Hummus as a category has exploded in recent years, with increasingly health-conscious consumers gravitating toward sumptuous-yet-healthy savory varieties. And now Delighted By Hummus has taken the healthful qualities and the much-loved smooth texture of the chick pea-based spread and brought truly decadent sweet flavors to the category.
The two-year-old company has been inspiring loyal fans and wowing shoppers, retailers, and media outlets alike with the sweet possibilities dessert hummus has to offer. With flavors including Vanilla Bean, Snickerdoodle, Choc-O-Mint, and Brownie Batter, Delighted By is as delightful on an apple as it is a pita chip—with a flavor and richness comparable to cookie dough, but in a vegan, gluten-free, zero preservative package. I recently had an opportunity to connect with Delighted By Founder Makenzie Marzluff to learn about the foundations of her company and the truly unique qualities of “The Original Dessert Hummus™.”
“In Feb of 2015, I was wrapping up some pretty intense healing and spiritual development…I was actively asking 'what is my purpose—why am I here and what am I meant to do with that?'” Makenzie told me. With her background in nutrition and culinary arts, “I finally heard the simple but meaningful message 'your purpose is to spread your glitter…it doesn't matter what you do or how you do it, but that you simply bring your unique light to those around you.'”
Makenzie realized that the dessert hummus she had been making was an ideal way to “spread your glitter”—to share what would become the Delighted By ethos and encourage others to do so.
“I literally woke up the next morning, went to the health department for my permits, and started in farmers markets the next week,” said Makenzie. “My vision from day one—even walking into my very first farmers market—was to be the first dessert hummus to national shelves. But not to do it in any ordinary way—rather in a new way from a complete place of alignment… Our mission is simple: to inspire people to spread their OWN glitter. We ask 'what are you delighted by today?' in hopes of reminding people that if you simply do only what you're delighted by in life, THAT is the way you will spread your glitter in the world.”
Delighted By Hummus uses only conscientiously-sourced, clean ingredients, Makenzie said, and the company hopes to educate eaters on the healthful benefits of hummus and the joyous tastes that they can integrate into their lives as they pursue those things that delight them.
“Our dessert hummus is typically merchandised next to regular hummus; our desire is to educate consumers that hummus can come in savory and sweet,” Makenzie noted. “The best way to get this message across is to sample it out with our suggested dippers: fruit, graham crackers, cinnamon pita chips, or pretzels. Even just with a spoon…the vision is that customers see this as an alternative to cookies, cookie dough, ice cream, etc.”
In the next month, Delighted By products will launch at Publix, Harris Teeter, and Jewel-Osco, with Fresh Thyme slated to roll out the company’s products by the end of the year. Add those to Wegmans, Hy-Vee, Mariano’s, King Soopers, select Walmart locations, and independent grocers throughout New York and the Midwest, and Delighted By is a brand fast becoming a household name nationally.
For more on exceptional companies and offerings found in the dairy, deli, and bakery industry, stay tuned to Deli Market News.
