Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrián Fernández Núñez.
Adrián, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from a small town in the south of Spain where making nougat and caramelized nuts has been part of the local tradition for generations. In fact, there’s even a statue in the middle of town of a man caramelizing nuts.
My family has been in the baking business for generations. My great-grandfather opened our family bakery in the 1920s, and growing up, I spent much of my childhood and teenage years helping there. The bakery was more than just a family business—it was where I learned to appreciate good ingredients, traditional recipes, and the simple joy of making something by hand.
In my twenties, I wanted to see more of the world and learn from different places. That journey took me to Ireland, where I met my now-wife, Amanda. We later lived and worked in Spain and Scotland, working in bakeries and restaurants and continuing to learn along the way.
In 2021, we decided to move to the United States and settled in Grand Rapids, Amanda’s hometown. While I loved our new home, I found myself missing Spain—and especially the flavors I had grown up with.
I started making caramelized almonds at home, partly as a way to feel a little closer to home, and just a few months later, deSoto was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has had some bumps, although I think that’s part of what makes building a small business so rewarding.
One of the biggest challenges has been starting something from scratch in a new country. I had experience working in bakeries and restaurants, and I grew up around a family business, but building my own brand was a completely different experience. I had to learn everything from sourcing ingredients and developing the right recipes to packaging, pricing, and selling.
There have also been plenty of moments of uncertainty. There are days when you question whether you’re making the right decisions, especially when you’re a small business and every investment matters. We’ve had to learn as we go, make mistakes, adjust, and keep moving forward.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
deSoto is a small family business based in Grand Rapids, inspired by the treats and traditions of my hometown in Spain. It’s named after my grandfather, and we specialize in caramelized nuts.
What sets us apart is keeping things simple and traditional. We use just a few ingredients, make our nuts in small batches, and give them that extra crunch that makes them hard to put down.
I’m really proud of bringing a little piece of my hometown to the Midwest.
We have a select variety of candy nuts, from our classic Vanilla Cinnamon Almonds and decadent Maple Pecans to something a little more unique, like our Cardamom Hazelnuts. They’re beautifully packaged, making them a great gift, especially during the holidays.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I wouldn’t say there is one particular book, podcast, or app that has made a big difference for me. I tend to learn more from the people around me and from doing things myself.
I do have a good collection of pastry books, though, and they have helped me a lot along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://desotogr.com
- Instagram: desotogr
