Made in Sask. bug bite treatment creating international buzz

A made-in-Saskatchewan remedy for treating mosquito and other bug bites is winning over itchy people on both sides of the border.

Just Bite Me can now be found on store shelves across Canada and the United States. Co-owner Matt Johnson told paNOW word of mouth has worked well.

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“Usually when I get into a new store, it starts out slowly, but then word of mouth gets out, especially if someone in the store tries it and realizes how well it works. They start telling everyone who comes in the 02

Originally developed by a man in Melfort with an autoimmune disease, Johnson said the man was an avid outdoorsman but all the existing bug products on the market that contained ammonia would burn his skin.

“He started selling it a bit locally, and my business partner tried it and couldn’t believe how well it worked. He called me up and said we need to work out a deal so we can make this not just local, but massive.”

While initially providing the developer with a royalty, Johnson and his business partner bought him out in 2024. From 2020 to 2022, when the pandemic hit, sales were slow. He said with stores closed, nobody was buying the impulse-buy items normally found by the checkout counter.

However, by 2023, as Johnson was able to visit more retailers, business picked up and the product became available in three-quarters of Co-op stores across Western Canada.

“Unfortunately, we outgrew being able to make it in a kitchen and couldn’t afford all the manufacturing equipment yet, so we partnered with a company in Vancouver to make it for us. They ship it, and then I still personally do over 90 per cent of the packaging,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the product is simple and contains just five ingredients: beeswax, coconut oil, baking soda, lemongrass oil and wintergreen oil.

“It’s simple, it’s natural, and it works.”

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