How do you take your tea Hot or cold, ice-cold, mashed or made into a smoothie, a new food trend suggests that you probably prefer it loaded too.
In recent years, tea and beverage nutrition bars with vitamins and supplements have opened up in the United States, causing many to marvel at the hype.
With more than 15 stores in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Key Nutrition owner Malinda Oakley knows that standing out from the crowd is a big job. According to Oakley, Key Nutrition already has a powerful impact on the community.
“Many of my regulars even drive off Nine Mile Road,” said Oakley. “You will pass up to six grocery stores on your way to me. If you take care of the community, the community will take care of you. ”
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Key Nutrition, based at 10437 Sorrento Road, Suite 204 in Pensacola, has a wide variety of loaded teas and shakes with fun names like Kim K, Chocolate Elvis, and Peach Baby to name a few.
“I have three types of tea,” said Oakley. “Loaded tea, specialty teas, and beauty tea, but you can add your favorite shake, tea, or beverage to enhance it. My beauty booster consists, for example, of biotin, collagen and vitamins A, C and E. But first I want to know whether (customers) are sensitive to caffeine or other food supplements. ”
In the short time since Key Nutrition opened, Oakley has built a stable customer base including Blue Angel Elementary School teachers, student athletes, and gym owners. Another major draw was its proximity to Naval Air Station Pensacola, according to Oakley.
“This is the best place to be on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings when the Blue Angels are training,” said Oakley. “You can pull up a chair or bring a chair inside and have a seat in the front row.”
But it’s not just the many varieties of loaded teas that keep people coming back. Oakley believes that to own a successful business one must start by building the relationship from their side of the counter.
“I was also a bartender for 16 years,” said Oakley. “But now I feel like your local, non-alcoholic, healthy bartender. People come in, share their lives, discuss their nutritional needs and in return help create an atmosphere like Cheers where everyone knows your name. ”
Oakley is no stranger to everyone knowing her name. Just before opening Key Nutrition, Oakley served as a dental assistant for 10 years.
“It was so hard to leave dentistry,” said Oakley. “But if my best friend and better half of 22 years old Romeo didn’t make me dive into something I really love, I wouldn’t be where I am today. He paid attention to what I loved and hated about previous jobs and gave me the courage to start this new path. ”
Key Nutrition is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, please call 850-293-8484.
Kalyn Wolfe is a freelance columnist for the News Journal. Send new business tips to pcolanewbiz@gmail.com.
