TRAVERSE CITY -- Gene Van Koevering and Jerry Timmer have been friends for more than 20 years.

They've worked in the business world for longer than that.

But, they decided to go into business together all because of a party snack recipe, "Every time we brought them, people loved them. Every time we were going to come to a party, people would say, 'bring that," explains Gene Van Koevering.

Uncle Gene's Backwoods Pretzels was a snack Van Koevering and his wife would bring to special gatherings.

The idea to put it on the market was the brain-child of him and his business partner Jerry Timmer, "We started the company with the garlic-dill."

Van Koevering was a little apprehensive about moving forward with just one flavor, but Timmer was able to talk him into it and demand began to build, "As soon as it hit the market, people were asking for additional flavors. So, we added three flavors from that and then went to a more professional packaging," said Van Koevering.

When the business started back in 2006, Van Koevering, Timmer and their families were packaging the pretzels in a warehouse in Traverse City, but demand outgrew their ability to keep up.

As of now, they're not able to purchase the equipment it would take to ramp up production, but they were able to find a facility in southern michigan that could handle it for them, "The idea long-term would be to bring the manufacturing totally back to Traverse City so we've got total control over it," said Timmer.

That's not to say, however, that traverse city is completely out of the equation, "What we use this place for here in Traverse City as this point is inventory for local distribution and research and development of other products and flavors," explained Van Koevering

While the business is not yet at a stage where Van Koevering and Timmer can quit their day jobs, the idea is to have fun.

And that's exactly how the product's name and packaging were born, "We all love outdoor sports and especially being in the woods in the Fall. Our families have done that a lot and the further back in the woods, the better we like it," said Van Koevering.

Van Koevering and Timmer are also about to bring Uncle Gene's Backwoods Pretzels some national exposure.

They're in the final stages of an arrangement to be in the gift shop at Cracker Barrel restaurants nationwide.

For more information, click here.

Made in Northern Michigan suggestions, click here.