Sisters Emelia Whiteaker and Addi Foster opened a specialty food store out of an office in the South Main Mall and call it Flavor shop Mmm.
“After a major health diagnosis in the family, I began doing my continuing education credits as a Certified Nutrition Athletic Trainer,” Whiteaker said. “Unfortunately, many of the herbs, spices and grains were not available in the quality necessary to obtain the nutritional value.”
Whiteaker reached out to friends who are registered dietitians and certified nutritionists to see where they get their spices and dried herbs.
“This led me to a small family owned wholesaler in Arizona,” he said. “Our wholesaler freeze-dries as many herbs as he can, and orders directly from the farms ensuring higher nutritional content. Everything took its course from there.”
“In April, we launched our products at the Home Show in Fort Scott,” said Whiteaker. “During the rest of the spring and summer we have been doing fairs and vendor markets.”
The business office is in the area behind the Tractor Supply Store, where Whiteaker has his athletic training business.
“We have a converted office space within Momentum Indoor Training that we use as our prep room,” he said. “Our ultimate goal is to have Mmm Flavor Shop support an exercise group for those with chronic health conditions who benefit from aquatic exercise that is not covered by most insurance.”
They just finished working on their website.
“We launched our website this month www.mmmflavorfs.com or we will take text orders via direct message on Facebook or text messages to (620) 224-8442,” he said. “If we don’t have it in stock, we can usually order it and receive it within a week.”
The business’s products include spices, dried herbs, homemade spice mixes, non-wheat flours, ancient grains, rice, dried beans and lentils, instant oatmeal, ready-to-make packets, dried fruits and nuts.
“We blend most of our spice blends, making sure there are no additives or preservatives.” Whiteaker said.
“We also have superfood powders like spirulina, spinach, acai berry and more,” he said. “In October we will add herbal teas, Turkish teas and homemade sweets.”
