When I was 10 years old I asked my Mom for a cash register for my birthday. I was obsessed with the idea of turning my bedroom into a store – putting price tags on all my belongings and asking my friends and siblings to come and shop it. Even then, I was so lit up by the idea of greeting customers, remembering their names and orders and creating a space that made them feel good.
Years later while working a corporate job in Media and PR, I decided to enroll in the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. The day classes started I had the same feeling I did all those years ago – being lit up and inspired by what I was learning and feeling like this wasn’t just a hobby – I wanted it to be my life’s work.
And slowly, these two passions – creating community through a physical store, and health and wellness – started to converge and I dreamt up the idea for nutbar: a “healthy coffee shop” concept that through a beautiful space, nourishing food and excellent customer service would made people feel good.
After two years of research, recipe testing, coffee meetings, focus groups and business plans, the first nutbar opened its doors in December 2016 in the Summerhill neighbourhood. I’ll never forget the rush of seeing line-ups form on day 1 and see people’s emotional reaction to consuming food that felt so good in their bodies but was also delicious and craveable. A community quickly formed around this movement and supported us through Covid, five new store openings (and counting), and product launches.
It really feels like this is just the beginning for nutbar. I believe more than ever that we want – need! – food that is truly nourishing us as we all struggle to navigate modern day life. And I have seen time and again how impactful meaningful in-person moments are in this increasingly digital world. I am so excited you’re here and hope you’ll join us on this mission to spread nature’s nourishment, tastefully.
Kate Taylor Martin
Founder + CEO, nutbar
