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Pecan butter experiments lead to creation of businessOklahoma In the midst of searching for the right combination of sweet and salty, an Oklahoma food company was born. Kelly and Gaytha Ziegelmeier, owners of Ziegelmeier & Co. of Ada, Okla., found that right combination with their Ziegelmeier's Toasted Pecan Butter. "Our family loves peanut butter, but we were looking for something different," Gaytha said. "We like to create new recipes and experiment with new ideas." During the experimental phase, Kelly suggested they try pecans in the formulation. "We made several batches that were surprisingly tasty, but just not quite perfect enough," Kelly said. "We kept adding and subtracting ingredients to get the right balance of salty and sweet. Eventually, our friends taste-tested the Toasted Pecan Butter and loved it so much they suggested we bottle it and sell it." To learn more about selling their newly formed pecan butter, the Ziegelmeiers contacted Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center for help. In June 2010, they attended FAPC's Basic Training workshop for food business entrepreneurs. "The FAPC has been a life-line to us," Gaytha said. "We are ahead of the game compared to other people who have not used the center. We consider the FAPC to be our liaison." The FAPC has helped the Ziegelmeiers with product scale-up and formulation, shelf-life studies, production costs, equipment issues, and marketing and promotion. The Ziegelmeiers have worked closely with Erin Johnson, FAPC business/marketing client coordinator, who also serves as the project leader for this center client. "The Ziegelmeiers have a unique and tasty product that is very versatile and can be used on and in many different foods," Johnson said. "This product is a new edition that can be incorporated to the busy schedules of many families and gives an option for another nut butter for people who cannot eat peanut butter." The FAPC also helped the Ziegelmeiers participate and feature their product in the Oklahoma Gourmet booth at The Gourmet Market in Dallas. "The opportunity to participant in the Dallas Gourmet Market and to get our foot in the door outside of Oklahoma has been amazing," Gaytha said. Oklahoma Gourmet is a group representing the FAPC and Made in Oklahoma program, which features Oklahoma food entrepreneurs, said Andrea Graves, FAPC business and marketing specialist and lead on the project. "Oklahoma Gourmet is a stepping stone for Oklahoma food entrepreneurs to take that leap into becoming more than just a small business," Graves said. "This opportunity to display products helps FAPC clients receive exposure from small boutiques to large retailers such as Bass Pro Shops, Macy's and Neiman Marcus." Ziegelmeier's Toasted Pecan Butter is considered a gourmet product, but because it is a gluten-free, all-natural product with no preservatives and no added oils, it also can be found in health food stores. "Because of the healthy attributes of our pecan butter, we targeted our product to the health food stores," Gaytha said. The Toasted Pecan Butter is referred to as "The Perfect Union Between Healthy and Gourmet," which also serves as the company's tagline. "Ziegelmeier's Toasted Pecan Butter is very versatile," Kelly said. " You can use it as a fondue, dip, drizzle, or spread on apples, bananas, celery, pretzels, bagels, oatmeal, ice cream, brownies, salmon, fruit salads. Or, use it just like peanut butter." Ziegelmeier's Toasted Pecan Butter is available in creamy and crunchy, but the company has plans to expand its product line. The pecan butter is available at retail stores across Oklahoma, as well as in Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Texas, North Dakota, Wyoming and Canada. For a listing of retailers or to order online, visit www.ziegelmeiers.com or www.toastedpecanbutter.com.
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