For Patrick Manning, what started as a COVID-era kitchen experiment quickly transformed into a mission-driven business: creating a clean, allergen-free protein bar that tastes good. Now the Founder and CEO of ALIO, Patrick leads a growing brand that offers the “highest quality, best tasting allergy-friendly protein bar on the market.”
“ALIO Protein Bars are free from the top nine allergens,” Patrick shares. “There wasn’t a high-protein option without sugars, high calories, or nut ingredients. I saw that gap—and decided to fill it.”
The journey to launching ALIO began while Patrick was studying biological psychology at The College of New Jersey, preparing for a career in medicine. “I was studying for the MCAT when COVID hit,” he explains. “Graduation went online, med school was uncertain, and I found myself with more free time than I expected.”
Like many college students, Patrick relied heavily on protein bars, but he noticed they didn’t sit well with him. “I have a lot of allergies, and my friends and family have had similar issues. That’s when the idea started to form.” Armed with a nutrition class under his belt and a scientific mindset, he began experimenting. “I made over 100 recipes,” Patrick says. “I studied the traditional bars on the market, looked at their ingredients, and worked to recreate them without allergens like peanut oil, nut butter, dairy, and soy. There was a lot of trial and error.” He eventually teamed up with a food scientist to ensure the product could be shelf-stable, delicious, and safe for people with severe allergies. “Now we manufacture in a dedicated allergy-free facility based in New Jersey—no cross-contamination.”
Launched in November 2023, ALIO now offers three flavors—Choco Mint, Choco Brownie, Cookie Dough—with 12 bars per box. Sample packs can also be purchased with a mix of two flavors or all three. They’re available on ALIO’s website (livealio.com), Amazon, and in a handful of independent retailers in New Jersey and surrounding states.
Support from his family has been key to ALIO’s development. “My mom helped a lot with the formula, and she now sells ALIO in her store, Personally Yours, in Bedminster. My brother helped with taste testing and packaging.”
Mentorship also played a role in ALIO’s evolution. “Early on, I got connected with Will Willis, who worked at Dole and Frito-Lay. After just one conversation, he wanted to join the initiative and has helped provide guidance.”
While the brand is ideal for anyone with food sensitivities, Patrick says ALIO’s ideal customer is “someone on the go, who struggles to find something ready to eat, high in protein, and satisfying.” The feedback so far has been powerful. “One podcast host told me her son, who has food allergies, is starting high school sports. She said she’s so happy there’s finally a product she trusts—and that he likes. That meant a lot. It reminded me why I started this.”
Looking ahead, Patrick hopes to eventually create a complete line of allergy-free, high-protein products. “We want to give people more options that are safe, delicious, and nutritious. It’s not just about avoiding allergens—it’s about creating something people want to eat.”
For more, visit www.livealio.com or follow ALIO on Instagram.
