Some of the best businesses begin with an unexpected moment - and for Mama Sassy’s Gourmet Foods, it all started with a surprise gift of fresh goat peppers. In this interview, Cherelle Cartwright shares how a homemade pepper sauce evolved into an award-winning gourmet food brand celebrating the flavors of The Bahamas. She shares her entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind her products, and how Loyverse helps her manage inventory, sales, and business growth. From supporting local farmers to preparing for international markets, her story is one of creativity, perseverance, and steady progress. 

What is your business about, and how did you start it?

My store is called Mama Sassy’s Gourmet Foods, and I produce a line of 13 gourmet products, including six jams and pepper jellies, two pepper sauces that also double as marinades, a Guinness glaze, and locally sourced Bahamian honey.

I started the business in 2018, and the story behind it is quite funny.

In The Bahamas, it's common for friends to show up at your home unannounced. Sundays are especially important because they're the day when most families prepare a big meal. I usually cook a four- or five-course Sunday dinner, and my friends know this well.

One particular friend had a habit of arriving without warning. Instead of saying, "Good morning" or "Good afternoon," the first thing he'd ask was, "What did you cook?" One day I finally said, "I'm tired of you coming over empty-handed." ("Hands swinging" is a local expression that means arriving without bringing anything.)

Two weeks later, he showed up carrying a 10-pound bag of goat peppers. Goat peppers are local peppers that fall somewhere between a habanero and a Scotch bonnet, but they're even hotter. He dumped the bag on my kitchen counter, and when I asked why, he reminded me of what I'd said. "This time I brought you something," he laughed. Then he added, "Now you figure out what to make - and call me when it's ready so I can taste it!"

At the time, I had a large rosemary bush, a papaya tree, and Spanish thyme growing in my backyard. (Spanish thyme is also known as Cuban oregano, although it belongs to the thyme family.) I thought, "Well, there's only one thing I can do with all these peppers - I have to make pepper sauce."

I experimented by combining the peppers with fresh papaya, rosemary, and Spanish thyme. Everyone who tasted it loved it. I started giving bottles away at family gatherings and as Christmas gifts.

Eventually, another friend bought me a bottling kit from Amazon, complete with bottles and seals. She convinced me that the sauce was good enough to sell. Another friend, who worked in marketing, encouraged me to take it to local pop-up markets. In exchange for managing the pop-ups, she received her own supply of sauce. That's how the business truly began.

From there, I developed another pepper sauce called Mango Medley, made with mango, carrots, and pineapple. My pepper sauces are low in salt, so they can also be used as marinades without affecting the seasoning of the food. Everything is made with fresh ingredients and contains no artificial preservatives.

Customers then began asking why I didn't make jams, so I created six signature flavors. Two were inspired by local Bahamian beers—Kalik Beer and Mango Rattler—which I transformed into unique jellies. I also created a mulled wine pepper jelly because I love mulled wine at Christmas. My daughter suggested making a Pink Moscato jelly, so I added that to the collection as well.

As the business grew, I expanded into other gourmet products. Today I also produce three balsamic vinegars infused with local fruits such as tamarind, guava, and mango, as well as a Guinness glaze that's perfect for grilling. I also stock locally produced honey because customers are always looking for natural products.

Another important motivation behind my business was supporting local agriculture. Around 90% of the food consumed in The Bahamas is imported. Farmers on the Family Islands often struggle because their produce must be transported by boat to Nassau. If it doesn't sell quickly, it spoils before they can earn a profit. I wanted to help reduce that waste by creating value-added products using locally grown ingredients.

One of my proudest achievements was winning the Royal Caribbean Pepper Sauce Competition with my signature pepper sauce.

Everything I produce is made in small batches. Last year, I was given a retail space downtown through the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Development Corporation. I now have a storefront where I sell my own products alongside other authentically Bahamian goods.

When did you first start using Loyverse?

I started using Loyverse when I opened my physical store. The previous business operating from that location had already been using Loyverse, so the system was already in place.

Before opening the store, I sold my products through several boutique hotels. Having my own retail space allowed me to offer customers a permanent location instead of delivering products individually.

The business is still home-based for production, but I'm currently sourcing equipment for the next phase of growth. My goal is to establish a dedicated processing facility so I can produce on a much larger scale.

