Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jennifer Reynolds, founder of Sauce Goddess Gourmet LLC., located in San Diego, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sauce Goddess Gourmet makes obscenely delicious sauces, spices, and dip mixes. We help you cook amazing meals for your friends and family. We are driven to ensure everyone knows what they can create, whether it's a simple recipe "hack" or something detailed and advanced. Everything we make is free of any additives or junk. A 7-year-old can read the label and know what everything is. It's real food made with real ingredients. Simple and delicious.
Tell us about yourself
I started Sauce Goddess with a recipe my Dad had been making for years and a love for food that borders on obsession. I turned that craziness and fondness to experiment in the kitchen into a desire to get everyone else to fall in love with food the way I had.
I wanted to get people back to the dinner table, eating great food and sharing smiles. That was over 20 years ago. Today, my company Sauce Goddess keeps turning people on to our flavors and creating happiness along the way.
At Sauce Goddess, we're using Real Food ingredients so you can experience the full flavor of our sauces and spices as they enhance the meals you make. This might sound weird, but it's important to me. Why should found have a lot of ingredients that aren't found in nature? A 7-year-old can read our label and know what everything is.
Everything is certified gluten-free. Everything is also vegan. The spices are certified kosher. I want people to be able to safely cook for loved ones and entertain people that have food sensitivities. When they create something wonderful and obscenely delicious, no one will know it's "free" of anything.
Our website is chock full of recipes. Recipes are my passion as the founder of Sauce Goddess. If you need an idea, we want to be there on your culinary journey. Suppose you already know the ropes of cooking amazing, smiling-creating meals. In that case, we want to welcome you to our community. So in a way, it takes me back to how it started, my Dad teaching me his recipe for BBQ sauce.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Well, we have over 24 awards for flavor, so that's huge. We have a grassroots group of people who really really love what we do.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Only one? Getting out of my own way. I tend to stick my nose into projects my team is working on. I react quickly to things that sometimes don't need to deserve a quick reaction.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Research the industry.
- Hire the right people to help you grow.
- Make a profit.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I think the biggest thing I didn't do early on was listen to my gut. I was all over the place, trying everything, even if my gut told me it might be a bad idea. Our gut usually knows.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://saucegoddess.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saucegoddess
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesaucegoddess/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saucegoddess
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferreynoldssaucegoddess/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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