Charlene Barrie: Owner of Char’s Kitchen

Charlene Barrie, owner at Char’s Kitchen, has been providing its customers with a wide variety of tasty jellies and baked goods since 1995. Ms. Barrie is an active member of the Professional Women’s Association and a board member with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She is the former president of the Conde American Legion. Prior to becoming the owner of Char’s Kitchen, she served as the office administrator for Viking Rubber.

She grew up in a family full of people who loved to bake, which inspired a passion of her own. Her enthusiasm for making jellies initially started as a hobby, that grew into a full-fledged business after her daughter asked her to provide her with some jellies as gifts for the holiday season. Ms. Barrie packaged her jellies in repurposed baby food jars, adding her own charm by hand-writing labels. She later participated in a craft fair where she sold her jellies alongside some baked goods. Everyone who came up to her table loved her products. After receiving an order for 500 jellies from a local customer, Ms. Barrie knew her old hobby had become a career.

In the next five years, Ms. Barrie is hoping to retire and spend more time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.