Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sam Peters. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sam, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

In the world of entrepreneurship, risk-taking is often considered a necessary ingredient for success. For Chef Sam Peters and his wife Joyce, the journey of launching Patter Fam Foods and The Pastor’s Pantry Cooking School was not just a leap of faith but a series of bold risks that defined the path to their current success. In 2013, the fate of Patter Fam Sauces, the gourmet sauce line owned by Sam and Joyce, took an unexpected turn when the ability to manufacture their products was lost. Faced with a pivotal decision, the Peters family turned to prayer and sought divine guidance on the future of their business. It was during this period of uncertainty that they stumbled upon a vacant manufacturing building nearby, which sparked the idea of starting their own micro-batch co-packing company.
The building, a century-old structure, was not in ready-to-use condition. Undeterred by its dilapidated state, the Peters family decided to take a major leap of faith. Scraping together every available resource and even mortgaging their own home, they secured enough financing to acquire and renovate the building. With no clients in hand and only a dream fueled by faith, they embraced the challenge, guided by the wisdom found in Proverbs 3:6.
Initially anticipating a three-month remodeling timeline, the reality of a project this extensive led to unforeseen delays. It took a staggering 18 months to complete the remodeling and make the facility ready for production. However, with mortgage payments looming at the end of the sixth month on their construction loan, the Peters family faced a financial challenge that demanded yet another risk.
In a remarkable twist of fate, one room in the building was approved for use. Faced with the need to generate income to meet their financial obligations, the family turned to prayer once again. The answer came in the form of The Pastor’s Pantry Cooking School – a unique dining experience where patrons could reserve a seat, witness a live 2-3 hour cooking demonstration, and enjoy the culinary creations. The school featured a rotating schedule of cuisines from around the world, making it a one-of-a-kind gastronomic adventure.
The launch of The Pastor’s Pantry Cooking School became the second leap of faith that ultimately contributed to the success of Patter Fam Foods. The risk paid off, providing not only financial support but also establishing a unique brand identity in the culinary landscape.
The Peters’ family and the Patter Fam team’s story is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and the willingness to take calculated risks in the pursuit of a dream. In July 2016, the local Chamber of Commerce presented Patter Fam Sauces the award as Entrepreneur of the Year. A great honor for the grass roots effort they put forth to launch the company. Today, Patter Fam Foods stands as a beacon of entrepreneurial success, a journey marked by challenges turned into opportunities, and a testament to the belief that sometimes, to achieve something extraordinary, you have to be willing to take that big leap into the unknown.

Sam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Chef Sam is a self-taught cook who got his first job as a chef at the age of 16. Cooking in several restaurants through High School and College, he learned a great deal about food and honed his culinary chops by continuing to cook for friends and family as often as he could after college. It was common for him and Joyce to invite a dozen or so people over just to have a reason to try out some new menu ideas. In 2009 after making a gourmet sauce for an event, Sam and Joyce launched Patter Fam Sauces, LLC. For the next five years, the were at a fair or festival selling their gourmet sauces and branding their culinary business. After losing the ability to have their sauces manufactured in 2013 they took the big pivot move to launch their own manufacturing business. Patter Fam Foods manufactures sauces and seasonings. They now manufacture gourmet food products for more than 100 companies from Manhattan to Hawaii.
“Our company has been a Godsend for many startup food businesses. While many co-packers have large minimum quantities for these food businesses, Patter Fam fills a niche for the small family run business.” said owner Sam Peters.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

When the pandemic hit in 2020, overnight we lost every customer save one. This called for a major pivot on the type of client we needed to serve. Prior to 2020, most of our clientele were hot sauce and barbecue businesses that were much like us. They would take their small batches of product to fairs and festivals and sell them in 10×10 booths. When the fairs and festivals were essentially shut down, there was no need to produce their products. We began posting some things on our website and social media sites that we also manufactured other products such as seasonings, salad dressings, and other gourmet products. Eventually our phone began to ring with customers that had products we had never manufactured before. We learned as we went, and now we make a wide range of products for restaurants, retail outlets and yes, our fair and festival crowds that came back as restrictions were lifted. It is common now for us to get 3-4 new client calls per week. When we ask how they heard about us it is often a positive referral from an existing client.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

We were once the small sauce company with a few great products looking to get them manufactured in an affordable and profitable way. We have walked in the same shoes of our clients. Now we are a small family manufacturing business with a small group of employees. Our clients appreciate that they get hands on attention from the owners. Quality of service is paramount in all we do. If we can’t make a great product that is also profitable for our customer we know they won’t be around long. We provide guidance and consulting to them throughout the process so that they can focus on creating a successful business of their own.

Contact Info:

• Website: patterfamsauces.com
• Instagram: pastorspantry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patterfamsauces
• Youtube: @thepastorspantrycookingsch4421