About Us
You want to have your coffee and your creamer too.
(Isn’t that how the saying goes?)
You’re tired of having to choose between your health goals or the happiness that comes from enjoying your daily rituals.
You know that you want to cut sugar from your diet, but you also don’t want to give up all of the sweetness in your life.
Morning coffee just black? No thanks. Summer without milkshakes? Nope. Christmas without cocoa? Not the same.
Chances are, you’ve tried all sorts of things so you can enjoy the sweeter things in life without sabotaging your health, but nothing quite cuts it... Until now! .
At 5 Sparrows, we’re on a mission to bring you health and happiness in the same cup.
Meet Melanie – Founder and Owner at 5 Sparrows Brand
Where It All Began
It all began with an obsession for making delicious coffee drinks.
If you’re anything like me, you love coffee. You love the morning ritual, the flavor, the aroma, the way you feel when you walk away from your local coffee shop with your favorite drink in hand.
As a former barista, I obsessed about making drinks just right, especially for the “picky” customers because I could relate to them wanting their morning coffee perfect and I loved making them happy.
But I also listened closely to their concerns about their favorite morning coffee. I knew they didn’t want the added sugar that came in their drinks, but they didn’t love the alternatives either. Just black coffee? Nope. The weird artificial sweeteners on the market? Didn’t cut it.
So I set out to formulate my own drink mixes that didn’t contain artificial sweeteners but still tasted rich and delicious.
After a ton of experimentation, I landed on stevia-sweetened drink mixes like chocolate, chai, white chocolate, and salted caramel that my customers loved. I started selling them to other coffee shops, and in grocery stores and online, too, and 5 Sparrows Brand was born.
Today we sell our stevia-sweetened drink mixes to coffee shops in more than 22 states nationwide. We show our fierce commitment to women’s advocacy by supporting groups that empower survivors of domestic abuse: refugeministries.com. We're obsessed with flavor, precision, and most importantly, connection. Our passion these days is figuring out how to best empower our people on their journey toward better health and happiness through something as simple as a sweet treat you can feel good about.
We’re devoted not only to the company we run but the company we keep. And we’re humbled for the opportunity to be a part of your story.
Cheers,
Melanie
The 5 Sparrows Team
Linda McQueen
Director of Operations & Sales
"As for me, the joy of my life is my brood of seven (yes SEVEN!), newly married additions, and growing grandchildren. A doc once said I hit double Yahtzee with my two peanuts, Ollie and Joey. Maybe I did. They have been a blessing to us all and lifetime buddies to each other. The girls and I are actively involved in our local Special Olympics." Linda joined 5 Sparrows in 2016, quickly becoming Melanie's right-hand woman. "Being a part of the growing 5 Sparrows team has been a beautiful journey. I am thrilled to be working in a dynamic atmosphere that connects me with great people. It is always challenging, lots of fun, and never boring. It's very rewarding to know we are playing a part in so many people's healthy eating lifestyles. I'm right there with ya! All this, and working with people you love, it's the best 😉 "
Mckenzie Stutzman
Production Specialist.
Mckenzie was born/raised in MT & her hobbies include exploring outdoors, cooking with her husband, gardening, and herbalism. She has worked for 5 Sparrows in production since 2016, recently moving to part-time as she has made a career change to supporting moms, babies, and families in the community as a midwife. "I love working at 5 Sparrows because it supports a local, woman-owned business that gives back to the community. I have appreciated working closely with the actual product, supporting the growth of a business, and really enjoy the team spirit at 5 Sparrows!"
Isaak Stutzman
Production Manager and Procurement.
Until Isaak came on board with 5 Sparrows in 2020, 5 Sparrows had been a women-only operation. His capability and can-do attitude have been a wonderful addition to round out the team. When asked what his favorite product is he says "It has to be the Dark Chocolate in my coffee, enjoying a cup in the morning on the way to work." He adds, "Working at 5 Sparrows has pushed me to learn new skills and try new things. The work atmosphere here is encouraging and supportive. 5 out of 5 Would do it again!" And lucky for us, he gets to- every day.
Melanie Francis
Founder and CEO
Melanie Francis: Founder and CEO. Melanie is the developer of all 5 Sparrows' products and started the company in 2010. She has been an entrepreneur since the age of 22 and loves the freedom to create, collaborate and structure work around family time. "One of the most important components of our culture is that our work is built around family," she says. Not many people know that our soft-spoken, pint-sized leader is a mixed martial arts student, studying striking and jujitsu. "Everything I have learned on the mats helps me in business. Composure, discipline, grit and passion are all requirements for success. Failure is such an important part of the journey. You have to take what you learn, reframe your process and go right back for more. One can never become too skilled and there is always room for growth." Melanie also loves gardening, baking, family bike rides and is a women's abuse advocate.
Extended Team
Highline Design & Branding
Branding, design, web
We've been working with the 5 Sparrows team since 2017, and it has been a pleasure to be the visual design and branding counterpart to 5 Sparrows. Both the products and Melanie are a naturally sweet part of any given day! Our favorite product of late has been the salted caramel drink mix blended with iced coffee.
Jo Lynn Barnicoat
Social media & content specialist
It's so fun to be part of a team that helps people start each day with a smile . . . and end each day on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Who knew that being sugar-free could be so sweet!
