Food That Pays Homage to A True Korean Culinary Experience

Sonyo Food Co is a remarkable brand that was founded by Jacqueline Lee. Sonyo means granddaughter in Korean and to Jacqueline her business is the continuation of culture and tradition through a new generation. Her grandmother taught her how to make kimchi and her grandmother before taught her. She cooks with flavours from what is now referred to as North Korea. These feature fresher profiles with less of a fish base as they relied less on salt for preservation being in a cooler climate and are further away from the sea. Together, their food pays homage to the home she once knew before the Korean War. 

Jacqueline developed plant-based and gluten-free recipes to ensure everyone can take part in the full depth of the Korean culinary experience, starting with the staple – kimchi! 

In late 2021, Jacqueline moved in with her grandparents in efforts to help care for them. Since then, she has shared moments of nostalgia and joyful new memories. Her grandmother has been open with imparting her culinary knowledge with her and she hasn't taken it for granted. The sharing of stories and tradition is what Sonyo Food Co is founded on. The recipes are plant-based and gluten-free without compromising on flavour so that everyone can enjoy their offerings. 

Over the last two months Jacqueline has been hard at work starting this business from the ground up! The first month was dedicated to recipe development and making sure the product came out consistent and passed taste tests. 

The second month was about developing their logo and their Instagram page. Once that was completed, she participated in holiday markets and engaged in social media as much as possible. Gaining exposure and receiving sales led Sonyo Food Co to the ShopHERE Program powered by Google to help develop their website. 

Sonyo Food Co was interested in developing a website to help her feel more confident in the brand moving forward. For the business, it adds a layer of professionalism and provides a new channel for potential customers to place orders and learn more about the company. 

“I was able to set up Instagram easily enough but the thought of having to put together a website was daunting. Having the DMS program helped me create a website that met my design vision to continue building the brand. It gave me a place to tell the story of Sonyo Food Co and create an online shop to not have to rely solely on direct messaging for orders.” 

Jacqueline says the ShopHERE Program has been a great help in getting her business off the ground. Having a website gives the business a place to share their story and take orders.

“What made it all the better was having a coordinator who understood our vision and worked with us every step of the way to ensure that the final product matched us as a brand. Mayank was so patient in understanding the pages and content I wanted and went above and beyond pulling those together by always offering suggestions and places for improvement.” 

When asked about her overall experience with the ShopHERE Program, Jacqueline summed up the process as efficient and fun. She enjoyed the process of coming up with a site map, creating content to include in the various pages, selecting the images, experimenting with layouts, and seeking advice from mentors and friends alike. Their eCommerce Coordinator was supportive of their vision and taught them everything they'd need to know to manage the account once the handover was complete. 

When Jacqueline first signed up for the ShopHERE Program she struggled to identify her target consumer. Especially since she wanted to create a product for everyone but it’s difficult to market to such a wide demographic. After participating in the program’s marketing webinars she learned how to hone her focus into a section of potential consumers and she can now create content with clear messaging that is more direct and more appropriate in developing a brand image. 

Jacqueline says that with the support of the ShopHERE Program and their partners “… they helped with cost savings and gave a sense of reassurance when taking risks because there wasn't an overload of financial repercussions. It also feels like they're rooting for you and you want to make the most of it!” 

Checkout Sonyo Food Co, and treat your taste buds to vegan kimchi that offers a fresh flavour profile packed with good-for-you ingredients. Why not add kimchi as part of your next meal? 

If you are a small business or know someone who could benefit from participating in the program, check us out HERE. To learn more about Digital Main Street and how it is helping local businesses survive the pandemic, click HERE.