Georgia residents Heidi and Micah Stampley are the founders of Orleans Food Authentic Beignet and Baking Mix. Today, the mix is sold in over 200 Walmart stores across five Southern states thanks to the retailer’s annual “Open Call” event.
According to Heidi, the recipe was created by her husband over two weeks. “It’s just exciting to see your dream actually in a bowl,” she told WSBTV while pouring her mix.
She said they got the opportunity to pitch it to the superstore’s annual “Open Call” which allows entrepreneurs from all over the nation to pitch their ready-made products to Walmart.
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The Open Call has existed for a decade and offers small businesses the opportunity of a lifetime. Also, the retail company has pledged to commit an additional $350 billion investment into products “made, grown or assembled in America, supporting creation of over 750,000 U.S. jobs,” according to the company’s website.
Prior to creating their beignet company, the couple operated a Fayette County restaurant which was closed right before the COVID-19 lockdown. Nonetheless, the partners were determined to start another venture.
This led the Louisiana natives to mass-produce the baking mix, which is now sold in 200 stores in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Heidi recalled the moment she walked down the aisle and spotted her product among other brand-name baking items.
“Is this real? Because you’ve been going into Walmart all your life getting Duncan Hines and icing. All these things are there. And then my product is tucked right there in the middle!” Heidi told WSB-TV.
