Meet the Makers

Pantry · Los Angeles, California

Gustus Vitae

Small-batch sea salts, sugars, and seasonings that began at a Venice farmers market.

Founded by
Francis Scanlon
Based in
Los Angeles, California

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Their story

Gustus Vitae started with Francis Scanlon, an advertising executive in Venice Beach, California, who made flavored sea salts as gifts for friends and family. In 2015 he began selling eight of them at the Venice Farmers Market, and the local Whole Foods soon picked them up. His wife, Elizabeth Kernan, joined as CEO after the two met at a trade show.

The line has since grown to more than 250 salts, cane sugars, and seasonings, from barbecue rubs to everything-style blends. In 2020 the couple moved the business base to Scottsdale, Arizona.

How it's made

Many ingredients come from California, and some blends use an unprocessed fine sea salt from the San Francisco Bay Area. The seasonings skip fillers, gluten, MSG, and artificial flavors, and are hand-packed in California in recyclable tins.

Why we carry them

We like Gustus Vitae tins as easy gifts for home cooks, and a pinch of a flavored salt is a quick way to finish a simple dish.

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