Kickstarter Projects We Love: Mullen's Applesauce

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 24, 2013 10:20PM

Chicago Police officer Jim Mullen’s life changed forever on Oct. 16, 1996. Mullen, a tactical officer in Rogers Park, was shot in the face and spine and was left a quadriplegic. Mullen is now on permanent disability from the Police Department yet still wanted to return to the force.

Unable to do so, in 2007 Mullen began marketing applesauce to Chicago area stores including Treasure Island and Whole Foods, faithful to his late mother Audre’s recipe. “My only goal was to get it in the local food store where my mom shopped,” Mullen said after his mother died in 2010. It’s like apple pie without the crust!” Mullen says. Today Mullen’s Applesauce can be found in 200 stores with demand for the product expanding beyond the Midwest.

Now Mullen is ready to take the next step in expanding Mullen’s Applesauce and has taken to Kickstarter to raise funds to do so. He found a high volume manufacturer who has met his high expectations for producing the applesauce and hopes his Kickstarter campaign will raise the money he needs to cover the upfront costs to produce enough applesauce to expand the brand to 14 states within a six-month time frame, as well as hire sales and marketing support during the expansion, since his condition limits his ability to travel.

Mullen is looking to raise $25,000 to back his project and has plenty of time to do so. As of post time he’s raised nearly $2,700 already. Click here to back him and to see what rewards are available for various backing levels.