Regina Schwartz
CPA
It has been great working with Melanie and Linda. I am happy to say they were my first Montana client! I enjoy the products and love that they are sweetened with stevia. My new favorite is the dark cocoa drink mix! So delicious in my coffee!
Sarah Gould
Advisory & accounting
I fell in love with the Spiced Chai mix years before I was introduced to the team and I'm honored to be able to support the company and help it grow. I'm constantly inspired by Melanie and the team she has created around her with their positive energy and the desire to create healthier lives.
Katie Wood
Content writing
"I started working with 5 Sparrows to help them hone their message and immediately became a huge fan of all their products, too. I'm a sucker for a mocha, so the Dark Chocolate is my favorite drink mix, with the Spiced Chai coming in as a close second! The best part of working with the 5 Sparrows team is being surrounded by folks who have a passion for quality and doing good in the world." When she's not at the computer helping clients Katie is most likely out in the mountains somewhere searching for the perfect hiking rail or swimming hole.
Highline Design & Branding
Branding, design, web
We've been working with the 5 Sparrows team since 2017, and it has been a pleasure to be the branding and visual design counterpart to the business. Both the products and Melanie are a naturally sweet part of any given day! Our favorite product of late has been the salted caramel drink mix blended with iced coffee.
Regina Schwartz
CPA
It has been great working with Melanie and Linda. I am happy to say they were my first Montana client! I enjoy the products and love that they are sweetened with stevia. My new favorite is the dark cocoa drink mix! So delicious in my coffee!
Jo Lynn Barnicoat
Social media & content specialist
It's so fun to be part of a team that helps people start each day with a smile . . . and end each day on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Who knew that being sugar-free could be so sweet!
Sarah Gould
Advisory & accounting
I fell in love with the Spiced Chai mix years before I was introduced to the team and I'm honored to be able to support the company and help it grow. I'm constantly inspired by Melanie and the team she has created around her with their positive energy and the desire to create healthier lives.
Katie Wood
Content writing
"I started working with 5 Sparrows to help them hone their message and immediately became a huge fan of all their products, too. I'm a sucker for a mocha, so the Dark Chocolate is my favorite drink mix, with the Spiced Chai coming in as a close second! The best part of working with the 5 Sparrows team is being surrounded by folks who have a passion for quality and doing good in the world." When she's not at the computer helping clients Katie is most likely out in the mountains somewhere searching for the perfect hiking rail or swimming hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Stevia?
Stevia: it’s been a buzzword for a few years, and you’ve probably heard about it a time or two by now. Here at 5 Sparrows, it’s our go-to ingredient in all our delicious sugar-free coffee creamer and hot drink mixes. But what the heck is Stevia, and what should you know about this tasty sweetener?
Does this work with my eating protocol (Keto, Paleo, WeightWatchers, Whole30, etc.)
You’ve probably heard about the keto diet - also known as the ketogenic diet. “Eating keto” means opting for low-carb, high-fat meals. Popular in the CrossFit community and among people who want to reap the diet’s health benefits, the keto diet promises to help you lose weight, protect your body from chronic diseases, and live a healthier, fuller life.
If you’re interested in the ketogenic diet, you’ve probably got lots of questions.
How do you know it’s right for you, and what can you expect to eat once you’re on it?
In this post, we’re taking a look at the keto diet, and how our line of stevia-sweetened coffee creamers fits into your journey.
I’m a diabetic. Can I have your products?
July 3, 2014
Dear Melanie,
We all loved the taste of your products. We would suggest the zero sugar white chocolate and zero sugar house chocolate mixes for diabetes patients who want to decrease carbohydrate intake. The chai and frappe are higher in carbs, but are another alternative to other mixes and could be lower than Starbucks as an option depending what is mixed with it. The presence of coconut oil accounts for some saturated fat that should be limited by patients with cardiovascular disease. Over all, your products taste great and in moderation can be successfully used by people with diabetes and other health issues.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Troupe Jennifer Troupe, MS RD CDE BC-ADM
Program Supervisor Providence Medical Group Endocrinology,
Diabetes and Nutrition Center
900 North Orange Street,
Suite 304 Missoula, MT 59802
(406) 329-2654
jennifer.troupe@providence.org
I’ve heard there’s a weird aftertaste with Stevia? Is that true?
We pair stevia with a sugar alcohol called erythritol. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that can be found in fruits and veggies. Most companies who make sugar-free products use a pre-made blend of erythritol and stevia. At 5 Sparrows, each of our products, including our hot chocolate, has a custom blend of each of these sweeteners, giving the final product that perfect sweetness with no bad aftertaste.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to help people find healing, stop just surviving, and finally start thriving.
But it goes deeper than that.
We believe that true wellbeing includes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and we aim to do our part in helping others achieve that through the products we make and the profits we donate.
Products: we craft our products to support people in pursuing a healthier lifestyle without losing the sweetness of their daily rituals. Profits: a portion of our profits support domestic abuse support groups, like Refuge Ministries and women’s shelters in various regions of the country to help women in crisis. We want to see a world where health and safety is accessible to everyone. We can’t think of anything sweeter than being a part of that.
SWEET TALK
Let’s stay in touch.
Follow along for more recipes, stories, new products and beautiful shots on our insta page.