Mary Dodds' and Maggie Mortensen's Company Expands and New Food Wins Award!

North Aire Market Completes Big Move and Creates Acclaimed Banana Foster Dessert/Dip Mix


Meet Maggie Mortensen SP '79 (Psychology) and Mary Dodds SP '79 (Elementary Education), founders of North Aire Market, based in Shakopee, MN. They are creators of simmering soups for cold weather, coolers for hot weather, and desserts to delight people all year round. Twenty-one years ago, they started their food company to design hearty, sustaining, and delicious foods that are simple, easy, and quick to make.

Now they've just moved into new headquarters and their newest product, Banana Foster Mix, a dessert/dip mix designed to be added to cream cheese, was named Best New Food for 2008 from the 20th Annual Specialty Coffee Association of America Show. The dessert mix's name and taste profile come from the beloved supper club dessert created in New Orleans, from a blend of banana, butter, brown sugar, rum flavorings, and spices.

“The busier people get, the more they crave comfort foods," said Maggie. "Many of today’s busy consumers were children in the 50s and 60s, and they remember their parents ordering Bananas Foster for dessert after a nice meal at a restaurant.  We wanted to create a product which incorporated the good memories of that beloved flavor profile, and allowed people to enjoy it consistent with today’s lighter bites.”  

The Banana Foster Mix serves twelve, takes less than an hour to fix, is fairly light on calories, and TASTES GOOD! Mary said, “Everyone looks for ways to make gatherings with friends and loved ones more special.  The easy and convenient mixes we produce allow folks to serve up wonderful meals or treats, even when they don’t have time for complicated food or meal preparations.” Their mixes sell under the labels of "Maggie & Mary's" and "Kitchen Dancer," available at more than 3,800 gourmet food, gift stores, and specialty retailers nationwide.



Some of the other award-winning mixes this dynamic cooking duo has created include soups such as: Creamy Wild Rice, Potato Bacon, Be-Well Chicken, Hungarian Mushroom, Salmon Bisque, Chill-Chasin' Chili, Pot Roast, and Tomato Parmesan. Smoothie Coolers include: Orange Mango, Key Lime, Pomegranate, and English Toffee. Dessert Mousses, to accompany the Banana Foster Mix, span the gamut from Tangerine Dream to Chocolate Passion and Zesty Lemon. The soup and cooler mixes generally serve four to six.


Mary said the key to creating flavorful mixes are their formulas. North Aire Market will spend more money for quality ingredients, she said, even if they have to raise the product price higher than those of competitors.

"We are not the cheapest product out there, but you do get what you pay for," Maggie said.

Dodds and Mortensen started their company in 1987, and over the years, the company has expanded its facilities four times. This summer's addition more than doubled their previous company headquarters and added a test kitchen. "We’re not big or fancy," Maggie explained, "but Katies are always welcome here.  In fact, last year we were able to hire our first St. Kate’s graduate.  I’m sure she thought Mary and I were complete nut cases . . . before the interview we stood in front of her and sang the entire song, “I went to an all girls school . . . “  We laughed until the tears rolled."

The Company enforces a strict dress code it believes fosters creativity: "No blue suits, pantyhose, or high heels are allowed anywhere within 30 feet of the building's perimeter."

"Folks who work here at North Aire Market would likely tell you this isn’t like other work places," Maggie admits.  "This is likely true for all sorts of reasons.  One reason, for example, is that we provide work opportunities to an enclave of individuals who have barriers to employment.  Those barriers might be physical, developmental, or emotional.  This situation is an absolute win-win . . . . we have a workforce that is dedicated, joyful, hard working and results oriented . . . and folks who might otherwise have difficulty finding jobs know their work is valued here. It is true this means some additional accommodations sometimes, or a bit of extra paperwork.  But for Mary and me, this is an example of being able to be true to the values of highest standards together with justice and compassion which surrounded us at St. Kates.

"We keep a picture of the front gates right here so that St. Kate's is never far from us!

The St. Kate's Difference

When asked how going to St. Kate's influenced them, both Mary and Maggie wrote down "standards", "passion," and "commitment." Maggie summed up their thoughts: "St. Kate's did not just teach standards, it lived standards.  Every member of the St. Kate's community was PASSIONATE about what she or he did.  The  extraordinary professors set high standards in their classrooms and they supported those academic standards with equally high levels of personal support, empathy, encouragement and compassion outside of the classroom.  The folks in administration held true to the values of a womens college when many schools at the time were going co-educational....

"Nothing was average.  And the truth is, Mary and I knew it back then.  We recall being in our dorm and talking about how it was almost surreal to be surrounded by so many incredible people, who dedicated their lives to our development.   In our opinion, it is impossible to be surrounded by such high standards and not be influenced in a most positive way. We learned to set goals, to work hard, and to play hard.   Of course the opportunities there provided us with skills, education, and increased self confidence.  And in our case, St. Kates was the linkage for forming many, many wonderful, life-long relationships.  Lastly, as Mary and I sat here and reminisced, we talked about the perspectives we gained just about being part of a world larger than ourselves, and about justice and sisterhood."

When congratulated by the Alumnae Association on the product award, Maggie observed: "How fun to have a community of good people to share the happy news with.  I feel sort of like I just climbed the stairs at Caecilian, opened the door, and announced that I passed some test I was so worried about! . . . So truly, thanks for the celebratory note."

Maggie added a note about her long-term business relationship with Mary: "We just feel so blessed to be able to go to work every day with our best friend, to be able to work hard, to (hopefully) put positive energy into the world, and create quality products.  John Lennon actually wrote it but all  Katie’s know it's true . . . we all get by with a little help from our friends.  Without the support of so many wonderful people, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.  How lucky are we!"

Some of Their Recipe Ideas

Wild Rice Casserole
Fantastic Fondue
Pastime Chicken
Aunt Obbie's Beef Stew
Cream Salmon on Biscuits
Golden Squash Potato Soup
Easiest Ever Clam Chowder
Mama Doro's Italian Skillet

If you would like to contact Mary and Maggie or North Aire Market, you may contact them at sales@northairemarket.com or visit their website at the same name.

Gourmet Foods for Real People!