Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Martin.
Hi Stacy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In February 2019, I learned that I carried a genetic mutation that gave me an 80% chance of getting stomach cancer in my lifetime. The cancer is diffuse, which means it doesn’t grow any tumors, and it’s very hard to find. I could either do surveillance and wait for them to find something or I could have my stomach removed. That was a BIG decision. I chose to have my stomach removed in September 2019. When they did the pathology, they found 17 spots of cancer in my stomach! It was immediately validating that I made the right decision but it changed everything for me. Now I have to eat every 2 hours, I need to eat a lot of protein because that’s what fuels me and keeps me going and I need to be careful around sugar.
I discovered nuts as a snack and started experimenting with flavors. That’s when Seahorse Snacks was born. I wanted to make snacks I could eat and were not boring. We make healthy and delicious roasted nuts with unique and unusual flavors. This has become my way of sharing my love of food and story with the world.
We started selling at local markets around Chattanooga in March 2021. Ice launched our website in May, n October we moved into a commercial kitchen and received our Department of Agriculture certification. This allowed us to start expanding from markets to selling at retail. We are continuing to grow and expand geographically around the Southeast.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a solopreneuer, there are always things to fix or challenges to overcome. When you are creating something from scratch it feels like each time you come to a solution, you unlock several new things to tackle. I don’t see this as a trend that will change so it’s essential to celebrate your wins no matter how big or small, it definitely helps keep you going in between them.
As you know, we’re big fans of Seahorse Snacks. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Seahorse Snacks is a health food company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee that specializes in producing healthy and delicious roasted nuts with unique and unusual flavors. The company was founded in 2021 by Stacy Martin, who like a seahorse, doesn’t have a stomach and needs to eat every two hours. Her own personal experience inspired her to create healthy, portable snacks that could be eaten on-the-go without sacrificing taste or nutrition.
Seahorse Snacks offers a range of roasted nuts with flavors such as chili turmrific and maple chaitastic. All of the nuts are roasted in small batches, ensuring that they are fresh and flavorful. The company’s commitment to providing healthy snacks is reflected in the ingredients they use – their nuts are always non-GMO, gluten-free, and free from artificial preservatives or additives.
Overall, Seahorse Snacks is a company that prioritizes health, innovation, and sustainability. Their dedication to providing unique and flavorful snacks that are both healthy and convenient makes them a standout in the health food market
How do you define success?
Being able to do this every day. I get to share amazing snacks and my story!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.seahorsesnacks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seahorse_snacks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seahorse.snacks
Image Credits
Green chair = Emily Perez Long purple sweater = Robin Rudd
