Foodblog.ge: A Little Nutty Wisdom from “Wise Nut™”
Article by Foodblog.ge
About 2 years ago, Georgian entrepreneur Nina Andriadze came up with an idea – to compliment Georgian gastronomy with a selection of healthy nut butter. As a management consultant and an expert in customer experience, she found a niche for locally-produced, healthy snacks.
A new brand was born, and Wise Nut™ is proud to deliver its rich, gourmet flavor from locally-sourced nuts, a dash of honey, and pure Madagascan vanilla.
Nina, tell us your story, how did you come up with this idea?
“Food has always been a form of self-expression for me, but I’d never approached it from a commercial perspective. During the third-year of my entrepreneurial life, my husband left his corporate job to join me in running our small, management consultancy firm. Feeling a sense of relief and happiness – that we were now working together – I had a surge of creative confidence; it was now time to make a gourmet statement.
“Over the years, I observed how the perception of healthy food continued to change. When I was a teenager, healthy eating meant eating more carbs, practically zero fat and less protein – whereas now, you read about scientific studies that suggest proteins and fats are your allies for weight loss, mental and physical energy, and general wellbeing.
“I’m a big nut-lover and I’ve noticed how alternative nut butter started to emerge and become more and more popular across the world, due to their nutritional benefits. Since we grow nuts in Georgia, I thought there was a great scope for innovation by blending the flavors.”
How did you come up with the recipe and the brand name?
“I made many prototypes of different nut butter, experimenting with whisky, coconut butter, and pure Madagascan vanilla. My background in marketing certainly helped in choosing a brand name. Wise Nut™ brand naming Wise Nut, Bright Almond, and Clever Peanut for hazelnut, almond, and peanut butter.
“We launched online and it was a big hit from day one. I remember, after creating the Facebook page at midnight and boosting it, we were pleasantly surprised by the high demand and media attention for our products from only the second day of Wise Nut™ being launched.
“This year, we launched Vivacious Pecan™. In Georgia, it turns out that we also grow pecans, in a region where the people are warm-spirited and fun to be around – thus, I could not find a better name for my all-natural pecan butter!”
Is Wise Nut™ suitable for people with special dietary requirements?
“Wise Nut™ is a healthy choice, for every consumer. We don’t add artificial ingredients or preservatives, and thus, it has a shorter shelf life – once opened it has to be refrigerated at all times and consumed within 3 months.
“We also produce vegan and diabetic versions upon request.”
How do customers use and consume your products?
“Nut butter is ideal for breakfast, as a healthy office snack, and are widely used in pastries, or as a topping for fruits, veggies, smoothies, muesli, pancakes, and other desserts – but, of course, there are those who just can’t help themselves, and gobble it down with a big spoon!
“We’re very active on social media, and regularly post recipes on Facebook; anyone can visit our page, to learn and share more ideas.”
Where can your products be purchased and how much do they cost?
“Wise Nut™ products are only available in Tbilisi at the moment. You can make an order through our Facebook page, or shop online at soplidan.ge and georgita.ge. In fact, the Georgita Supermarket chain has Wise Nut™ products in-stock, if you want to purchase in-store.
“Each product is priced at 13-30 GEL, but prices may vary across the different retailers.”