3/9/07, 5:12 pm EST

Assignment Eight Finalist: Alex Frydman on “Buzzed” Goods

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Note: This is not an official Rolling Stone article. What follows is a submission to the “I’m From Rolling Stone” writing competition.

“Buzzed” Goods

by Alex Frydman
Age: 21

Think you’re addicted to your morning grande skim mocha latte? You’ve got nothing on Robert Bohannon.

“I was eating coffee beans when I was eight years old,” said Bohannon, who has a doctorate in microbiology. “And I was having coffee with my dad at five or six in the morning when he got up and that was sort of our time together.”

Now, Bohannon is taking his love of coffee to the next level, developing “Buzz Donuts” and “Buzzed Bagels” baked goods that contain 50 milligrams of caffeine in each serving, or about half the caffeine present in a cup of coffee.

Bohannon expects these products to hit store shelves sometime in the next six months, and college students are anticipating their arrival as an alternative to current caffeine-fueled products, such as sugared sodas and energy drinks.

“That sounds horrible-I don’t need another temptation,” joked Duke Sophomore Lindsey Kueser. “I think it would be extremely popular, especially in the college environment, being caffeine and a snack at the same time.”

Retailers are hoping for just this kind of reaction. With big-name companies such as Starbucks and Krispy Kreme rumored to be interested in stocking Buzz Donuts, Bohannon’s profits could run into the millions. But for now Bohannon is keeping quiet on who his sponsors will be.

“I can tell you that I’m in talk with at least three big companies,” said Bohannon. “And a few regional chains of convenience stores.”

Bohannon envisions a bright future for his Buzz baked goods. He hopes to expand his line to include donuts with coffee and hazelnut flavored frostings, and even a Buzz donut with less caffeine-a “Buzz Light,” as Bohannon jokes.

Just don’t expect a decaf version anytime soon.