Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Sorgi.
Renee, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Free and Simple Foods was born out of my own health journey.
About nine years ago, after years of struggling with severe skin issues, terrible stomach aches, and uncontrollable allergies, I found a naturopathic doctor who helped me uncover what was going on with my health. I was diagnosed with leaky gut, Candida, and SIBO. I completely changed the way I ate and followed an AIP diet, eliminating the foods and ingredients that were causing inflammation for me.
That’s when I ran into a huge problem: there was almost nothing on the grocery store shelf that I could eat. I didn’t want to give up the convenience of packaged food, and I certainly didn’t want to sacrifice flavor. So I started experimenting with ingredients that were new to me and creating the foods I wished I could find in stores.
That’s how Free and Simple Foods was born.
I started the business during COVID while homeschooling my kids, beginning small and selling through farmers markets and local connections. As the business grew, I eventually outgrew my home kitchen and spent four years searching for the right space to build a dedicated commercial kitchen. I created the facility from the ground up as a dedicated allergy-free space, purchasing all new equipment so I could have complete control over our ingredients, equipment, and processes.
What started as me trying to create food I could actually eat has grown into a Michigan food brand carried by retailers including Meijer, Plum Market, airport locations, and specialty stores.
Today, my goal is bigger than simply making allergen-friendly food. I want Free and Simple Foods to be known first for being really good food made with simple ingredients food that happens to work for a lot of different lifestyles and dietary needs.
It’s been incredible to watch something that started from a very personal need grow into a business that is now reaching people far beyond my own kitchen. And honestly, I feel like we’re just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I think that’s part of building any business from the ground up.
One of my biggest challenges was finding the right kitchen space. It took me four years and 13 kitchens before I finally found the space that became our home, and luckily, #13 was the lucky one! Once I found it, I knew it was the right fit, and I was able to build our dedicated allergy-free facility from the ground up.
Getting into retail has also taken a lot of persistence. There have been plenty of “no’s,” unanswered emails, and doors that didn’t open right away. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s not about hearing yes the first time it’s about continuing to show up, follow up, and build relationships. Persistence has been a huge part of getting Free and Simple Foods onto store shelves.
Sourcing quality ingredients has been another learning curve. It hasn’t necessarily been a major struggle, but when you’re committed to using high-quality, thoughtfully chosen ingredients, you have to be very intentional about where those ingredients come from and how they fit into your standards.
Like any startup, there have absolutely been challenges along the way. But every challenge has taught me something, and I think those experiences have made me a better business owner and have helped shape Free and Simple Foods into what it is today.
We’ve been impressed with Free and Simple Foods, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Free and Simple Foods is a Michigan-made snack company creating crackers and granola with simple, thoughtfully chosen ingredients. We specialize in food that is delicious first and happens to work for a wide variety of dietary needs.
Our products are Top 9 allergen-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegan, grain-free, corn-free, rice-free, coconut-free, and seed-oil-free. But what I’m most proud of is that you don’t have to follow any particular diet to enjoy them. We want people to choose our products because they taste really good, not simply because of what they don’t contain.
One of the things that sets us apart is the ingredients we use. Instead of oats, our granola is made with organic sliced tigernuts. Tigernuts are actually a tuber, not a nut, and they give our granola an incredible crunch and naturally satisfying texture. Our crackers are made with cassava flour, tigernut flour, arrowroot, extra virgin olive oil, and simple seasonings. We don’t rely on a long list of ingredients or things you can’t pronounce.
I’m also extremely proud of the facility we operate in. Free and Simple Foods is made in a dedicated allergy-free facility that I built from the ground up. Every piece of equipment was purchased new, and I am currently the only business cooking in the space. It took me four years to find the right kitchen, but having complete control over our ingredients, equipment, and processes was incredibly important to me.
From a brand perspective, I’m most proud of how much Free and Simple Foods has evolved while staying true to why I started it. What began as a solution to a problem I personally had has grown into a Michigan food brand that is now on shelves at places like Meijer, Plum Market, airports, and specialty retailers.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that Free and Simple Foods isn’t about restriction. It’s about making food simpler, more thoughtful, and really delicious. If someone picks up our crackers or granola because they fit their dietary needs, that’s wonderful. But if they come back because they simply can’t stop eating them, that’s the compliment I love most.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was definitely a busy kid! I was very into sports growing up, and volleyball was my favorite. I loved being part of a team, competing, and always trying to get a little better. Looking back, I think a lot of the qualities I developed through sports, discipline, persistence, teamwork, and a little healthy competitiveness have carried over into my life and definitely into building my business.
I have one older sister, and we grew up pretty close. I was also a hard worker from a young age. I started babysitting when I was 12 and got my first real job when I was 14. I’ve always liked being independent and having something to work toward.
I was a good student, too, and took school seriously. But outside of school and sports, I was a huge Detroit Red Wings fan and now enjoy watching the Lions with my son!
Overall, I’d say I was energetic, competitive, responsible, and pretty driven. I liked being busy, I liked having goals, and I was never afraid of putting in the work to get where I wanted to go. I guess some things really don’t change!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freeandsimplefoods.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/free.and.simple.foods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/free.and.simple.foods
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-sorgi-276524320/
