Load video: An about us story narrated by Melanie Mulherin about SaltSpring Kitchen Company. She takes us through the brands starting point, what we do, and you see a tour of Salt Spring Island and some of our products served on a cheese board.

Our delicious ferry tale from a small island. Peace, love & jam.

We're a woman-owned specialty food producer founded in 2012 on Salt Spring Island, BC. We make gourmet jams, preserves, and hot sauces sold across Canada in grocery, specialty retail, foodservice, and direct-to-consumer channels. Our hands-on production, strong food safety standards, and values-led employment anchor our brand rooted in hospitality and flavour.

Food has always been my love language. I grew up in Kelowna, surrounded by orchards, roadside fruit stands, and a family of food lovers.

It started the way many good things do: in the kitchen, surrounded by stories, with hands busy and hearts full.

Later, I married a chef, and we ran a family restaurant in Northern BC. That’s where the very first version of our Spicy Tomato Savoury Spread appeared—served with a baked goat cheese appetizer. The real turning point came when my mother-in-law taught me how to preserve. That small act sparked something bigger.

When we eventually moved to Salt Spring Island, I found myself with young kids, a new community, and a kitchen brimming with ideas. I kept experimenting and taking what I’d learned about preserving and pushing it into bolder, more distinctive territory. Soon, friends started asking to buy jars. That’s when I packed up a folding table and headed to the Salt Spring Island Saturday Market, where it all truly began.

At first, I called it Simply Salty Kitchen. I converted the space above our garage into a commercial kitchen, stayed up late labelling jars, and kept growing out of each space we moved into. In 2023, we finally opened our Tasting Room at The Jam Factory, a long-time dream, just across the street from our kitchen.

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Current Flavours

49+

Different Products

502+

Glowing Reviews

950+

Retail Partners

“To be a small part of your breaking bread, your everyday meals, and celebrations, is the greatest joy.”

Melanie Mulherin, Founder
— Melanie Mulherin, Founder

We don't love using words like “manufacture” or “produce,” though technically we do both.

We like The Jam Factory: fun, colourful, and full of life. Our team does most of the prep by hand. The kettles may be bigger than the stovetop pots I started with, but the work is still small-batch, hands-on, and done with love.

Food Safety is a cornerstone of what we do. We’ve invested heavily in training and systems to ensure every jar is safe, consistent, and something you can count on.

The retailers who carry us are the people we work hardest for. We ship directly from Salt Spring Island with a typical two to three day turnaround outside of peak season. We communicate openly when an item is out of stock and work with you to find the best path forward. Our team answers emails and the phone — real people who know our products well, and want to help.

We're a values-led, woman-owned company with 15 year-round team members and several seasonal staff during the holidays and summer. Creating stable jobs on Salt Spring Island, where housing is scarce and opportunities can be limited, is something I care deeply about. From the kitchen team dicing peppers to the warehouse team packing your order, we're a small but mighty group who care deeply about what we do, and about the shops that carry us.

The retailers who carry SaltSpring Kitchen Co. are at the heart of everything we do. If you've been with us for years or are just welcoming us into your shop, thank you for your ongoing support.

Melanie Mulherin
Founder
SaltSpring Kitchen Co.