Surfer’s Sisters superfood co. rides wave of success

What do you get when you mix a famous surfer, coffee creamer and Central Oregon?

A rapidly expanding natural food company in Sisters.

Laird Superfood is a health food business started by surfing legend Laird Hamilton.

It started with a coconut-based coffee creamer in 2016. Since then, it’s rapidly expanded its line to include powdered coconut water, coffee and other hydration supplements.

But CEO Paul Hodge wants people to know their high-performance food products are not just for athletes.

“Larger audiences would be what we call the ‘corporate warriors.’ These are people that have to go to work every day,” Hodge said Friday.

“And we’re saying, ‘Hey, treat yourself like an athlete,'” Hodge said. “You need to perform at your job, and when you come home after a long day at work, you want to have energy to play with your kids and family. So if you treat yourself like an athlete, you can really boost your energy.”

Currently, Laird Superfood has 53 full-time employees who fulfill between 800 and 1,000 orders for both U.S. and international customers every day. The facility is located on Lundgren Mill Drive in Sisters and there is another, new warehouse, nearly complete, next door. A third warehouse is also in the works.

The business has a five-year expansion plan and hopes to eventually employ between 300-500 people.