NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley is thrilled to support the Millrace Kitchen, an incubator space designed to support food business startups. Since opening in 2017, over 40 food businesses have worked out of the kitchen space at 40 South Main Street.
In this series, you’ll Meet the Millrace Members, get a sense of what it takes to start a food business and learn of some incredible food and baked goods being made right in downtown Woonsocket.
Tell us about yourself and your business.
We are a mother/daughter/granddaughter trio of chocolate dipping divas! Our business Divas Dips and Gourmet Treats was named by our newest trio member, granddaughter Cydnee.
Divas Dips and Gourmet Treats started in 2018 when Sandra Meekins debuted her Valentine’s Day treats for a church fundraiser. Carissa Meekins came aboard Divas Dips with suggestions of creating candied products, including candy apples, that would quickly be added to the Diva’s repertoire. Cydnee has since completed the trio, joining her mother Carissa and grandmother Sandra in the sweet fun as a dipping diva herself.
Sandra, a retired fifth grade Providence school teacher, taught for over 30 years and is a grandmother of four. Carissa is a Medical Lab Technician, Assistant basketball coach for the East Providence Lady Townies and mother of two. Cydnee is a seventh grader and animal lover. In her spare time, she creates organic home made dog treats for her two dogs.
What type of food do you make?
We create unique treats, dipped in Gourmet Belgium chocolate, including, but not limited to: strawberries, oreos, cakesicles, rice krispy bars, pretzels, bark, hot cocoa bombs, caramel and chocolate apples, caramel popcorn, candy apples and more! We also create custom treats for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baptisms, etc.
We pride ourselves in using pure Belgium chocolate for all of our treats. We flavor and color everything by hand with natural and FDA approved products. This is what makes us unique.
How can customers find you?
Customers can find us on Facebook, Instagram and our website divasdips.com.
What are your food business dreams?
“The sky’s the limit!”
We are always trying to find new and innovative ideas to set us apart from the rest. We would love to be able to continue with more wholesale relationships, find better ways to ship and eventually, have our very own shop. Having a business that customers continue to return to, truly makes everything we do that much more worth it. Our goal is to create treats that you crave to eat!
Interested in starting up your own food business? Need for a baker or caterer for your next event? Looking for a unique space to hold a party? Visit the Millrace Kitchen to learn more about our offerings.
