In an inspiring tale of resilience, creativity, and passion for food, Darian Washington has transformed her life and the culinary landscape with her business, Oatmeal and Company. This culinary venture began with a simple appeal from her son, igniting a spark that would lead Darian on an incredible entrepreneurial journey.
Darian’s story roots itself in an everyday moment. While working for Whole Foods, she believed she could expand her son Derrick’s joy of oatmeal by bringing home a sample of overnight oats. However, her son’s lukewarm reaction prompted them to explore the kitchen together, where they experimented with various spices and dried fruits. That night of playful experimentation resulted in a breakfast that received unexpected praise from Derrick and his friend, who encouraged her to consider turning their creation into a business venture.
Initially, Oatmeal and Company began as a side project. Darian was fully engrossed in her corporate career while trying to save money for her family after relocating from Phoenix to Austin. As she shared her oatmeal creations at work, her colleagues began to take notice, leaving money under her keyboard in exchange for her delicious offerings. This grassroots support lit a fire in Darian, pushing her to refine her recipes and explore new flavor combinations.
The shift towards entrepreneurship was solidified when, during her year-end review at Whole Foods, Darian faced the unexpected news of her job being eliminated. Amid this uncertainty, her then husband encouraged her to focus on her oatmeal business. Just as she was taking the plunge into her new venture, personal challenges, one being a divorce, arose and forced her to re-evaluate her priorities. Despite these trials, her son’s encouragement to keep moving forward with the business became the cornerstone of her newfound dedication.
In March 2019, just one day before her last day at Whole Foods, Darian received the news that she had been accepted into the Mueller farmers market. That first market experience exceeded her expectations, with her earning $600 in just three hours. From there, Darian continued to hone her craft and quickly made a name for herself within the farmers market community, starting at Mueller’s Wednesday evening market and quickly moving up to the Lakeline Saturday market then finally the highly sought after Mueller Sunday market, all while building a loyal customer base.
Darian’s approach to flavor development sets her oatmeal apart. Collaborating with family and drawing from personal experiences, she aims to offer unique flavors that resonate with her heritage and community. For example, her Bananas Foster flavor pays homage to a beloved cousin (who’s more like a sister) who shares a passion for New Orleans cuisine. Darian is driven by a desire to create offerings that are distinctly different from conventional oatmeal options lining grocery store shelves.
What’s the point of having if you don’t share?
As a Black-owned business, Darian has felt the pulse of support from her community, but she resonates with a broader audience as well. She actively engages with the local community, contributing to causes like the Central Texas Food Bank and lending support to aspiring food entrepreneurs. For Darian, sharing her success is vital. “What’s the point of having if you don’t share?” she stated
Looking ahead, Darian envisions Oatmeal and Company becoming a national player in the oatmeal space, with plans to expand into convenience stores and develop individual cups of oatmeal. As she charts this ambitious path, she remains steadfast in her commitment to maintain the integrity of her business while seeking partnerships that align with her vision.
She currently has the opportunity to be placed in Central Market, but she needs $13,500 for new packaging in order to move forward with the project. You can help her reach that goal by donating to her GoFundMe.
For Darian Washington, the journey with Oatmeal and Company is not just about entrepreneurship; it is a labor of love, symbolizing her dedication to family and the community. With each bowl of oatmeal, she shares a piece of her journey and infuses her creations with love, an essential ingredient that, as her grandpa taught her, simply makes food taste better.
Shop with Oatmeal and Company on their website or find their farmers market schedule on Instagram.
