Angellica Bunce Won Trailmix Startup Competition

The Boise entrepreneur secured a $20,000 prize after winning the annual Trailmix food innovation event.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings

An artisanal food pouch sits on a polished granite surface in a professional culinary test kitchen, bathed in morning light. — Boise entrepreneur Angellica Bunce won the Trailmix startup competition on Tuesday, securing $20,000 and new retail shelf space at Albertsons. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Angellica Bunce, founder of DeLo Pop, took home the top prize at the annual Trailmix competition held at Jack's Urban Meeting Place in Boise. She and runner-up Faith Bauman both earned new retail shelf space at Albertsons flagship locations.

Why it matters

The competition serves as a critical growth engine for Idaho startups, providing entrepreneurs with essential capital and direct access to major retail distribution channels.

Angellica Bunce won $20,000 for her business, while Faith Bauman received $5,000 after the two emerged as the top selections from a field of seven startups.

The players

Angellica Bunce

She is the founder of DeLo Pop and the grand prize winner of the 2026 Trailmix competition.

Faith Bauman

She is the founder of Be Spooned and the second-place winner of the Trailmix competition.

Albertsons

This major grocery retailer operates flagship stores and provides shelf space to winning startups.

The details

Judges evaluated the seven finalists by scoring their presentations and conducting intensive questioning sessions. After a tie-breaking vote involving eight judges, Albertsons committed to stocking products from both winners at two of its flagship stores.

The Trailmix competition has occurred annually since 2018.
The food expo took place on Wednesday.
Winners were announced at the closing ceremony on Thursday.

Market Landscape

This event follows the annual precedent set by the Trailmix competition, which has provided a platform for local startups since 2018. It highlights the growing importance of hyper-local retail partnerships in helping emerging brands gain competitive market share.

Local shoppers can expect to see new food products from DeLo Pop and Be Spooned appearing on shelves at area Albertsons stores soon. These retail additions provide residents with increased access to locally produced goods.

The takeaway

The event highlights how regional startup competitions bridge the gap between small-scale innovation and mainstream retail accessibility. Aspiring entrepreneurs can leverage these platforms to secure both necessary funding and high-visibility shelf space.