Mrs. Pruitt’s Gourmet CHA CHA is not a rhythmic ballroom dance—it’s a mouth-watering relish condiment sauce developed by the Pruitt family in the backwoods of South Carolina in the 1830s. CHA CHA means “no food ever wasted”— because it is made from select vegetables, herbs and seasonings perfected in the canning process. Grandma Pruitt handed her secret recipe down to her daughter-in-law Linda Kay, and made her family promise to tell the whole world about CHA CHA. 

“What started out as small batches in our home kitchen has grown into a sizable business. We now prepare, package and label our products at Feast Detroit, and I wanted to expand nationally and internationally into new markets,” said Linda Kay. “I took a class called Export Tech, and there met Business Growth Consultant Julie Oldham of the Michigan SBDC. Julie helped me develop my export plan and decide specifically to pursue the U.K. and Canada markets. She has been so instrumental and valuable in my journey; every time I have a question Julie’s right there.”

Julie added: “We used international search engine optimization reports, landed costs and early export assistance. We also worked with ecosystem partners Grand Valley State University’s Van Andel Global Trade Center and Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business for market research to identify which international markets to target. I really enjoy working with Linda Kay. She has great ideas, is very imaginative in her products and what she wants to do with her business and has great energy.’”

From a family kitchen in South Carolina to the shelves of major retailers, Mrs. Pruitt’s CHA CHA has come a long way. They have expanded their product line beyond relishes and seasonings and have begun bottling their newest product: Mrs. Pruitt’s Gourmet CHA CHA Sauce. It’s plant-based, gluten-free and vegan. It is the perfect replacement for BBQ sauce, cocktail sauce, cooking sauce, dipping sauce, any hot sauce and ketchup.

With the guidance of the Michigan SBDC, Linda Kay Pruitt has not only preserved her family’s legacy but has also expanded the business to new heights. As the CHA CHA brand continues to grow, one thing remains constant: the delicious taste and rich history behind every bottle.