Wynn Austin loved cooking Asian dishes but her health issues forced her to cut down on sugar, soy, and gluten. When she couldn’t find any suitable sauces, she took matters into her own hands.
Wynn’s Kitchen gluten-free Peanut Sauce is made with no added sugar — just simple ingredients like ground peanuts, garlic, ginger, and lime juice. Still, it’s smooth, sweet, and savory for the perfect dip, dressing, or spread.
Recently, we caught up with Wynn to learn more about her journey and hear her advice for fellow entrepreneurs.
1. Why did you start Wynn’s Kitchen?
Wynn’s Kitchen was literally started in my home kitchen. In 2016, I was struggling with health issues that forced me to cut sugar, soy, and gluten out of my diet.
I mostly cooked with Asian sauces at home but I couldn’t use any of the sauces that I had at the time. And, surprisingly, I couldn’t find any diet-friendly sauces in my local grocery stores. I was tired of eating bland food, so I started experimenting in the kitchen.
Eventually, I was able to come up with a healthy version inspired by my favorite Vietnamese sauce, saté chili sauce. After three years of making the saté sauce for my friends and family, I took a leap of faith and officially launched Wynn’s Kitchen.
2. What obstacles did you face along the way?
I have faced many obstacles along the way. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was getting dropped by my first manufacturer because my product was too time consuming for them to make.
Then, during the pandemic, I was out of product for almost six months. It took me eight months to find a new manufacturer that was willing and able to make my products.
3. What lessons do you have for other entrepreneurs?
Start small. Test your product in your community first before you invest a lot of money into launching your business. You have to dive deep to learn what differentiates your products and services from others.
It’s easy to think that our own product tastes the best, but, at the end of the day, it’s up to the consumers. Growing slowly will allow you to learn and pivot faster at a lower cost.
4. What’s on the horizon for Wynn’s Kitchen?
We started out with Saté Asian Chili Sauce as our sole product. Then, in 2023, we launched our Peanut Sauce, which is made with no added sugar.
Now, we’re working on developing our third signature sauce. Our Lemongrass Stir Fry & Marinade will be aligned with our mission to create healthy Asian food products and it will also be free of sugar, soy, and gluten. We hope to introduce this sauce soon and we can’t wait for you to try it!
5. How do you keep work/life balance? What drives/inspires you?
My daughters are my inspiration. I was a single mom when I officially launched Wynn’s Kitchen. I had to juggle and learn so much on a daily basis. We are a true family-owned business and my girls have been involved in the business from the very beginning.
Owning my own business gives me the flexibility I need to prioritize my family and my health. Oftentimes you’ll find me working in my car or delivering products in between my kids’ activities. Entrepreneurship really is a lifestyle! I feel so lucky to have discovered a business that is aligned with my passion for food!
Going through my healing health journey has taught me so much about nutrition and the importance of eating quality food. Between our supermarket demos and social media interactions, countless customers have told me that our products have made a difference in their lives. Hearing those stories drives me to work harder and get through the tough days.
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