the Men behind the Brand:
CAROLINA HUMMUS COMPANY

Atilla’s Story – Owner, CEO

Originally from the Mediterranean, Atilla has been a restaurant owner/operator since 1993. His love for gourmet food has been a passion since he was a young entrepreneur. He grew up eating his grand mother’s sizzling kabobs and Eastern Mediterranean delicacies. She was nicknamed Mrs. Open-Handed Ladle for her generosity and desire to share her food with anyone and everyone.

When he was a young man he admired the American dream and he fondly remembers hearing stories about the opportunities in the U.S. from family and friends who had immigrated here.

Atilla eventually traveled to America to study and graduated with a degree in Business. He began his entrepreneurial journey by purchasing a small, aging restaurant. With a lot of ambition and drive to succeed, he and his wife, launched a Mediterranean restaurant chain in The Triangle. Since then, it has become a landmark serving fast casual healthy, fresh and authentic Mediterranean food. From day one, his hummus and cucumber sauce has been a local favorite.

John’s Story – COO

A North Carolina native, John has worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry since age 15. As a kid, John spent many years with his grandfather learning the value of hard work and farm fresh food. His grandfather taught him how to plant, harvest and sell homegrown vegetables and took him to the NC State Farmers Market on many occasions. John cherishes those experiences and contributes his success in the food industry to those lessons learned at a young age.

John and his Mom had made pepper jellies when he was young to give as gifts around the holidays. After attending NCSU food processing program, he was blessed to have an opportunity to launch a small artisanal jelly business with his Mom.

With the experiences they gained from operating the family business’, John and Atilla set their eyes on creating Carolina Hummus Company.

The Carolina Hummus Story

Both Atilla and John started working in restaurants when they were young. They have had unique travels through the service industry with over 65 years of restaurant and food service experience. With their shared interest in healthy foods, the two food entrepreneurs developed trending dips and sauces. In late 2017 they brought a long-time dream to market. That’s how the Carolina Hummus Company was born. Carolina Hummus has created a variety of tasty products with Southern accents and flavors. All of these products are delightfully and deliciously healthy. Now, you can Spoon, Snack or Spread any way you like it!

Mission

Carolina Hummus creates fresh, handcrafted, artisanal foods that delight the palate. We support local farmers and local programs that respect the soil and preserve the planet. We enrich our community by helping consumers discover the health benefits of sustainable goods and by giving back to charitable institutions.