Today we’d like to introduce you to Javaneh Hemmat.
Hi Javaneh, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
What began as a love for sharing food and bringing people together has grown into two Nashville-born brands rooted in flavor, culture, and connection.
Javaneh “Java” Hemmat is the founder and CEO of Hummus Chick, a Mediterranean food brand she launched in 2014 inspired by her family’s generations old tradition of making hummus. What started with a simple belief that good food has the power to nourish and connect people has grown into a line of hummus and tahini products enjoyed by customers across the region.
More than a decade into her entrepreneurial journey, Java expanded that vision with Wild Lotus Snacks, a new snack brand created to bring a little more joy, curiosity, and crunch to everyday life. Its first product, Wild Lotus Sea Salt Pita Chips, starts with pita bread made from scratch and is baked twice for its signature light, crispy crunch.
At the heart of both brands is Java’s belief in building businesses with purpose creating delicious food, meaningful relationships, and products that invite people to gather around the table.
From Hummus Chick to Wild Lotus snacks, her journey is a reminder of what can happen when you keep following an idea, nurturing it, and allowing it to grow into something even bigger than you first imagined.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and I think that’s part of what has shaped both me and the businesses.
I started Hummus Chick more than a decade ago with a lot of passion and very little understanding of just how complex building a food brand could be. Along the way, I’ve had to learn nearly every part of the business: manufacturing, distribution, sales, cash flow, retail relationships, logistics, and how to grow while staying true to the heart of the brand.
There have been incredible highs, but also seasons when things simply didn’t go according to plan. I’ve experienced partnerships that didn’t work out, operation challenges, products that didn’t move as quickly as expected, and plenty of moments when I had to rethink the path forward.
One of the biggest lessons has been learning that growth isn’t always linear. Sometimes you move forward, sometimes you pivot, and sometimes you have to sit in the uncertainty long enough to see a completely new possibility.
In many ways, that philosophy inspired Wild Lotus Pita Chips. The lotus grows through muddy water before it blooms, and I’ve come to appreciate that the difficult seasons of entrepreneurship can also be the ones that shape you the most. I’m still learning, still building, and still choosing to believe in what’s possible.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wild Lotus Snacks?
At the heart of everything I create is a love of food, culture, and bringing people together.
I’m the founder of Hummus Chick, a Nashville-born Mediterranean food brand inspired by my family’s generations-old tradition of making hummus. We specialize in hummus and tahini made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients and bold, vibrant flavors. Hummus Chick has always been about more than what’s inside the container—it’s about nourishment, gathering around the table, and sharing a piece of my heritage through food.
More than a decade after starting Hummus Chick, I launched Wild Lotus Snacks, beginning with our Sea Salt Pita Chips. We make our pita from scratch, cut it into squares, and bake it twice for this incredibly light, crispy crunch. Wild Lotus was created as a natural companion to Hummus Chick, but it has quickly developed an identity and community of its own. The brand is playful, imaginative, a little unexpected, and rooted in the idea of living freely and following your curiosity.
What sets both brands apart is that there is a real story and a lot of intention behind them. I care deeply about the ingredients and how the food tastes, but I care just as much about how someone feels when they encounter the brand. From the packaging and photography to a recipe we share or the relationships we build with our retail partners, I want every touchpoint to feel joyful, welcoming, and human.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve continued to evolve without losing our soul. Hummus Chick has been part of my life for more than a decade, and instead of being afraid to create something new, I allowed that journey to lead me to Wild Lotus snacks. To me, they’re different expressions of the same belief: good food connects us.
I want people to know that these are brands being built with a tremendous amount of heart. We’re dreaming big, growing thoughtfully, and hopefully creating products that earn a place not only on people’s shelves, but around their tables.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My biggest advice is to stop thinking of it as networking and start thinking of it as building genuine relationships—both in person and online.
Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career have come from simply being curious about people: asking questions, listening to their stories, staying in touch, and finding ways to support them without immediately expecting something in return. I believe people can feel the difference between someone who is trying to make a connection and someone who is genuinely interested in connecting.
I’ve also learned not to underestimate the power of connecting online. Social media gives us incredible access to people, ideas, and communities we may never encounter in our everyday lives. Follow people whose work genuinely interests you, engage thoughtfully with what they’re creating, celebrate their wins, and don’t be afraid to send the message or introduce yourself. Some of my favorite connections have started with a simple online interaction and grown into real relationships, collaborations, and friendships.
When it comes to mentors, I don’t think you necessarily need one person who has all the answers. I’ve had different people guide me during different seasons of my life and business. I look for people whose character I admire as much as their accomplishments, and I’m not afraid to ask thoughtful, specific questions when I have an opportunity to learn from them.
And whether it’s online or in person, I believe in showing up. Attend the event. Introduce yourself. Send the follow-up email. Ask someone to coffee. Comment on the post. Send the DM. Celebrate other people’s wins. Be generous with your own connections.
Over time, I’ve learned that your community becomes part of your success. The more authentically you invest in people, the more you create a network built not just on opportunity, but on trust, generosity, and genuine connection.
Pricing:
- Wild Lotus Pita Chips, Case of 12 online for $74 + shipping
- Hummus Chick Hummus in stores ranging from $4.99-$6.99
- Wild Lotus Pita Chips in stores ranging $4.99-$5.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wildlotussnacks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildlotussnacks/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javaneh-hemmat-b49244139/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildlotussnacks
