Hannah Awada’s passion for culinary creativity inspired Hummus Goodness, a Michigan-made hummus company unparalleled in its focus on quality ingredient sourcing and flavor innovation. Led by her entrepreneurship spirit and love for hummus cultivated over years of delectable tasting abroad, the Awada family noticed the lack of diversity in traditional U.S. supermarkets and took it upon themselves to provide a unique, sophisticated alternative through means of their start-up: Delicious, authentic subtleties such as Basil Kale Pesto, Olive Tapenade, and Chocolate Coconut round out Leah’s impressive hummus repertoire. Hannah owes much of her success to familial support – from a powerful influence early on in educational positioning to current guidance in terms of Ottawa jurisdictional business matters. The confidence of her companions rings true and blooms infused gorgeous concoctions that confirm why Yelp says Hummus Goodness is America’s “premiere” dip food.
Hannah’s Passion for Hummus
Hannah Awada proudly noted that while brainstorming names for her new Michigan-made hummus, she realized that a lot of hummus companies list the product last in their names. That’s why Hummus Goodness puts hummus first because they know that goodness starts with the ingredients – offering customers the same quality of hummus that one would find in a Lebanese restaurant, or what their grandmother might make. Hannah’s passion for hummus began when she was living in Shanghai with her husband and three kids, after meeting him while living in Toledo. The family has shared many adventures, from London to Germany to China, all thanks to Hadi’s work in the automotive industry.
Hannah Burkett: Founder of Hummus House
Hannah Burkett, with her background in Secondary Education from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s in History from the University of Toledo, was living in Shanghai and working as a food blogger when she noticed a lack of her favorite snack on store shelves – hummus. She decided to make her own, bringing it to a party where friends were amazed by its deliciousness. In 2017, they urged her to start Hummus House and begin distribution of fresh hummus with distinctive flavors like Kale-Basil Pesto, Olive Tapenade, and an addictive Chocolate Coconut Hummus. Hannah owes this success to her entrepreneurial gene, which runs in her family with many small business owners, including her brother, Ziad Burkett, founder of Midwest Juicery.
The Journey of Hummus Goodness
The Awada family returned to the United States in 2018, with Birmingham, MI a standout location due to its connection to Hannah’s grandfather’s journey after he immigrated. Initially, Hannah was not interested in continuing her hummus production, but after getting overwhelmingly positive feedback at parties, she was inspired to give it another go. Hummus Goodness began with rental kitchen space at St. James Church and later moved to a facility where they continue to mix and manufacture each recipe before sending them off for packaging. This proudly made hummus is sure to delight anyone who tries it!
Delicious and Nutritious Hummus Recipes
Hummus Goodness is Michigan’s premier clean hummus brand, offering an unparalleled range of flavors created with responsibly sourced ingredients. The chickpeas come from a certified organic, pesticide-free farm in Washington and are pureed with fresh lemon juice, garlic, pure olive oil, and Michigan-made tahini. Hummus Goodness proves that this simple ingredient can be used to make any dish “uniquely you”, whether it’s avocado toast with Spicy Hummus or Beet Hummus with goat cheese, honey, and pistachios. Taco Hummus can also be used as a delicious and nutritious meatless substitute for refried beans in tacos and nachos.
Believing in Yourself and Product are Key Ingredients for Success
Hannah is proud of her success as a small business owner, and she wants to recognize and encourage other women looking to begin their entrepreneurial journey. She believes the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council certification was essential in opening doors to many opportunities. Hannah also encourages maintaining confidence and believing in yourself and products are key ingredients for success. Her products, Mano’s Pita Strips, 313 Urban Tortilla Chips, and Pop Daddy Pretzels, all made in Michigan, are a great example of what hard work and dedication can achieve.
Giving Back to the Community
Hummus Goodness has long been a staple at Detroit’s Eastern Market, and their presence has been felt in Woodward Corner Market, Capital City Market, and Bridge Street Market through in-store demos led by Hannah. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Hummus Goodness took the opportunity to increase their commitment to buying local and supporting small businesses in Michigan. To give back to the community, they generously donated hummus and pita chip snack packs to local hospitals and the Birmingham police station, as well as partnering with Michigan Works! Association to empower students with important skills. These efforts earned them the 2021 Start-Up to Watch Award at MSU Product Center’s Making it in Michigan conference, a testament to their success and positive impact on Michigan.
Introducing Exciting New Flavors and a Convenient Snack Pack
Hannah and Lara are proud to continue spreading the delicious goodness of Hummus Goodness throughout Michigan and the Midwest. As the business continues to expand, they look forward to introducing exciting new flavors, as well as a new snack pack for convenient hummus munching on the go!
Hannah Awada and Hannah Burkett have successfully pursued their passion for hummus, creating flavorful recipes they look forward to sharing with customers all over the world. Thanks to extended international assignments in Shanghai and European countries due to Hadi%, Awada’s work in the automotive industry, these hummus creators had access to cuisine to help inspire them. Ultimately, this has allowed Hummus Goodness and Hummus House to bring Lebanese-style hummus to a new generation of lovers. The passion these entrepreneurs demonstrate is exciting, and one can only imagine what delicious flavors will emerge next.
