THE NÄAK STORY
The story starts in Canada
William Walcker and Minh-Anh Pham are two endurance athletes who competed in the World Triathlon Championships in 2016.
In Montreal, Canada, they started to make their own energy bars with a big ambition: to make sport nutrition more sustainable. They called it Näak for Nutrition for Adventurous Athletes who run Kilometers.
In the 4 years since, Näak has been embraced into the hearts of thousand endurance athletes and outdoor lovers. Our products are now distributed in 800 stores in North America.
TWO FRIENDS, ONE MISSION
It’s not just a passion for endurance sports that brought Will and Minh together. They were dedicated to developing a revolutionary idea.
The two friends, who are part of the Y generation, became more and more aware of the impact of the food industry on the environment.
Both vegetarian, they decided to radically change their diet by using alternative proteins to fuel their long distance workouts: the first Näak energy bar was made with cricket powder, one of the most sustainable protein source available.
In doing so, the idea to deliver the maximum performance for the minimum environmental impact was refined. Three years later, they expanded their product range with the launch of plant-based energy bars.
DESIGNED BY ATHLETES FOR ATHLETES
Our products cover all the nutrition needs of ultra distance athletes: energy, hydration and recovery. Developed by sport nutritionists and tested by world class elite athletes, they go through several iterations until they achieve the highest degree of performance.
Whether it is the 4:1 carbs:protein ratio for long lasting energy, or the electrolytes you need for hydration, or the BCAAs to push back muscular tiredness, our energy bars got you covered.
Näak is driven to push the boundaries of performance using the most sustainable and complete protein sources available. Each detail counts, even the smooth-like-a-gel texture which makes Näak bars resist to extreme temperatures so you can consume them in any conditions.
Today, thousands of professional and amateur athletes, including Canadian ultra marathon and ultra distance cycling champion, depend on Näak to explore new playgrounds and redefine what is physically possible.
OUR PROMISE
With Näak, you are guaranteed to enjoy:
- The most efficient fuel quality, geared for endurance sports and active lifestyles
- High-quality and sustainable ingredients that are good for you and the environment
- No gastro-intestinal discomfort in the middle of your workout
WHAT DOES NÄAK MEAN?
Nutrition for Adventurous Athletes who run Kilometers.
TIMELINE
April 2016 - We develop the recipe of our first cricket energy bars in Montreal, with the help of a chef.
May 2016 - This was our first packaging. We manufactured and packaged the first bars ourselves.
September 2016 - We raced in a dozen triathlon events where we promoted our energy bars. Over the summer, we sold over 4,000 handmade energy bars.
April 2018 - We expanded the distribution in sport stores across Canada. This summer We got listed at MEC and 800 retail stores across Canada.
August 2020 - More professional athletes use our products to compete and fuel their adventures. Here, Canadian Ultra Trail Champion Mathieu Blanchard completes a new fastest know time on the 650km GRA1 Canada in 7 days and 12 hours.
October 2020 to present - We launched two new lines of products, Ultra Energy™ and Ultra Recovery™, to cover the needs of ultra endurance athletes and active lifestyles.
Our community
We are a community of outdoor lovers sharing the same values: performance, health and preservation of our playground. We offer our consumers performance and sustainable products adapted to their active lifestyle. We help them achieve their goals while raising awareness of the impact of food on the environment. We are committed to constantly develop new innovative products made with sustainable protein and that have a minimum impact on the environment.
