CS Major’s Pickle Company Celebrates Founders’ Friendship

University of Maryland computer science major Eric Bennett and his friend Chris Moon initially met playing the drums in sixth-grade band class. 

After ten years of friendship, becoming business partners was a natural next step for the two University of Maryland juniors. From band class to McKeldin Mall, a fully student-run startup was born: Chris and Eric’s Small Batch Pickles. 

“Pickles specifically, there this thing that everyone eats, but no one really makes their own pickles,” said Bennett. 

In between classes and their professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, Moon — a junior accounting and finance major — and Bennett made time to create new, unique pickle flavors, such as Hot Honey and Old Bay. 

Each batch of pickles is homemade. Bennett and Moon assign tasks to their employees in their makeshift production line. Moon said he’s in charge of operating the mandoline slicer, while Bennett labels the jars and other employees make the pickles themselves. 

“We make smaller batches once a week where we just try combining different amounts of ingredients and taste test them,” said Moon. 

Bennett and Moon already have big plans for the future of their business. They hope to eventually sell their pickles at this university’s Farmers Market, Shop Made in Maryland on Route 1 or maybe even Whole Foods.

Their ambitious attitudes have played an integral role in the expansion of their business. Moon also attributes their success to one of the university’s business classes, and of course to Bennett. 

While their partnership is strong on its own, the two students have expanded their business to include a small staff. Employees work on a broad spectrum of tasks featuring marketing, legal issues and product development. 

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