Meet Isabelle George of Sitto’s Hummus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabelle George.

Hi Isabelle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The story of Sitto’s Hummus is just beginning! ‘Sitto’ is one of the Lebanese translations for ‘grandma.’ My Sitto’s name is Norma George, and she inspired me to start this company. Growing up in a Lebanese family, I had the pleasure of partaking in some of the most delightful foods that one can imagine from a very young age, with a strong emphasis on lemon, parsley, mint, and garlic, Mediterranean food is often both light and refreshing in its composition. It is no wonder that this food culture has become increasingly popular in the west over the last 20 years. Adopting another culture’s food can be tricky, and we are often left with something that is unrecognizable from its source for better or for worse. I believe that for hummus, the change has been for the worse…until now. Using a family recipe, I began making large batches of hummus and selling it to members of my local community at farmers markets. Since embarking on this venture I have been positively overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and desire that the community has shown for my product. Over the past year it has been made apparent that there is a great public desire for a quality and authentic-tasting hummus. I am both honored and excited to announce that Sitto’s Hummus is finally here to fill the Lebanese-sized hole in the hearts of hummus lovers across America.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Throughout this process, I have learned that there is no clear path to follow and that all roads contain their own sets of bumps and turns. We are a fairly new company in the beginning stages of expansion, so many things must happen simultaneously. Time management and prioritizing tasks has been my most obvious struggle as a business owner. This is something that I have learned to manage with the help of a detailed planner and numerous lists. Starting and managing a business is not easy, but planning out your days, weeks, and months ahead is a great way to alleviate some of the pressure that inevitably grows with increasing responsibility.

Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Sitto’s Hummus is finally bringing the hummus that we deserve. What makes our hummus so special is its authentic and simple nature. We believe in using very few ingredients and allowing them to do all the heavy lifting. Sitto’s Hummus will operate and expand as a brand while staying dedicated to our core values of authenticity, community, and service.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I cannot stress enough how important it is as a business owner to find one or many mentors that can help guide you through this process. Look online for small business centers or consulting services to help move you in the right direction. I have been working with the Western Women’s Business Center for a couple of months, and this has been the most incredible tool for progressing my business forward. It can also be incredibly beneficial to ask as many questions as possible to those businesses around you who look like they are in a position you would like to see yourself in one day. You would be surprised how many people are willing to help; it never hurts to ask!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sittoshummus.com
• Instagram: Sittoshummus