Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Bruns.
Hi Nancy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My brother and I revived our family’s salt business in Malden, WV. My ancestors began producing salt in the Kanawha Valley of Western Virginia in 1817. The business prospered until 1945, when there was a fire. They decided not to rebuild. I saw an opportunity in 2013 to capture the farm to table momentum for locally produced food products by making a naturally made salt. We draw brine from 350 feet underground, solar evaporate and hand harvest it. The process takes about 6 weeks from well to jar. We have multiple flavored salts, different crystal sizes and bath products.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
With any business there are always challenges. Mother Nature can be our friend, on hot sunny days, or our foe, during long rainy periods. She has knocked down our “sun houses” during storms. You just keep on going though. We have been blessed by the amazing support of West Virginians. I feel like I have a state of marketing ambassadors working for me daily. We are now in restaurants and retailers in 42 states. We also export to South Korea.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Bringing this business back to life has been the joy of my career. I am on the same land where my ancestors toiled to make a living for 5 generations. The challenges I face are nothing like theirs. I spent 20+ years in the food industry which served me well to start a food production business. I am very proud of our product and how we are preserving an important slice of industrial history.
What does success mean to you?
Success isn’t about how much money you’ve made. It’s about finding your passion and pursuing it. I feel I have been successful in bringing back an important product from our region and sharing it with the world.
Pricing:
- Our prices range from $6.50 to $28.00 for our salt products.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jqdsalt.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jqdsalt
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jqdsalt
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@jqdsalt
