NEXT CHAPTER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW:
NC: We’re absolutely delighted to have you with us today. Your journey is truly inspiring, and I’m excited to learn more about the story behind your remarkable brand. Since EAT GANGSTER was born from your personal experiences with autoimmune challenges, I’d love to begin by hearing about your path and how this incredible company came to life.
KERRY: Heather and I have been friends since our 20s (now in our mid-40s), and we reconnected in New York City after both of us had encountered health challenges and both of us had leaned into the concept of “Food as Medicine” to better how we felt and lessen symptoms we were experiencing. Heather had been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis – but found that eating a gluten-free diet enabled her to feel great and live medication free. During this journey she went back to school to become a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and AIP (Auto-immune Protocol) Coach. I (Kerry) had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and was struggling with joint pain and digestive issues. Through the AIP diet, joint pain disappeared – as did brain fog. When we reconnected in New York City, Heather began teaching me all these amazing recipes that were 100% AIP compliant, so they were free of grains, gluten, nuts, eggs, dairy and more. The cookie recipes we started with in my NYC apartment, became the inspiration for our first 3 SKUs at eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R.!
NC: Since our magazine is geared toward readers ages 40 to 65, we’d love to know: how do you feel about growing older? Does it excite you, concern you, or inspire you in new ways?
KERRY: In our minds, getting older is such a privilege for all of us. It’s the ultimate goal. No one really necessarily wants to get more wrinkles, greyer hair, etc – but if with that, you get more wisdom, comfort in your skin, expertise in a passion and motivation to live for others (your child, spouse or other loved one), its worth it.
NC: I absolutely love your company name! How did you come up with it, or who was the creative force behind it?
KERRY: ”G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R.” Is an acronym for what our products are:
G.rain FREE
A.rtificial Additive FREE
N.ightshade FREE
G.luten FREE
S.oy & Seed FREE
T.ree Nut & Peanut FREE
E.gg & Dairy FREE
R.eal FOOD
The name of our business came to me one night as a breast fed my almost 2 year old. We were trying to say so much in what we were all about. How could we say this in a clear and concise way, that was not clinical or boring, but rather memorable and catchy? The letters G, N, G, S, E, T, R were swirling in my head and words began to form. And we landed on “GANGSTER”!
NC: We’d love for our readers to get to know you better can you share a bit about yourself and how your journey with Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R began?
KERRY: Heather is a mother of three children and has been a private chef, nutritionist and recipe developer for private clients and businesses since 2011. After her Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosis in 2005, she became determined to avoid pharmaceutical therapies and looked to holistic alternatives to heal her body and reverse her symptoms. Kerry is a mother of a 7 years old and has been in the field of consumer branding for 20 years. Most recently, she owned and operated New York City’s most luxurious hotel for dogs! She also worked for almost a decade with athletic apparel powerhouse, lululemon athletically, ultimately overseeing the company’s US Marketing during a period of tremendous growth and its IPO. Kerry is proud to be ann investor in her identical twin sister’s 5 award winning restaurants in Charlotte, NC.
NC: The packaging is absolutely beautiful! Did you design it yourself, or did you work with someone on the design?
KERRY: For our packaging, we worked with a team of designers. Knowing our audience would mostly be female, knew we wanted the packaging to be very soft and feminine, a juxtaposition to “gangster”. We also wanted to connote healing of the gut and the idea of “beauty from ashes”. So, just as our guts and overall health begin to flourish with healthful foods and how we treat our bodies, we went with packaging that showcased a black and white floral sketch, with pops of colorful flowers bursting through.
NC: Can you share what went into developing your signature mixes? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in making sure they were both healthy and delicious?
KERRY: Product development for baking mixes that are free of traditional flours, eggs and sugar has been more than a challenge! The actual science of baking is very different with when using alternative ingredients and there is very limited information online to learn more. And so, it takes a very iterative process, for example, to develop a muffin that is fluffy, holds together and tastes delicious. With each of our SKUs, we launched with a MVP (minimum viable product) and then have done 2-3 reformulations on them to improve the products taste and texture as well as to reach more people with dietary needs. Our Cinnawin Spice Cake Mix, for example, launched with both gelatin and coconut flour in the mix. Now, after our 3rd re-launch of the product, this sku is now 100% plant-based and coconut free (one less allergen!).
