DeHCC visits with members to check in with them. Last month, we interviewed Antojitos Sweet & Salty owners Jose Garcia and Sondra Rojas. You can also visit with them at the Newark Farmer’s Market at 2515 Kirkwood Highway, directly across from the YMCA. Daily 9-2 PM

Could you tell us about the story of Antojitos Sweet Salty and how the idea of starting this business came about?

Of course, we are a family business, and together, my husband and I created the concept during the pandemic. We were at home and returned to cooking various Venezuelan foods and found that revisiting the flavors we missed was a comfort. We have always enjoyed cooking, where we complement each other in the kitchen. Working together led us to think about sharing those sweet and savory flavors from our homeland with Venezuelan and Latino households in Delaware and surrounding states.

We started selling among friends, and little by little, the word spread among our Venezuelan compatriots and then people of other nationalities. We have always focused on maintaining the quality and presentation of our products, so before actually selling them, we conducted several tests to ensure that we reached the final point we wanted. The opinion of our customers is essential to us and has helped us constantly improve.

What is in the future for Antojitos Sweet Salty's, and how do you plan to achieve your goals?

Our vision is to bring our flavors to every family in Delaware and beyond; we want everyone to know about us. As entrepreneurs, we know it's not easy, but we can eventually reach a larger customer base with perseverance, dedication, and love for what we do.

This is what we do to reach our goals:

• We use high-quality products purchased from places authorized by regulatory agencies to ensure perfection.
• We carefully oversee every step of the production process, always keeping in mind food storage and preservation methods.
• They are made from scratch.
• Before introducing a new product for sale, it is prepared several times until we achieve the right balance of flavor and consistency. It should be true Venezuelan!
• We focus on product presentation, making it visually appealing and an important factor for those customers.
• We make sweet and savory products, which makes us similar companies. We play with dessert flavors by uniquely contrasting flavors, making them memorable.
• We strive for the best customer service, with the main values of honesty and responsibility. We learn from our customers, and this has helped us grow. We follow the saying that we should treat our customers as we would like to be treated ourselves.

What challenges has Antojitos Sweet Salty faced in starting your own business?

• First, getting to know the food business and the necessary regulations required to operate.
• Now every day, space limitations require more resources and materials. we have been working on ways to grow within our physical space by purchasing equipment with greater production capacity to offer a larger, more diverse quantity of products.
• Language has been a limitation in expanding to non-Hispanic communities, but we continue to work through it.
• Achieving a balance between family and business, our toughest challenge as entrepreneurs. Family time may be different now, but it is more important. In addition, we still hold other jobs outside of ANTOJITOS, so it has been difficult to organize our time and meet the demands of both.
• One unexpected challenge was using our image to sell products. It was an idea we adopted from other people before us. We have grown as a business and as individuals because of that move.
• We had one very challenging time in December of 2022. My husband had to run the business solo because I was on bed rest after an accident. We could not step back at the time so our children stepped in to help as they could. We were able to fulfill all our holiday orders.

How has the Delaware Chamber of Commerce helped your business?

They have guided and accompanied us through the entire registration and regulation process required by the state of Delaware, something I thought was impossible to achieve.  It was overwhelming and I needed to figure out where to turn for the correct knowledge. They also have a commercial kitchen with proper licensing. We make our products in their kitchen and as a result can produce a product we need, when we need it.

The Chamber continues to guide us through cost structure and marketing. They have trained and professional people in the business area, which is essential for any business. All Delaware merchants can have a friendly place to go that allows us to maintain a solid community in the small business arena.

For many reasons, I recommend to anyone with a business idea, no matter how small they see it, to go to the Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Small ideas grow big there.

The Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank Antojitos Sweet & Salty for sharing their experiences with us. Please visit them and visit often. You can review their menu and order ahead by using their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/antojitosweetsalty/ or by email antojitosweetsalty@gmail.com

The Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (DEHCC) is a leading organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic entrepreneurs and business owners in Delaware. It offers a wide range of programs and services, including networking opportunities, educational workshops, mentorship programs, a Bilingual Business Center, and cultural events, in addition to advocating for the interests of the Hispanic business community. DEHCC's mission is to foster economic development and promote entrepreneurship in the Hispanic community, creating a supportive environment for the growth of Hispanic-owned businesses in Delaware.