What was your occupation before deciding to open this business?

Since I was 19 years old, I've been a professional singer in The Bahamas. Alongside performing, I also teach French.

Mama Sassy's Gourmet Foods started as a side business. At times I couldn't give it consistent attention, but since opening my storefront, it has become my priority.

How was the onboarding process with the Loyverse POS system?

A local representative installed the POS system and helped set everything up. He also trained me on how to use it and made himself available whenever I had questions.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced any major issues, and I've been very happy with the system.

Do you have employees using Loyverse POS as well?

At the moment, it's just me, but I plan to hire another employee within the next month or two.

I currently subscribe to the Unlimited Sales History plan because I regularly review and export reports. I especially like the inventory management features and the ability to connect multiple devices.

Whenever I attend a pop-up market, I simply add another POS device to the system and record those sales separately. It allows me to manage both my storefront and temporary sales locations from one account.

Do you add recipes to Loyverse or only the finished products?

At the moment, I only track my finished products.

I actually wasn't aware that Loyverse supports recipes. I'll definitely read the tutorials and explore how to configure my raw ingredients.

What are the most-used features of Loyverse in your daily operations?

The feature I use most is inventory management for my finished products.

The second is the ability to use multiple POS devices and analyze sales from each location separately through exported reports.

Third, I rely heavily on the sales analytics. They help me identify my best-selling products so I can make informed decisions about which batches to produce next.

Overall, Loyverse has streamlined my operations. Instead of managing fragmented sales records, I now have a professional and efficient POS system that provides customers with a smooth checkout experience while giving me the data I need to grow my business.

Do you use any additional Loyverse apps, such as the Dashboard or Customer Display?

Yes, I use the Customer Display.

I don't use the Dashboard app very often because I prefer reviewing reports through the Back Office.

Are there any features you'd like to see added to Loyverse?

I'd love to see built-in accounting features that allow me to record expenses and calculate profit without relying on third-party integrations.

 

Do you currently operate online?

Customers can place orders through my social media channels and pay using my credit card machine, although it isn't integrated with Loyverse.

I'm also working on establishing a shipping arrangement with FedEx so I can fulfill international orders.

Because my store is located downtown, many tourists purchase my products and take them home with them, which has helped introduce my brand to visitors from around the world.

Do you manage your social media yourself?

Yes, I currently manage Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X myself.

One lesson I've learned is that you can't do everything on your own. Eventually, I plan to outsource social media management so I can focus on the areas where I add the most value.

That said, I've really enjoyed learning about content marketing and online advertising.

What is the philosophy behind your business?

My philosophy is simple: baby steps.

The food processing industry is labor-intensive and requires significant upfront investment. You have to purchase ingredients, make the products, and then wait to be paid.

I've learned that steady progress wins the race. Growing a sustainable business takes patience and consistency.

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

I love introducing customers to products that are unique and unexpected. I enjoy taking familiar ingredients and showing people new ways to use them.

I even provide recipe cards - some created by professional chefs and others by me - to inspire customers to experiment with my products.

My goal is to elevate traditional Bahamian flavors by giving them a modern, gourmet twist while celebrating our rich culinary heritage. I also wanted my products to reflect that vision through beautiful packaging with a vibrant Caribbean identity.

It's still a work in progress, and sometimes I'm surprised by how far I've come.

I once attended a seminar where I learned that many women entrepreneurs with families never grow their businesses beyond a small scale. I decided I didn't want to become part of that statistic.

I'm building my business one step at a time, but my ultimate dream is for Mama Sassy's Gourmet Foods to be enjoyed all over the world.

I've also been incredibly fortunate to receive support from many talented women. A professor in Jamaica helped me understand the business side of launching a pop-up business and preparing for export markets. Another friend in the food processing industry taught me about food safety, production standards, and the procedures required for international distribution.

II have been fortunate, woman together can accomplish so much. Once we learn to share, we become that village where everybody kind of succeeds. 

Would you recommend Loyverse POS to our readers?

Absolutely - I would recommend Loyverse 110%.

It's simple, easy to use, and packed with valuable features. It removes so much of the manual work involved in running a business and allows me to focus on growing my company.

I especially appreciate how it simplifies inventory management, sales tracking, and reporting, making day-to-day operations much more efficient.

 

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