NC: For those just starting out with AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) or similar diets, what advice or words of encouragement would you offer?
KERRY: AIP is hard. Just know that! No one wants to get rid of the “joy” that food brings. This said, what you will likely find is that you not only will feel amazing, you will start to learn which foods work for you and which just don’t – and you’ll likely discover new foods you never even considered before. AIP isn’t meant to be a forever diet – but many find they keep the learnings from AIP and use what works for them.
NC: With over 220 million people worldwide living with food allergies and up to 8% affected by autoimmune diseases, what impact do you hope your products have on the lives of your customers?
KERRY: Every week, we received emails from mothers, fathers, individuals who write in to share how grateful they are for our products. That our products make their lives so much healthier, richer and more joyful. That is the goal – that is our mission – to create products that bring freedom and joy back to those on restorative diets.
NC: In today’s world of cooking and baking, what’s one must-have modern kitchen gadget or appliance (besides your phone) that you can’t live without and use daily in your routine?
KERRY: Ooooh, that’s tough. I love my NutriBullet! I make smoothies and popsicles for my daughter. I also create fun fillings and sauces for our Eat GANGSTER products – whether it’s a pesto for our flatbread or a fruit filling for a pie crust (using one of our cookie mixes!).
NC: Are there any memorable stories or moments from your customers that really highlight the difference Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R has made in their lives?
KERRY: We received a note about 6 months ago from a grandmother who was so delighted that her grandson was having birthday cake for the first time ever, using our cake and frosting mixes. That we can provide such joy, especially for a child, feels wonderful and is something we aspire to do every day!
NC: What’s your go-to recipe using your mixes, and do you have any special tips or tricks you’d like to share with us?
KERRY: Heather’s favorite is our Pancake & Waffle Mix, made into waffles. She mixes all up as directed and then adds a couple spoonfuls of collagen and a nut butter to make it high protein. She makes the whole batch and just freezes the rest to pop in the toaster on busy mornings! My favorite is our Foatmeal Cookie Mix, made into grain-free granola bars. I just mix up the cookie mix as directed, and then add dried fruit, nuts, coconut chips, chocolate chips (whatever I have in the pantry!) – and then I press the dough into an 8×10 parchment-lined pan. Then, I cut into granola bars or squares!
NC: Growing a business like Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R is no easy task! What helps you stay motivated and keep going when things get challenging?
KERRY: Messages from our customers are a great encouragement. Knowing that we are doing something great for others is a wonderful feeling. We are also seeing lots of growth, both in our direct-to-consumer business as well as in our Food Service business (offering our mixes in bulk to universities, healthcare organizations and restaurants) – and so that tells us we are on to something and that we should keep pushing forward!
NC: What’s next for Eat G.A.N.G.S.T.E.R? Can you share any upcoming products, partnerships, or dreams for the future?
KERRY: This year, we will have re-launched 3 new products – our Pancake & Waffle Mix, our Banana Bread Mix and our Dark Choconot Cake & Muffin Mix. Each with new and improved formulas for better taste, texture and consistency. We are making a big push into universities and healthcare organizations, offering our baking mixes in bulk to dining halls and cafeterias around the countries. We are also working on creating meaningful partnerships with like-minded brands, so as to leverage each other to support each other’s growth.
NC: Lastly, how can our readers connect with you and try your delicious products? Please share your website, social media handles, and any stores where people can find your goodies!1 response
KERRY: To try our products, visit www.eatgangster.com and use code NEXTCHAPTER for 15% off your first purchase. You can also find us on Amazon! Stay connected with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest at @eatgangster.
NC: Thank you so much, Kerry, for sharing your story and insights with us today. We truly appreciate your time and the inspiration you bring to our readers. From all of us here at Next Chapter Magazine, we wish you and EAT GANGSTER continued success and can’t wait to see what delicious creations you come up with next!
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