A company that started in a basement in Cochrane nine years ago is debuting the first freeze-dried emergency preparedness meals in thirty years.

 On September 15th the company will be holding an open house at its location in the Spring Bank Commercial park west of Calaway Park. 

Briden Solutions starting in a basement in Cochrane in 2009 before moving to a warehouse also in Cochrane. In 2012 the company moved to the Springbank Industrial park near Calaway Park.

Kristen Bullock owner of Briden Solutions says she got into the business of emergency preparedness because she experienced the need for it at an early age. 

"We were both farm kids that grew up with scenarios such as getting snowed in or a water main line would break and we would go without water with no warning for two or three days and you learn quickly how much you take for granted once it disappears and then you are stuck scrambling."

Bullock also says over the past few years she has seen a growing demand for emergency supplies.

"People back in the day used to think of a prepper as a person that wore a tin hat and hid in a cabin in the woods but definitely become your average normal family that has been watching the emergency that has been going on or they are watching the political or economic storms that are out there and they just want a little reassurance that even if something goes sideways their family are going to be okay." 

Bullock and Briden Solutions are holding the open house in hopes to provide some limelight on the freeze-dried emergency preparedness meals which she says is a huge deal in the world of emergency preparedness. 

"Its the first new freeze-dried meal in 30 years. So this is a big deal, our roots are in emergency preparedness but as we have operated over the last nine years we have had a huge variety of outdoor people who just have a need for outdoor supplies so we have kind of morphed so that we not only cover emergency preparedness on large scale events but also your everyday camping, hiking and fishing emergency."  

The open house will have taste testings of the new freeze-dried food as well as a miniature escape room and information sessions for people wanting to get involved in the world of emergency preparedness. 

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