For Bobcats Katie and Taylor work-life balance turns into multimillion business of Epic proportions

Tom Kertscher | March 8, 2019

epic provisions
EPIC Provisions Founders, Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins (Courtesy of EPIC Provisions)
epic provisions
Forrest and Collins with their daughter, Scout (Courtesy of EPIC Provisions)

You know it’s true love — and, in this case, the start of a multimillion-dollar business partnership — when your girlfriend volunteers to go with you on your job, and that job is picking up broken glass and rancid beverage containers. 

 "When we started dating at Texas State, we loved spending every single second together. We did all these fun recreational things together outside all the time, and then we'd go our separate ways and we'd work,” recalled Taylor Collins (M.S. ‘08) who earned a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance in 2005 and his master’s degree in physical therapy. “So, we were like, ‘Hey, let's work together.’” 

Katie Forrest (B.A. ‘07) earned her degree from Texas State in psychology with a minor in sociology, soon had an idea. 

“Taylor had been picking up the recycling at a cafe for a couple of years and that was his only job. We wanted to spend more time together, so I was like, ‘Hey, can I come with you while you go recycle milk jugs? I started going on his recycling runs with him and then I was like, ‘Hey, why don't you have more customers?’ From there, we started building the customer base and it ended up turning into a business, on accident." 

In 2013, the couple, both triathletes and bicycle racers, launched Epic Provisions, which created, as the company puts it, “the world’s first 100 percent grass-fed meat, fruit and nut bar.” It was so successful that by 2016, Epic was purchased by General Mills for an estimated $100 million. 

Collins said a work-life balance the couple learned at Texas State helped them succeed in business. 

“Katie and I, we thrived academically. We had a lot of discipline and we learned to study and work hard, but we also had this part of our lives being in San Marcos that we learned about wildlife, exercise and being outdoors,” he said. 

Even though the sale of Epic was a big financial gain, Forrest said the money hasn’t dampened their desire to continue innovating. “I think the work that we do is important, it matters, it's changing things,” she said.  

"When we sold Epic, we didn't know if we would be the people who just peace out and live on a ranch and never talk to humans ever again. I think we recognize we love the spirit of being an entrepreneur, and we think that we have the skill set still and the passion to create a lot of meaningful change in the world,” Collins added.

 

couple with chickens
(Courtesy of EPIC Provisions)

More on Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins 

Austin Monthly: “An Epic Success Story  — Katie Forrest And Taylor Collins Hit It Big With Their Meaty Protein Bars. Now They're Determined To Improve The Lives Of Farm Animals And The Lands They Graze” 

Inc.: Katie Forrest named one of the top female founders of 2018 

Forbes: “Epic Provisions: How This Husband + Wife Went From Being Vegan To Starting A Meat-Based Snack Brand” 

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Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555

Sandy Pantlik, 512-245-2922