We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alana Stamper a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alana, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
The Story Behind My Mission
Mama Alana’s Pantry was born out of a deeply personal journey—a quest to create safe, delicious food for people like myself and my family who face a unique set of challenges. I am the daughter of an immigrant from Sicily, Italy, and I was raised with a love for food that connects people and celebrates culture. But life threw me a curveball. I have a rare bone disease, celiac disease, and many food allergies, and as it turned out, my children share some of these sensitivities. Finding food that was not only safe but also truly enjoyable became a real struggle.
I started Mama Alana’s Pantry because I knew there had to be others out there, just like us, looking for food that they could enjoy without compromise. This month marks one year since we opened our doors, and what keeps me going is the excitement and joy from people who discover our products for the first time. There’s nothing more fulfilling than receiving a message from someone saying they can finally eat something they love—something that’s safe for them. It makes all the hard work and challenges worth it.
Starting a business while managing my health and raising a large family hasn’t been easy. As a woman with disabilities, I face physical limitations, but I want to inspire others to believe that no matter the obstacles, your dreams are worth pursuing. My story is a testament to the idea that, while the road might be harder for some of us, we are just as capable of building something beautiful and meaningful. I hope to be a positive example, especially for other busy moms and those with disabilities, showing them that we can all go after our dreams—no matter what stands in our way.
At Mama Alana’s Pantry, we don’t just make food that’s “good” for you; we make food that’s delicious. My goal has always been to provide products that are not just safe for people with dietary restrictions but that everyone in the family can enjoy together. Every time someone finds us, loves our food, and shares their excitement, it reaffirms that we’re doing something right.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
About Myself and Mama Alana’s Pantry
I’m Alana Stamper, the founder of Mama Alana’s Pantry, and my journey into the world of gluten-free, vegan baking and food products is deeply personal. Growing up as the daughter of an immigrant from Sicily, Italy, I was surrounded by the tradition of family meals, rich flavors, and a love for food that brings people together. But as I grew older, I faced a series of challenges—being diagnosed with a rare bone disease, celiac disease, and various food allergies, along with discovering that my children also shared some of these dietary restrictions.
When it became clear that finding food that was both safe and truly delicious was a constant struggle for our family, I realized there had to be a better way. This led me to create Mama Alana’s Pantry, where I could offer gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO products that cater to those with food sensitivities. It was a way to bring back the joy of eating for people like us, who often felt left out or restricted in their food choices.
At Mama Alana’s Pantry, we provide a wide range of gluten-free and vegan mixes for cakes, breads, cookies, and more. From our Yellow Cake Mix to our Pizza Dough Mix, all our products are free from common allergens such as gluten, dairy, eggs, and nuts, and are made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. What sets us apart is our commitment to not just making food that’s safe for those with dietary restrictions but food that tastes so good, everyone will want to eat it. Our customers often say that when they serve our products to family and friends, no one can tell they’re gluten-free or vegan—that’s exactly what we strive for.
We solve a big problem for people with celiac disease, food allergies, or anyone who follows a gluten-free, vegan, or non-GMO lifestyle. These communities often feel limited in their food options, especially when it comes to baked goods. Our goal is to bring back the joy of eating and sharing food without compromising on taste or safety.
What I’m most proud of is the connection we’ve built with our customers. Every time someone tells me that they finally found a product they can enjoy after years of missing out, or that they were able to bake a cake for their child’s birthday without worrying about allergies, it reminds me why we started this journey. It’s also been amazing to see our brand grow within just one year, gaining thousands of followers on social media and being stocked at local stores as well as online on Walmart.com and Target.com.
One of the key things I want people to know about Mama Alana’s Pantry is that we are a brand born from personal experience and a true understanding of what it’s like to live with food restrictions. We know how hard it can be to find something safe and delicious, and we’ve made it our mission to fill that gap. We’re also proud to be a small, family-run business that’s committed to quality, transparency, and inclusivity. We use high-quality ingredients, and most of our products are organic, nut-free, and non-GMO.
Our brand is all about creating food that everyone at the table can enjoy, no matter their dietary needs. We don’t just serve a niche market; we make food that brings people together. And that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Starting Mama Alana’s Pantry was a dream come true, but like many entrepreneurs, I needed to figure out how to initially fund that dream. Luckily, I was able to save money from another business I started called Regenerating Vibes, which focuses on sound therapy. Through Regenerating Vibes, I offer sound baths both in person and virtually. Sound baths use calming sounds like gongs, crystal bowls, and tuning forks to help reduce stress, improve sleep, enhance emotional healing, and promote a sense of balance and relaxation. I’ve always loved helping people, and sound therapy gave me the opportunity to do that in a unique and healing way.
The success of Regenerating Vibes allowed me to save enough to start Mama Alana’s Pantry. Though I still offer sound therapy sessions occasionally, Mama Alana’s Pantry has been keeping me busy, and I’m so grateful for that. Regenerating Vibes was meant to be the stepping stone to help me start my true dream—creating a business that provides safe, delicious food for people with dietary restrictions. I’m thankful it helped me make that dream a reality!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
Long ago, I dreamed of starting a bakery. I’ve always loved cooking, feeding people, and seeing the joy it brings when they enjoy something I’ve made. But life had other plans, and I had to pivot in ways I never expected. Between my own health challenges and raising five children with various dietary restrictions—celiac disease, fruit, egg, and nut allergies—I had to completely relearn how to cook and bake. My goal was to make food that was not just safe but truly delicious, something everyone could enjoy. After a lot of trial and error, I finally figured it out, and that’s how Mama Alana’s Pantry was born.
However, just four days after I officially started the business, I suffered a bad injury due to my rare bone disease, which required surgery. I spent nearly this entire past year on crutches or using a cane. It was an incredibly difficult time, both physically and mentally. But I’m not a quitter, especially when it comes to my dream, and I wanted to show my kids that no matter what life throws at you, you can push through.
Despite these challenges, I was honored to be recognized for my work and passion when I became a semi-finalist in The Greatest Baker Competition this past winter. That experience reaffirmed that I was on the right path, even when it felt like life was testing me.
I have a lot of pain, but the passion for what I’m doing keeps me going. Everyone has their struggles—everyone has their own cross to bear—but I believe we’re stronger than we think when it really matters. Through all of this, I’ve learned that sometimes life forces us to pivot, but those challenges can lead to new growth and deeper determination. Mama Alana’s Pantry has become more than I ever imagined, and even though the path has been hard, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mamaalanaspantry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamaalanaspantry
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/mamaalanaspantry
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ alana-stamper333
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@mamaalanaspantry
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mama.alanas.pantry?_t=8pm5LBip6Il&_r=1
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