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Sugar Tit Moonshine looking to expand during Covid - 19!

Bob Jordan is looking to expand Sugar Tit Moonshine in the midst of the Covid - 19 pandemic. If you had asked him about expanding two months ago, he would have looked at you as though you were crazy. Roughly 90 percent of his business is generated by billboards on the interstates in the Upstate solely from tourism. He never had to completely close but tourists take the distillery tours, imbibe in the tastings, then purchase product so as the tours and tastings were halted by Covid, so was business. Sugar Tit Moonshine is now sold in Mississippi and in demand as well as the new Carolina Cookies and Cream flavor. Business started booming again in late May as re-openings occurred and tourism started it's return, feast to famine back to feast! Good luck to the Jordan's with your expansion!

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The Island Fudge Shoppe adds new Birthday Cake fudge to their product line.

April was a disastrous month for Gus and Maureen Robinson, owners of the Island Fudge Shoppe on Hilton Head Island. There was no Heritage golf tournament, Easter vacation or Spring Break, so there were no tourists. Sad to say for all .  They were deemed as an essential business due to the fact they ship product so they were never forced to close. Their son was home from college and was able to build a new website so that helped to boost sales along with the introduction of Birthday Cake fudge. It tastes just like Birthday Cake ice cream and is flying out the door! The shop is small so Gus and Maureen now how the problem of too many people coming in at one time. Nice problem to have! Remember to watch for the gators!!

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The Sweetery is making it's way back to normal, well almost!

Anderson's Jane Jarahian says her business is on the mend going into month number four of Covid-19. She owns The Sweetery, a favorite local eatery and bakery. Naturally her business was affected, but is back running at 90 to 95 percent of it's usual with a substantial increase in take-out orders. Online sales diminished but are showing signs of return. Weekly specials help but Jane says people like having their usual items as a comfort to the rapid change that the world had to make in March. The Sweetery is famous for a lot of things but their Beer Buddies and Wine Sticks are delicious, unusual items that are a must at Happy Hour!

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Charleston Spice Co. adds new and seasonal products

Garnette Tuten of Charleston Spice Co. recently added Crazy 8 to her broad array of spice products. An eight pepper blend made with Selgris is making a big hit with heat lovers all over! Summer Rub was introduced last summer as a seasonal product available only during the Summer Equinox, it's sweet heat enhances any protein and is delicious on vegetables. During the COVID-19 crisis, Charleston Spice added curbside pick-up and pre-order no touch pick-up under the red umbrella for local customers. Online orders of $35.00 or more now receive free shipping. Check out their Grill Seasoning, Expresso Steak Rub and Coco Nib Rub for your 4th of July holiday grilling feast!

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Carolina Kernels Features a Home Movie Night Package

Vinson and Tamala Lathan never closed Carolina Kernels at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are no different from any other restaurant owners, feeling the intense economic crunch provided by current matters.  To help combat the situation they cranked up their food truck, offered curbside pick-up and best of all created a home movie night package, apparently a big hit with families! Carolina Kernels offers gourmet popcorn in any flavor imaginable and concession type food, rumor is the best hot dogs in Columbia. They currently are not allowing dine-in and business is returning at about a 40 percent rate.

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Lillie's of Charleston's COVID-19 Story

Tracey Richardson of Lillie's of Charleston experienced unusually higher volume of sales through Amazon due to families cooking at home and shopping online with platforms that offer home delivery services. This sounds like a positive thing due to the COVID-19 pandemic but a large portion of their business is in the foodservice industry supplying restaurants. Needless to say they became part of the collateral damage to one of the most severely impacted industries in the United States! Tracey directed her attention to a new sales channel by pursuing curated boxes. This is not a new concept, but is an industry showing extreme growth during this time as consumers look for unique specialty food products. She found her product line filled a unique niche that companies were searching for to offer their exclusive customer base.

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Independent Restaurant Coalition: 85% of independent restaurants may close

As many as 85% of independent restaurants may be forced out of business by the end of the year, according to a new report commissioned by the Independent Restaurant Coalition.

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Eljay Pretzels markets new product during COVID-19

Bob and Caryl Browner of Eljay Pretzels in Pawleys Island decided to introduce their new pretzel chips during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovation during these very unusual times has proven beneficial to their business and to the restaurants they service. The restaurant business, as we all know, is one of the hardest hit industries in this country, let alone South Carolina from COVID-19. A portion of Eljay's business comes from supplying restaurants with pretzel products, so the chips are a plus for them, being made available as to go items. Great job Mr. and Mrs. Browner!

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Nellie T's of Simpsonville gets creative during the COVID-19 crisis

Kathy O'Neal made Nellie T's famous for her flavored pimento cheeses and peanut butters. She went the extra creative mile at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced her all-natural peanut butter pie with a pretzel crust, which has been a huge hit and a boost to her business. Nellie T's offers curbside pick-up for all products. Peanut butter pie is available by the slice, so if you are in the area be sure to pay them a visit, or order online.