Welcome To Gunnar & Jake’s Gourmet Pickles and Peppers Inc.
Gunnar & Jake's Gourmet Pickles & Peppers originated from a modest kitchen in Santa Clarita, California, where Kristi's passion for cooking, canning, and her deep affection for family blossomed. From a young age, Kristi learned about the significance of tradition and family values from her beloved grandmother, Elizabeth Stefansky, instilling in her a profound appreciation for her Slovak heritage.
Driven by her love for cooking and her knack for creating exceptional dishes from scratch, Kristi discovered another passion for pickling and preserving various fruits and vegetables. Slowly but steadily, she honed her skills and crafted her own exceptional recipes, despite lacking formal training in marketing or business, as she had primarily been a stay-at-home mom.
The genesis of Kristi's business was a result of her personal battle with Chronic Kidney Disease, a silent and potentially fatal condition. Throughout her life, starting from the age of 15, she has faced numerous challenges, including two kidney transplants from her siblings. Additionally, Kristi experienced the arduous journey of having two premature babies—Gunnar, born six weeks premature weighing a mere 3 pounds, and Jake, born 14 weeks premature weighing only 1 pound and 10 ounces. Enduring kidney failure twice and fighting cancer, Kristi never takes life for granted and cherishes every moment as a precious gift.
Kristi's leap of faith occurred when she decided to share her love for canning and preserving by bringing her pickled fruits and vegetables to the market. Her unwavering faith serves as the foundation for all her endeavors. She dedicated her company to her two sons, Gunnar and Jake, who serve as her constant inspiration and miracles in her life.
Initially, Kristi began selling her products at local farmers' markets in Southern California, where they quickly gained popularity and became a resounding success. Later, during the pandemic in 2021, she made the bold move to Arizona, where Gunnar & Jake's instantly achieved tremendous success, even appearing twice on Fox 10 Phoenix.
The reputation of Gunnar & Jake's has now spread far and wide, as the brand has been featured locally, statewide, and nationally. Kristi's unwavering vision, relentless determination, and tireless efforts have paid off, with Gunnar & Jake's Gourmet Pickles and Peppers gaining recognition across the country. Kristi's ultimate dream of seeing Gunnar & Jake's products on shelves nationwide has become a reality. Dreaming big has always been Kristi's philosophy, and she firmly believes that as long as one holds onto hope, there will always be a way forward.
