Starting a small food business is always a gamble, but for local entrepreneur Lynne Prywitch, the choice seemed natural.
Prywitch owns The Tasty Tray Company, a West County-based business that specializes in gourmet candy and nut trays. Prywitch launched the company after starting a similar business, Goodies for Guests, in 2009. She had sold custom-made gift sets with products from such local companies as Bissinger’s, Switzer’s, and Dad’s Cookie Company.
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“St. Louis is a good city for this kind of business,” says Prywitch, who frequently created the sets for customers with out-of-town wedding guests and bar/bat mitzvah guests. “I worked with hotels and wedding planners.” She soon realized that she was competing with DIYers, though.
Then, while making a condolence call a couple years ago, she noticed there were plenty of large dishes but no snacks. She recalled her childhood in Detroit, where several companies offered trays of nuts and candy for similar occasions. She decided to start a company devoted to nut and candy trays.
After researching the competition, Prywitch found a commercial kitchen in West County, applied for the appropriate licenses and certifications, and started operations last year. She creates 8-inch, 12-inch, 14-inch, 16-inch, and 18-inch trays for holidays and special occasions. Customers also buy the trays for teachers, housewarming gifts, and doctor’s office referrals. “The tagline for my business is, ‘Because life is sweet and salty,’” Prywitch says. “That’s why I love doing it—my trays are good for whatever life brings at you.”
She sources the nuts and candy from two vendors in Chicago and a vendor on the East Coast. She also attends the annual Sweets & Snack Expo, where she looks for a variety of bright-colored nuts and candies to create eye-catching trays. “It’s all about presentation,” she says.
Prywitch frequently works weekends, makes trays, and delivers the gifts. “I like to do business the old-fashioned way,” she says. “I like to meet someone in person, bring a tray and drop it off, rather than putting all my eggs in social media. It’s all about balance.”
She’d eventually like to open a storefront, though for now she’s focusing on increasing corporate clientele and expanding her reach in the community. “My advice for other people starting a small business is to do your research,” she says. “Know your competition. Get your pricing as low as you can. If it’s food, test it on friends and family. And believe in yourself, that the business will be successful.”
