by Paul Gatling (pgatling@nwabj.com)

Grind toothpaste brand hit select Walmart stores earlier this year. Starting with 365 stores in February and expanding to 453 stores by summer, a co-founder of the Salt Lake City-based company is eager to continue growing the business.

Roger Gindlesperger, co-founder and co-owner of Grind, said it took him three tries to get into Walmart’s Open Call. He applied in 2020 and 2021, but it was 2022 before he got an invitation.

“We married hydroxyapatite and theobromine together to provide the same benefits as fluoride without the risks. We have a patent pending on that process. Grind has natural whitening agents, hardening agents and six minerals to fight bacteria, plaque buildup and inflammation,” he said.

The Supply Side: Veteran-owned brand making waves at Walmart