Women in Food: 10 Questions with Kimmi Wernli, Crazy Richard's Peanut Butter

Peanut butter lovers, raise your hands! I got in touch with the Peanut Butter Princess, Kimmi Wernli after Expo East in Baltimore a few weeks ago. I missed her booth, Crazy Richards and so we connected over Instagram a few days later. Kimmi is MAD passionate about PB. You'll definitely want to read about question 1 and the history behind the company.

Kimmi Wernli: Crazy Richard's  

1. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS.

I am a self-proclaimed Peanut Butter Princess. My life has revolved around natural peanut butter since the age of 6 when my father bought a tiny, stand-alone, natural peanut butter factory called Krema Peanut Butter. It is literally the oldest PB company in the nation. Everyone thought he was crazy to quit his corporate job, move from our ex-pat lifestyle in Tokyo to try and save a small, struggling, natural PB company in the middle of OHIO. I spent much of my childhood running around our factory playing amongst the huge burlap sacks of peanuts and cases of glass jars, helping with sweeping peanut dust and driving forklifts to eventually helping with office work. Fast forward 20 years and I have graduated college, married a fabulous man, birthed four children (two of which unintentionally came at the same time) and moved back into my parents house. This time, (thankfully) my parents moved out! They have moved back to Asia, to do missionary work for 3 years in South Korea, bless their hearts. My husband and I have been working with them for years but we are now officially in charge of our two different natural peanut butter companies Krema and Crazy Richard's. Providing a gourmet, whole food at an every day low price has always been part of our mission. We have developed a few new products and still have more in the works and are increasing our brand awareness everyday. And to the best of my knowledge, this summer I officially signed the paperwork to become the first female president of one of the oldest natural food companies in the nation.  

2. IF YOU COULD DEFINE YOUR FOOD PHILOSOPHY IN ONE SENTENCE IT WOULD BE….

You can solve any problem in this world with love, and a jar of peanut butter. 

3. WHAT ARE YOUR 3 MUST HAVE FOODS IN YOUR KITCHEN?

Peanut Butter, Almond Butter & Cashew Butter. (All Crazy Richard's of course ;)

4. IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY. WHAT ARE YOU EATING?

 I love birthdays! As long as I'm surrounded by friends and family and high quality foods, I'm a happy birthday girl.

5. SIGNATURE COCKTAIL?

I don't drink alcohol! I can't even stomach caffeine! My body is very sensitive to what I put inside of it. Water is always my beverage of choice. Plus I would way rather eat my calories than drink them ;-p

6. FOOD YOU CAN’T LIKE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY?

Olives. I try and try and try and try...

7. WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO RESOURCES FOR ALL THINGS FOOD (WEBSITES/MAGAZINES/GROCERIES)?

I admire a lot of recipe creators and am happy to try their creations in my own kitchen. A few of my favorites are Dana Shultz @MinimalistBaker, Shannon Sargent @CleanEats_CleanTreats,  and Melissa & Dallas Hartwig and the Whole30 program.

8. FOOD FAD YOU WISH WOULD DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH?

Flavored Nut Butters. Or the whipped ones. Or the ones full of chia and sugars and seeds and coffee beans etc. I mean, seriously.

9. MUST HAVE KITCHEN TOOL:

A hand mixer. I am currently crushing on my newest line of Kelsey Nixon cooking essentials and she created this fantastic hand mixer that comes in fabulous, bright colors in which the mixer attachments store in the handle. It's brilliant! My secret PB tip of the day - mix a new jar with one blender attachment on your hand mixer, just hold on to the jar tight! That oil mixes in perrrrfectly. 

10. WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU LEARNED THIS YEAR THAT CHANGED THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT FOOD?

I completed my first round of Whole30 earlier this year. I felt like my life revolved almost solely around what I was about to eat for a full 30 days. My biggest takeaway, I realized that too often I was putting food in my mouth out of habit, or peer pressure, or maddening starvation. No bueno. Conversely, the food you eat should be something truly good and nourishing for your body and soul, something you enjoy shopping for, growing, preparing, cooking, eating - something you want to share with those you love.

See more Women In Food interviews here and let me know who you think would be a great interview!