Two Sisters Introduce "Sassy Products" to Metro Detroit
When The Redheads first came onto the food scene seventeen years ago, it was at a little place up north called Kejara’s Bridge. Sisters Sarah Landry Ryder and Christen Landry—who were affectionately known by locals as The Redheads—aimed to create a haven for good food, art and music in their hometown of Lake Leelanau.
Before long, Kejara’s Bridge became known as the hippest place to be in Leelanau County and began garnering rave reviews for their artsy atmosphere and delicious food—fresh, inventive brunch fare, baked goods, and a stand-out, made-from-scratch veggie burger.
To build on their success and survive the slower winter months, Sarah and Christen decided to take a shot at packaging some of their signature menu items and selling them at local groceries. They started with their own freshly made hummus and vegetarian burgers, which they fittingly named, The Redheads: Naturally Sassy Products.
The experiment was so successful that customers have been asking for their products ever since and they have continued to grow to keep up with the demand. The Redheads product line has recently expanded into stores in southern Michigan and Indiana, including over 40 Kroger stores in the Metro Detroit area and Whole Foods Markets in Rochester Hills, Troy and Ann Arbor, and several local food cooperatives.
Today, their product line includes four different flavors of hummus: Garlic, Pesto, Sundried Tomato, and Cherry Chipotle, all made fresh in small batches with organic garbanzo beans, tahini and fresh herbs; their popular vegetarian burger, which will soon be accompanied by a black bean burger; and other favorites, including their Balsamic Vinaigrette, Maple Granola, and Salt Your Sweet Mix.
“We start with really good ingredients and that’s what makes our food great,” says Sarah. “We’re creative, but it’s because we’ve made the decision to start with the good stuff and not cut corners. Our recipes were all created in our kitchen, simply by experimenting with what tastes good.”
They now call their restaurant, The Redheads Café and Tasting Room, and Leo Fox, owner of Arbor Farms Market in Ann Arbor is an enthusiastic supporter.
“My wife and I were at The Redheads Café last summer and had a really great breakfast. We talked to Sarah and were happy to learn that we could now bring their products back to our community. The Cherry Chipotle Hummus is my wife’s all-time favorite. It’s really so good.”
Keeping true to those standards of using organic, natural, whole food ingredients without using chemical preservatives and additives, is a priority as they expand their business.
“As we continue to grow, we want to stay true to our commitment of small batch production and ensure that each batch has the same attention and care given to it,” says Sarah. “This is very personal to us. We want our customers to know that it’s not just about making sales to us, but it’s also about making people happy and providing a positive food experience to them.”
Learn more at The Redheads
