Local snackin’
We’ve all been lost in a bag of chips and find ourselves reaching over and over to scratch that itch, until we’re either full or the bag is empty. The simplicity of a salty, sweet, crunchy snack food brings a certain comfort that is hard to replicate and can certainly have an addictive quality if a brand nails it. Snack foods as a whole make up a massive market and major brands typically dominate the industry and store shelves, so finding a local snack brand can be rather difficult at times. As food trends progress and the demand for healthier snack foods rises, smaller producers that offer something healthy and unique have the opportunity of cementing themselves in people’s pantries. This month’s blog post is highlighting a handful of local purveyors that specialize in snack foods that offer locals a unique product that aims to satisfy that craving.
Hacienda Mexican Foods
We’re starting off with one of Detroit’s finest, Hacienda Mexican foods, a well known artisan tortilla chip making company that has become a household name to the locals of southeast Michigan. Established in 1994 by Lydia Gutierrez and her late husband Richard, Hacienda Mexican foods has been a four generation family business starting with Richard’s grandfather, their tradition and hard work has expanded from eight original employees to employing fifty. Hacienda Mexican foods is the parent umbrella company to their brands, the most popular being 313 Urban Chips and also Hacienda Authentic, which showcases an array of classic Mexican foods. The magic that is their tortilla chips begins with sourcing incredibly high quality corn, a laborious process of stone grinding it and then cooking it gently and stirring by hand. A total of three ingredients (corn, oil, and salt) create a wholesome, pure, and authentic product that is free of preservatives, complicated unknown ingredients, dairy, soy, sugar, trans fat and cholesterol offering a healthy snack alternative for the average solo consumer and also something to keep in a family’s pantry. Gutierrez's unwavering hard work and dedication to continue preserving their food traditions has really paid off as they’re a staple in the Detroit metro area, you can find their chips at most grocery stores.
Downriver Chip Co.
We’ve got another chip company making waves in the southeast Michigan area and that brand is the Downriver Chip Co. DCC’s story traces back generations in Garza Ayala, Nuevo León, Mexico. Inspired by grandma’s love for food and honoring traditional recipes, DDC strives to keep that tradition alive in today’s market, their goal is to capture the essence of something that is nostalgic and has a homemade quality feel to it. Every batch of chips is made here in Michigan, their mission is to delight snack enthusiasts with authentic Mexican flavors and wholesome goodness. Downriver Chip Co. is very transparent about their process, using simple ingredients and are proud to offer a relatively healthier option in the world of chips. With nine different flavors available, like classic spicy or creamy guacamole, DCC is constantly experimenting with new flavors while staying somewhat traditional. Keep an eye next time you’re in the chip aisle for Downriver Chip Co. as their popularity has increased and more and more retailers have their products on their shelves.
Karma Wellness Kitchen
As we continue on, we’re going to highlight an exceptionally unique product made by Karma Wellness Kitchen. Vinita, the founder of Karma Wellness Kitchen has created something truly special, Water Lily Seeds that have been popped similar to the way corn kernels are for popcorn. This light, crispy, toasty and more importantly healthy snack has become popular very recently and is on the rise of becoming a household product. A unique healthy protein rich ingredient, Popped Water Lily seeds have been part of Vinita’s life as she grew up adjacent to her father’s small grain business, this foundation early in her life shaped her philosophy for food, focusing on the importance of high quality food nourishing the body. It all started when she began sending food to her son who was away for college, as time progressed the idea of creating something not just for her son, but for the general public blossomed into selling her treats at farmer’s markets across Michigan and eventually starting her own business. Karma Wellness Kitchen offers seven different flavors of popped water lilies and are a must try for any snack enthusiast or any person curious about unique crunchy flavorful treats.
Yummee pop
Finally to wrap this blog post off, and to stay on theme with something airy and crunchy, our final brand mention will be Yummee Pop, a popcorn company based in the Detroit Metro area. Founded in 2022, Yummee Pop began as a popcorn popper birthday gift and after a couple batches, Georgee was hooked and started a brand of snack foods aiming to change the scape of your typical unhealthy snack industry and offer something classic,familiar, delicious and satisfying. Yummee Pop is an entirely plant-based vegan popcorn purveyor that focuses on offering bold and gourmet flavors that are made with wholesome and natural ingredients. In the world of popcorn, large brands typically use a plethora of heavily processed ingredients and preservatives, essentially negating the health benefits of the corn itself, Yummee Pop’s mission is to do the opposite and offer a product you can feel good about. As their business expands and more and more stores sell their popcorn, make your next movie night a real standout by including this snack into the mix!
As we close out this month’s blog post you might be getting a little hungry for one of the snacks mentioned above, you can find all of these products at Meijer Rivertown Market. Offering local healthy alternatives to the snack aisle is an important mission of both markets as it benefits the average shopper and local small business owner. The act of trying new foods is also incredibly fun and exciting even if it is just a salty tortilla chip, a toasty spiced popped water lily seed or even a sweet caramel handful of caramel corn, those little indulgences make life just that much better.