Evelyn Murphy, a freshman economics major in the Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH) program, is fueling her future in the health food industry with her energy bites company, Energy by Evelyn. Her entrepreneurial journey began in high school where she played lacrosse, field hockey, and basketball, keeping her active year-round. She noticed a problematic trend in the snack market: many so-called healthy products were filled with added sugars and mystery ingredients. She became inspired to create a nutritious alternative for athletes like herself.
Murphy’s business mindset was not without precedent. Her family owns and operates Smith Island Baking Co. based in Crisfield, MD, specializing in the Smith Island cake, a traditional Maryland dessert known for its multiple thin layers of cake separated by rich frosting.
“I watched my parents create their business from the ground up so I have a good sense of what it takes to run a successful enterprise in the food industry,” she said.
To build up real-world experience in the industry, Murphy took a gap year to kickstart Energy by Evelyn. She spent the summer after high school experimenting with various recipes in her family’s kitchen and then launched her energy bites, which come in chocolate, lemon ginger, and peanut butter and jelly flavors. Each one-ounce bite is made from simple, natural ingredients designed to provide sustained energy without the sugar crash.
She has also been navigating the world of consumer packaging, with considerations that we don’t often think about when we peruse the grocery store aisles. For example, she has considered various product design issues such as branding, nutritional information and ingredient labeling, serving size, and shelf space. Last year she entered into a co-packing relationship with her parents’ business and pays margins to manufacture, produce, ship, and store her product at the same facility as Smith Island Baking Co.
Energy by Evelyn energy bites are manufactured and packaged at the same facility as her parents’ business, Smith Island Baking Co. in Crisfield, MD.
Now a first-year student in the IBH program, Murphy is excited to combine her practical knowledge with academic insights and business theory.
“So far IBH has given me access to great guest speakers and mentorship opportunities,” she said. “I feel inspired by the different business models and strategies I’m learning about and I’m taking advantage of all this campus has to offer for young entrepreneurs like myself.”
Looking ahead, Murphy aims to expand Energy by Evelyn into retail markets. She has already begun pitching her products to local stores and is gathering feedback from potential buyers.
The oldest of seven siblings, Murphy is following in her family’s entrepreneurial footsteps. The business has strengthened her relationship with her parents, who are now not just her parents but also mentors and even colleagues. And some of her younger siblings are also showing signs of business acumen—her 11-year-old brother is already becoming known in their community for his lemonade stand.
“I’ve learned from my family how fulfilling it is to create something you love and share it with others.” As her tagline goes, Murphy’s work ethic has her “climbing mountains, one bite at a time.”
—
The IBH program provides students with access to cutting-edge professional and technical business skills and provides opportunities for broader thinking about the role of business in the world through multiple disciplines. Learn more about the IBH program at ibh.umd.edu.
