Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Foster.
Jaime, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in both my husband’s and my DNA. We have always wanted to own a business something that we could potentially pass along to our children. We wanted to be able to teach our children about the value of hard work and the American Dream at a very young age. Unfortunately, my mother was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 at the age of 59. Watching her healthy, rapidly decline at such a young age acted as a catalyst to take the leap of faith and start my own business. Life is short and there is never the ideal time to take a risk and leave Corporate America (I was in Medical Sales/Diagnostic Testing and traveled all over the Southeast).
Passionate about food and healthy lifestyles, I have always enjoyed cooking and discovering healthier ways to make some of my favorite dishes. Ironically, my Grandfather’s innovation towards health and wellness to combat his genetic predisposition to Cardiovascular Disease lead to the idea to launch his recipe for almond butter. My Grandfather focused on clean ingredients and whole foods back in the ’70s and started making almond butter well before anyone truly understood the importance of slow food and certainly before anyone really knew what almond butter was! Georgia Grinders is a tribute to my Grandfather, his innovation towards health and wellness and a simplistic approach to diet vs. medication. My grandfather lived to be 97 and was able to witness the birth of Georgia Grinders! Our mission at Georgia Grinders is to create extraordinary nut butters out of simple, all-natural ingredients with zero added sugars and oils to fuel the adventurous lives of ALL ages!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Food manufacturing and the CPG industry is definitely tough and unpredictable. All brands are fighting for shelf space and there are so many amazing products already on the shelves. The price of commodity goods (nuts in this case) constantly fluctuates and supply chain issues are an ongoing challenge. Each day we are presented with a new challenge that we are forced to overcome, but that is what small business ownership is all about – perseverance!! We own/operate our manufacturing facility and do not outsource to co-packers, therefore scaling up production is an on-going challenge, which is why we have grown responsibly and organically to maintain quality.
Equipment malfunctions are common, inbound delivery delays often take place and of course, employees call in sick from time to time, which ultimately offsets out the production schedule, resulting in occasional delays to our customers. It is a constant balancing act and learning to be flexible and think constantly improvise is key! Working with distributors is a huge challenge, too, though our products would not get to the shelves across the country without them. After being in business for eight years, it is very rewarding to look back on the previous years’ big hurdles to realize just how far we have come. What was a major challenge 1, 2, 4 years ago seems so simple now!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Georgia Grinders story. Tell us more about the business.
Georgia Grinders strives to create extraordinary nut butters from simple, all-natural ingredients. After all, it is our belief that every culinary experience be savored and defines the taste of health. Sourcing the highest quality, natural and inherently Non-GMO ingredients, Georgia Grinders Premium Nut Butters are handcrafted in small batches to ensure quality, freshness and flavor. We own and operate our manufacturing facility in Chamblee, GA so that we can personally monitor each step in the production process.
From savory to sweet and creamy to crunchy, our premium nut butters are perfect for anyone who is looking for high quality, CLEAN foods to fuel their adventurous life. With no added sugars or oils, it is OK to grab a spoon and dig in! You will never find palm oil, stevia, lecithin, or any unnecessary ingredients in our nut butters. We even have 5 SKUs that are Whole30Approved. Let’s keep it CLEAN and SIMPLE because life is already complicated enough!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I would like to think that characteristics such as passion, perseverance, imagination, intellectual curiosity and being willing to get uncomfortable translate to success, but that is not always the case in the life of an entrepreneur. Some of my best life and business lessons have come from failures and heartbreaks, both personally and professionally… after all, what does not kill you makes you stronger! Luck, whether good or bad, should be viewed positively, rather than negatively, to maintain the positive mindset required to move forward with your mission. Yes, I realize this is easier said than done, especially after experiencing what is perceived as bad luck. It is all about managing your reactions and yourself to be best equipped to handle the challenging/bad luck situations.
TIMING: yes, the timing was ideal to launch a nut butter company in 2012, as nut butters were named one of the fastest-growing food categories in the natural/organics food space in 2013.
I am always open to new ideas for inspiration and new ideas for the evolution of business. When we started, I only thought we would make almond butter and branded my company as NaturAlmond. Being short-sighted, this rookie mistake did not allow for me to expand our product line without re-branding as Georgia Grinders. Think broad and don’t hyper-focus one task/product.
Solid Support Network of family, friends and mentors – those that can lift you up and tear you down when you need a dose of reality!
Passionate about my story and mission to create the cleanest, most nutritious nut butters with zero added sugar and oils to fuel the lives of everyone!
Pricing:
- Assortment of premium nut butters (almond, cashew, pecan, hazelnut and peanut butters) ranging from $6-$15 per jar
Contact Info:
- Address: 3719 N. Peachtree Road
Suite 290, Chamblee, GA 30341 - Website: www.georgiagrinders.com
- Phone: 866-327-9301
- Email: jfoster@hfprovisions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgiagrinders/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaGrinders
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/georgiagrinders/
Image Credit:
XXIII Photo Studio and @heidiface
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
