online.

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