Pantry Files: Mingle Founder, Jordyn Evans
Mingle was born in 2016 from founder Jordyn’s frustration when discovering all the additives in the seasonings she was using. Since launching, Mingle’s growth has been driven by Jordyn’s determination and young entrepreneurial spirit. In this edition of Pantry Files, we spoke with Jordyn about her vision for Mingle and her current favourite Mingle flavour. We are also super excited to hear about Mingle’s newest project! We are truly inspired by Jordyn as a founder, and we are absolutely smitten with her delicious, better-for-you products.
Sure! I started Mingle when I was 25 years old. At the time I was working for a natural drinks company called CAPI. I had been working there for four years and was starting to get the itch for something new. I knew I had always wanted to run my own business as I grew up in a small business, my dad was a small business owner and so was my grandpa. Through my experience at CAPI, I could see consumers were becoming more conscious of what was in their drinks and on a broader scale, their food. This also included me and I started to become a conscious label reader, curious to know what was in my food and drinks. In 2016, one Sunday afternoon I was meal prepping. I loved meal prepping so I was organised for the week, and it would set me up for a healthy week. When I was preparing meals, I also loved using seasoning. Simply because the spices were all blended together and I only needed to shake the seasoning onto my chicken and veggies and the flavour was instantly sorted. This particular day though I decided for the first time to actually look at what was in my seasoning and to my surprise I noticed there was added sugar, artificial ingredients, unnecessary flours to bulk out the seasoning blend, high amounts of sodium and refined vegetable oil. It was at that point, when I decided to go to the supermarket to try and find a better alternative but there wasn’t one. Not only that, but when I was in the herbs and spice aisle there was no brand that inspired me. I found all the heritage brands rather daggy and so it was at that moment where I had a vision to create a better-for-you pantry brand that was fun, full of personality and made people excited to cook! At the age of 25 years old, I quit my job, moved back home, and started Mingle with $40,000 of my savings.
What has surprised you most about your journey (so far)? What has been most challenging and most rewarding?
It surprises me day in day out how many people post about our brand with so much pride and not because they have to, but because they want to! We have incredible customers, and it is really something that sets us apart from our competitors. This is one of the most rewarding things, seeing people make better choices, feel proud and confident about themselves, and enjoy their dinner creations for themselves and their households.
As for most challenges, I think scaling whilst bootstrapping has certainly had its challenges. We have had the best suppliers though who are in this for the long haul. In key transitional growth periods (particularly with big retail launches launching 10+ products all at one time) they have been supportive with extended payment periods which meant we didn’t have to seek external investment. We are incredibly grateful for our supply partners - they are an extension of our team.
Image: Jordyn and team preparing orders in the early days.
What do you want people to know about Mingle/what do you want Mingle to be known for?
I want Mingle to be one of the most loved and adored Australian food brands that is known for delicious, better-for-you products. Community has always been a focus for this brand, and I want to continue to maintain that community spirit even when the brand continues to grow. I want customers to feel like they are part of our journey always, they feel valued and Mingle continues to add more value to their daily lives. I want to use better-for-you- food as a vehicle to make the world healthier and happier.
What is your favourite way to use Mingle? Do you have a favourite seasoning flavour?
I am currently loving Mingle’s Spicy Bagel Seasoning on my omelette every morning! The perfect combo of chilli, onion, toasted sesame seeds, garlic and sea salt. Another underdog seasoning in our Mingle range is also our Garlic & Dill Ranch Seasoning. Love this on eggs, sweet potato, fish- it’s a goodie! Get on it!
Do you have any favourite cookbooks (that you actually use)?
Big fan of Ottolenghi. Salads are to die for! Also love Molly Baz, her approach to coaching is very fun! Lastly, RecipeTin Eats is also a winner. I have heard some of these recipes get tested more than 10 times, so impressive!
Image: Molly Baz, Nagi Maehashi from RecipeTin Eats, Yotam Ottolenghi
What are some of your favourite pantry staples? Are there any pantry staples that you consider your ‘secret weapons’ or go-to ingredients?
Love a tin of Good Fish Sardines or Tuna in Olive Oil. These babies are secret weapons and are a good protein source when I am on the go. I previously worked with the co-founder of Supper Supply Olive Oil. Super proud of Dani and everything she has achieved! This product is great! Nutra Organics bone broth is always a staple in the pantry too for soups and casseroles.
Can you describe your pantry using three adjectives or phrases?
Super Organized: I picked this one because a well-organized pantry is like having your kitchen act together. It's the secret to finding ingredients in a flash, which means less cooking chaos and more time for the fun stuff.
Cozy and Friendly: These words capture the pantry's vibe – it's not just storage; it's like a snug nook for kitchen creativity. Think of it as the place where you and your favourite family recipes get together for a warm, inviting cooking session.
Abundant: This one shouts "I'm ready to cook anything!" When your pantry is abundant with must-haves like flour, pasta, rice, canned goods, and spices, it's like having a kitchen arsenal at your fingertips. No more last-minute grocery dashes – you've got the goods for your homemade meal adventures.
Image: Jordyn debuting Mingle's fresh new packaging
What was the best meal that you’ve had in the past few months?
One of the best meals I have had recently was from my colleague Neeha. Gathering around the dinner table, cooking a meal and connecting over food is something our team frequently does. For my birthday recently the team surprised me with a home cooked meal. Neeha made a lovely grilled spiced Paneer with pilau Indian rice and a fresh yoghurt. Food is certainly Neeha’s love language and it was so beautiful to experience her family recipe with the team. There was so much thought and time that went into this food and it’s something I will never forget.
What’s next for Mingle?
We’re focusing on building out a recipe app to be more interactive with our consumers and inspire them even more with delicious and healthy creations!
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