Entrepreneur Chris Carlton knows firsthand the importance of good nutrition to strengthen both physical and mental health.
Carlton, a former collegiate athlete and U.S. Navy veteran who worked at The Martin Agency after business school, was diagnosed in 2010 with PTSD related to childhood trauma.
“Going through treatment opened my eyes to how difficult it was for many people to afford therapy,” he said. “I’ve always been entrepreneurial, so even back then, I knew I wanted to eventually do something in business to help combat mental health stigma and give back to those who don’t have access to quality care.”
This is why Carlton created Together Bar, a whole-food nutrition bar with a mission of bringing people together to support those in need of mental health services. The bars are slated to roll out soon in natural food stores, gyms and yoga studios in Richmond.
Carlton created Together Bar pre-pandemic, after developing his own recipe for a convenient-to-carry bar that was rich in key nutrients, like omega-3s and antioxidants — ingredients he needed to support his ongoing recovery.
“If I had to pick one word to describe what it felt like to struggle with mental health, I’d pick the word ‘alone,’” he said. “So, that’s why I named the bars Together Bar.”
Just as he was gearing up for a brick-and-mortar launch, in March 2020, the pandemic forced Carlton to re-shift his focus to his children and family.
The brief pause, however, gave him time to reflect on and reiterate the product thanks to feedback from early Together Bar customers. Originally, Carlton called the bar an “Anxiety and Mood Superfood” but realized the description could be misconstrued.
The pandemic allowed Carlton to revamp the original Together Bar by creating a logo, changing the packaging and modifying the product from one large bar into two smaller ones.
His hope is that Together Bar will raise awareness about mental health and lead to positive changes. A part of the proceeds from each bar purchased is donated to local mental health organizations like ChildSavers, Greater Richmond SCAN and CKG Foundation.
“We give people the opportunity to select which mental health charity receives the donation from our featured local charities,” he said.
The Together Bars are available in three flavors: coconut and turmeric, dark chocolate and sea salt, and blueberry and turmeric. Each flavor contains omega 3s, antioxidants and minerals that Carlton said promote good physical health and help fight post-exercise inflammation.
Currently, the entrepreneur is producing the bars himself out of a space at Hatch Kitchen, an innovative shared kitchen space in Richmond. The company is also running the Together Bar Campaign in which local retailers and fitness and wellness studios can sell the bars in-house. Proceeds from those sales are donated to the mental health cause of their choosing.