How this Portland-made pistachio brand took off fast
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Francine Voit and Nicola Buffo built their pistachio spread company out of a college project. Photo: Courtesy of Pistakio
Two Portlanders are on a mission to give pistachios the spotlight they deserve with their spreadable nut butter company Pistakio.
The big picture: In less than two years since launching, Nicola Buffo and Francine Voit have created a craveable product that sits on the shelves of more than 350 independent stores nationwide and routinely sells out at local grocers.
- Defined by its nutty, sweet-salty flavor — almost like a toasted white chocolate with hints of floral — the spread has been featured in Food & Wine, Eater and NBC's "Today" show.
Catch up quick: Pistakio began as the duo's senior capstone at Savannah College of Art and Design — a project the 25-year-olds hoped wouldn't die in a portfolio.
- Buffo, who is from Italy, and Voit, who attended culinary school there, bonded over their shared love of pistachios and frustration that it was an underrated nut in American cuisine.
- They first created a pistachio mayo, and gave away samples at farmers markets in Savannah to test the market. "We had 200 people stop by wanting to buy it," Voit told Axios.
The pair moved to Portland in August 2023 shortly after graduating, landing on the city after realizing it offered the right mix of affordability, food culture and community support for start-up brands.
Zoom in: Knowing nothing about food manufacturing or business operations, the two took the "Getting Your Recipe to Market" course at Portland Community College. There, they realized pistachio mayo would be expensive to produce at scale.
- So they pivoted to a sweet pistachio cream two weeks before they presented their product to grocers New Seasons and Market of Choice.
- Representatives gave it a resounding yes and Pistakio hit shelves in April 2024.
Between the lines: Though inspired by their time in Italy, the founders source their pistachios from California — where 70% of the world's pistachios are grown — to keep production closer to home.
Zoom out: Social media has powered Pistakio's rise.
- The pair has built buzz by leaning into playful, bright branding and storytelling — like behind-the-scenes content and recipes, garnering more than 26,000 followers.
What's next: Instead of expanding into a dozen flavors, Pistakio is doubling down on its core two spreads — creamy and crunchy — and partnerships. Upcoming collaborations include pistachio spread-filled biscuits and dates.
- "We see us as becoming a pistachio platform brand," Buffo said. "We would love to be everything beyond snacking."