How GoMacro Packs Goodness into Every Vegan Protein Bar

When the Kirchoff family bought a 120-acre farm in Viola, Wisconsin in 2000, they envisioned a peaceful place to come together as a family and enjoy the wide, green lawns and fruit orchards. They named the property Posilippo, Greek for “pause from pain.” 

It turned out to be an auspicious choice. A few years later, when GoMacro co-founder Amelia Kirchoff was diagnosed with breast cancer, the sprawling rural retreat came to symbolize healing and wellbeing in a whole new way. 

From Farmhouse Kitchen to Store Shelves

Amelia made some big life changes when she received her cancer diagnosis in 2003. With the support of her daughter, Jola, she committed to eating a plant-based, macrobiotic diet to support her healing journey. “During my battle with cancer, there weren’t any snacks on the market that suited my new dietary needs and tasted great,” Amelia says. So she took to the farmhouse kitchen at Posilippo, eventually coming up with a recipe for a wholesome vegan protein bar made with quality ingredients from the earth—foods like nuts, seeds, and fruits filled with plant-sourced nutrients. “After sharing the first batch of what became our MacroBar® recipe with family, we agreed that it was something we needed to share with the world.”

Within the year, Amelia had won her cancer battle, and the mother-daughter duo was selling their bars at local food co-ops. Today, GoMacro MacroBars® are available nationwide in an array of delicious flavors. While the brand has come a long way from those early days in the family kitchen, their core values—eating well, caring for the earth, and giving back—haven’t wavered. 

Vegan Protein Bars that Celebrate Good Health

Having experienced the healing power of a plant-based diet, Amelia and Jola knew nutrition would be a top priority for their products, which meant sourcing the best quality ingredients and creating vegan protein bars with whole foods and minimal processing.  

All of GoMacro’s ingredients come from organic and non-GMO farms and suppliers, whether local (such as organic, gluten-free oats come from La Crosse Milling and organic maple sugar from Maple Valley Cooperative, both in Wisconsin) or from afar (like cinnamon from TRIPPER, Inc. in Indonesia). 

MacroBars® are 100% plant-based and proudly USDA Certified Organic, Certified Vegan, Certified Gluten-Free, Certified Kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Certified C.L.E.A.N. Certain MacroBar® flavors are Certified FODMAP Friendly as well. 

Vegan Protein Bars that Nurture the Planet

Inherent to the GoMacro philosophy is a reverence for the earth and its gifts. Accordingly, the brand is dedicated to treading lightly on the planet. 

This commitment is especially apparent in their packaging, which for many brands is a source of waste and excessive resources. GoMacro gets its packaging from suppliers that use clean energy and responsibly sourced materials. (Want to do your part? GoMacro makes it easy: toss tray sleeves and cartons in the recycling bin, compost or reuse the trays that bars come in, and sign up with TerraCycle to return your wrappers for reuse.)

Through the use of renewable energy (including solar and wind power) and carbon offsets, GoMacro is 100% carbon neutral. What’s more, they’re helping the town of Viola, where they’re still headquartered, become more sustainable. GoMacro reports that in the first known initiative of its kind, the company is covering the additional costs of renewable energy credits for the whole town. 

“We pride ourselves on setting the standard for sustainability, and we’re excited about the renewable energy, waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable sourcing initiatives we already have in place,” Jola shares. “The GoMacro Way is an infinite journey, though, and we will always be growing, setting our standards higher, and holding ourselves accountable—especially when it comes to something as important as protecting our planet.”

Vegan Protein Bars that Give Back for a Better World

True health goes beyond the individual to encompass entire communities, and GoMacro is committed to supporting important causes. Four of their flavors are designated “Give-Back Bars,” with a portion of net proceeds going to thoughtfully selected organizations:

• Coconut + Almond Butter + Chocolate Chips: This bar benefits Feeding San Diego, which aims to alleviate hunger through food banks, and Solutions for Change, an organization that targets the root causes of homelessness. 

• Cherries + Berries: The cause behind this bar is particularly close to GoMacro’s heart. During the month of October (which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month), a percentage of net proceeds from this bar goes to the Keep A Breast Foundation, which encourages breast cancer awareness and education among young people.

• Peanut Butter: In May, GoMacro’s classic Peanut Butter bar supports Farm Sanctuary, an animal welfare group that advocates for a compassionate and sustainable vegan lifestyle. 

• Double Chocolate + Peanut Butter Chips: During the month of August, sales of this bar support the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an animal rescue and rehabilitation organization that aims to protect wildlife in East Africa.

Choosing convenience shouldn’t mean sacrificing your values, and with GoMacro’s MacroBars, you don’t have to. Packed with plant-based nutrition and driven by a mission to build a better world, each bar is proof that good things come in small (sustainable) packages.