Alaska

Barnacle Foods, founded by Matt and Lia Kern and Max Stanley in Juneau, Alaska, turned a remote coastal location into a competitive advantage. Starting with kelp salsa at a local holiday market in 2016, the trio sold out on day one. After launching on Amazon in 2019, they transitioned from self-fulfillment to FBA, then added Amazon Warehousing and Distribution to manage peak-season demand. Today, Amazon accounts for 10–20% of revenue, and Barnacle offers more than 30 kelp-based products. The company employs 15 full-time Juneau workers, is partly owned by indigenous corporation Sealaska, and donates to more than 50 Alaskan organizations annually.