Fresh taste helps Fort Benton, MT product sell – Elliott’s Montana Fresh Products

Rita Elliott is not trying to get a foot in the door of corporate boardrooms anymore. She’s showing up in rooms with chalkboards instead.

Until about three years ago, the Fort Benton entrepreneur was busy trying to negotiate shelf space for her packaged pasta and sauce mixes at grocery stores and other retailers.

Elliott’s Pasta and Sauce Mix is prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen at her home.

She created that business, along with a catering service, to supplement her family’s farm income.

Then Hollee McAllister, Fort Benton High School’s student council adviser and volleyball coach, turned to Elliott for help.

"The student council members and volleyball team sold frozen cookie dough as a fundraiser, but they were getting complaints about the product," Elliott said. "She asked if I could make a better product in my kitchen."

Her test recipes, made without preservatives, were a hit.

So, Elliot decided to forgo the corporate world and target sports teams, civic organizations and other groups looking to raise money instead.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051020/BUSINESS/510200319/1046