Grandpa J’s is named after the seasoning brand’s founder, Jimmy, who worked as a chef in Vancouver’s steakhouses before developing his own spice blends. Now, Grandpa J’s is run by his nieces. They carry on his well-seasoned legacy by selling signature blends like Vancity Grind, Greko Lemon, and, of course, Grandpa J’s Original locally and internationally. We spoke to President Jenny Sior to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
We started as a wholesale food service seasoning salt manufacturer for restaurants and institutions, and food service businesses. Pivoted during the pandemic into retail and now manage both, with the addition of trying to also push ourselves as an ingredient company for other brands to use in their manufacturing.
We have 5 shakers in the market, to help flavour food, from vegetables to proteins to ethnic dishes and family favourites.
What made you want to do this work?
Our family had been in the restaurant business for 41 years. Our father worked in Kitchens for 45 years, our founder Uncle Jimmy (Grandpa J’s) was also in the food industry for 50 years in Canada. It is in our DNA for sure.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We want to create seasoning blends that help chefs, and home chefs and parents, make meal time easy. Just by adding a shake of our product, you know it’s packed with a balanced blend to make a simple dish come alive.
Our Greko Lemon Roast Potatoes seasoning was nominated for Product of the Year Top Ten Finalist in 2022 by BC Food & Beverage. In this instance we wanted a seasoning to become a liquid to pour over potatoes and create the restaurant style that everyone loves to enjoy when dining out and have tried to duplicate but can’t, so Greko Lemon filled a huge void in the market. And, hence, has become our no 1 best selling product. Chefs from across Canada love it.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
From Red Seal Chefs to home chefs, moms and dads and even kids learning to cook.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
We sell our wholesale pack sizes to distributors who then sell to restaurants like FatBurger. We are the seasoning of Fatburger Canada, and to many kitchens across BC.
We sell retail direct to stores and are in 150 stores without the use of a distributor.
We are considering an e-commerce push as we have halted our US Push, and want to focus on pushing further across Canada
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Our website has a store locator.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
How will our product benefit their kitchen?
The labour of mixing their own. Our product can help fix problems with dish flavouring. How many chefs have said when something is going wrong and they can’t get the flavour right, they will grab our Grandpa J’s original All Purpose Seasoning Salt and start shaking it, to balance.
How will our brand help them at dinner time? Grandpa J’s is loved by kids and can be shaken on anything from snacks and raw veggies to french fries, and used to flavour food that kids love.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is getting to see what everyone makes with our product, and they share it on social media
The worst part is there is not enough hours in the day to get everything done at times to make sure we are growing and adapting.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
I told my sister in the beginning if we keep growing without a distributor, the savings is just all GRAVY. All GRAVY for us. LOLhahahhahahah and when things go sideways in the business we just look at each just before the tears start from a stressful day…. Gravy… all Gravy LOL
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TikTok | Website
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Renzullos Food Market on Nanaimo Street in my hood. I jokingly call it my office because I’m there so much. Been in business for 61 years. Old Italian charm, the place the community gathers, walk in everyone knows each other. They carry a lot of fantastic Italian products and also carry a few local brands as well like my favourite The Base Pizza – a Napolitan style pizza crust ready for baking with toppings and cheese…
