Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to MK Hennigan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
MK, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
In the Curious Kitchen started in December of 2019 as a lifestyle blog to showcase my love of food, travel and family recipes. When I lost my corporate job in 2020 it became a brand that celebrate the recipes of my family. My first introduction into the marketplace was at my local farmers market. Customers fell in love with the flavors of my recipes and came back week after week to buy more. Customers could taste that my product was different, it was fresh, made in small batches and I believe has the love of my Mom and Grandmother in every bite. They shared their own stories of family and the beauty that food memories hold for them. It was in the moment that I knew I was on the right track with my recipes, product assortment and that I had more stories to tell with my products..
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I am MK Hennigan and I grew up in Frankfort KY, the heart of bourbon country. As a child I would cook along side my Mother and enjoy flipping through Southern Living and other lifestyle magazines. Together we would plan family meals and holiday menu’s. In the summers I would visit my Grandmother in North Carolina. We sipped tea, made chocolate chip cookies, made pimento cheese and watched soap operas. Having been in Sales and Marketing my entire career I knew that storytelling is so important to a brand. When I started In the Curious Kitchen my story of connection to the most important women in my life was that story that I could easily tell through the products I created. It was authentic and real.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Starting a company during COVID is crazy! The world was shut down but I could not stop working, I was a creative who needed an outlet since my corporate job no longer existed. So I turned a really ugly situation into a company that I controlled. No one was there to tell me I was no longer needed and that my hard work and time away from my family was for nothing. In the Curious Kitchen is where I celebrate family, creativity and my families story.
We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.
We manufacture our own products out of a shared commercial kitchen. I had no idea how to get started but with the leadership at the kitchen that I rent I was able to get the proper licenses to get started and move beyond the cottage license I originally had when I started. As the company has scaled I have been able to get better pricing from my vendors in regards to raw materials and packaging. The exposure I have received in the market place has brought some great opportunities my way. Everyday I learn something new.
Owning your own business is not for the faint of hard or for anyone that does not want to work hard. You have to be tough.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inthecuriouskitchen.com
- Instagram: @inthecuriouskitchen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inthecuriouskitchen/
Image Credits
@nativeirisphotgraphy