Suvechha Sarkar
Balancing indulgence and nutrition has always been a challenge for many individuals. However, Orka Bar strives to address this issue and help others with it. Their products are made with the belief that one does not have to sacrifice flavor for fitness, providing a creamy, nostalgic taste to their high-protein snacks. Their protein bars are low sugar, gluten-free, and satisfy both taste buds and fitness goals. The founder’s moment on season 17 episode 4 of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ helped bring the brand’s mission to the forefront, which deviates from the “healthy means bland” stereotype.
Orka Bar: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Before bringing his vision to life through Orka Bar, the founder and CEO, Stephen Longo, was steadily building his career. He began pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting in 2007 at Pace University – Lubin School of Business. Although he graduated in 2012, he stepped into the professional world in October 2007 as an Intern at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Stephen worked there until July 2012 before joining EY as a Strategy Consultant. He left the role by April 2019 and became the Founder of Wellware. While working there, Stephen attained the Certificate of a Nutrition Coach from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
In June 2023, Stephen joined Throughline, Inc. as a Principal – Strategy professional. Around that same time, his years of ideas regarding Orka Bar finally culminated in the founding of the company. As a Nutrition Coach and a longtime athlete, he has experimented for years with snack alternatives that are both nutritious and enjoyable to eat. Stephen also wanted a product with high-protein content, which is convenient enough for busy days, leading to the creation of the product. He left his positions at Wellware and Throughline, Inc. in January 2024 and March 2025, respectively, before completely focusing on the Orka Bar brand.
The brand is known for its protein bars, which combine the cool bite of an ice cream bar with the nutrition of a protein shake. Each of them is creamy in nature and comes in a variety of flavors. The product features a high-protein center that provides energy for gym sessions or satisfies late-night cravings. They are not just gluten-free and low in sugar, but are also made with real egg whites. They contain high fiber and low lactose and have no artificial flavors. Each 90-gram bar contains less than 1% vanilla extract, salt, and guar gum to achieve a balance of taste and texture. Moreover, the product’s whey isolate content provides a concentrated protein source, and the addition of organic coconut oil and rich dark chocolate rounds out the formula, making it a healthy snack.
Related
Orka Bar: Where Are They Now?
Orka Bar’s journey since its launch has been nothing short of inspiring, as it continues to grow every month. Their frozen protein bars are available in four flavors: raspberry, mint, vanilla bean, and cookies and cream. Customers can purchase a box containing four bars of a particular flavor for just $14.99. They can opt for a subscription plan at $13.49, which includes monthly delivery and a 10% discount. There is also a Variety Box featuring one of each flavor, available at the same pricing options. Individuals can order the brand’s products directly through the website or visit the physical stores like Alpha Fit Club, Jersey Shore Supplements, Shore Fresh Meal Prep, and many more. Additionally, customers can use their store locator on the website to find physical outlets that sell their products.
Orka Bar has its own Affiliate Program, allowing interested people to become the brand’s ambassadors. They can gain the benefits of commissions on each sale, exclusive content, early access to brand-new flavors, and other resources. Individuals looking for wholesale options can contact them directly through their website. Their New Year kicked off with a Giveaway in partnership with Steel Monkey Superfoods and HERD Athletics, where the winner and one of their friends received two boxes of Orka Bars in any flavor, along with other products from their partners. In the same month, Orka Bar hosted its first event at SETS Freehold, which was followed by a feature of the product during a blind tasting competition at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center.
Following that, Orka Bar continued to announce the availability of its products in several establishments, including House of Nutrition and Retro Fitness, among many others. In February, the brand made its way to the Sip and Sweat Event organized by The Fort Athletic Club and appeared at UFC Gym Riverdale in March. By the end of the same month, the brand began shipping to an additional 15 states, including Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Texas, Wisconsin, and several others. In April, Orka Bar presented their product at Alpha Fit Club Brick during the 2025 Alpha Games. By June, the brand had conducted an exciting summer giveaway in collaboration with Soarsoap and Paper Street Coffee. They achieved another milestone one month later as they introduced their product at the 2025 Summer Fancy Food Show organized by the Specialty Food Association.
By August 2025, Orka Bar proudly announced that it had joined the Cultivate Small Business Grant Program, sponsored by Santander Bank. Around the same time, Stephen visited the Alpha Fit Club at Princeton to take his first class. September brought exciting news with the launch of their new limited-edition flavor, Chocolate Mousse. Most recently, in October, they won the Best New Emerging Brand at the 2025 Food and Beverage Forum. Throughout this year, Orka Bar has consistently collaborated with several creators, including Dani Frost and Victoria Puchalski, as well as retailers such as Philly Gainz. With the increase in glowing customer reviews, the brand has successfully made its vision come to life, where indulgence and nutrition can coexist.
