Hillsborough Mom’s Nut Butter Business Began As A Happy Accident

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough mother of two, Jenn Nikitczuk, is converting Nutella lovers to favor her artisan, handcrafted, locally sourced nut butters and sweets.

Nikitczuk started the family-run Bon Nut Butter and Sweets business in 2015, but it took a major life change before she made the switch to artisan treats.

“I worked in the corporate world for a little over 15 years,” Nikitczuk said. “My parents were immigrants and I’ve always seen hard work.”

Instead of following in her parents footsteps, Nikitczuk went to college and was the first female in her immediate family to get a degree.

She studied architecture and interior design and landed a nice career designing stores for Calvin Klein.

Her job just wasn’t the right fit for her once she got pregnant with her daughter Angel, so Nikitczuk decided to make the change to be a stay-at-home mom.

However, the change in her lifestyle brought on depression.

“I was really depressed but then I kind of woke up one day and said ‘I’m done being mediocre, I’m done. I need to do something to spark my creativity again and contribute to society,’ ” Nikitczuk said.

She told her husband Jason that she was going back to school learn about chocolate.

“It was out of left field but my husband signed me up online to become a certified chocolatier,” Nikitczuk said.

Once she completed the course she headed to Dukes Farms to sell her chocolates but it was a hot day and while there her chocolates melted.

“I was so upset, I just quit my job and put a ton of savings into all this chocolate. I thought, ‘Dang it!’” Nikitczuk said.

But on her drive home, she was inspired by her daughter. After Nikitczuk’s pregnancy she couldn’t eat anything super sweet and didn’t want to feed her daughter anything too sugary either. She thought of Nutella and decided to put her own healthy spin on it.

“I created my own version and honesty people were lining up for it,” Nikitczuk said.

She has since expanded her products to offer 16 different nut butter flavors including cinnamon cashew and coconut almond.

She also makes custom orders for those that prefer dark or milk chocolate or don’t want any sugar added.

“What sets me apart is the process, everything is handcrafted by me and I source nuts locally,” Nikitczuk said.

Nikitczuk also does not use oils or palm oils and only has 9 grams of sugar in her butter versus the 22 grams in Nutella.

“My whole business stems from depression… I was always so ashamed to see anyone about it,” Nikitczuk said. “But people have really welcomed my business at Dukes Farms and it makes me feel good that they like what I am doing and that I am making people happy.”

Check out Bon Nut Butter and Sweets at these locations:

• Basil Bandwagon (Flemington and Clinton)
• Dash of Thyme (Denville)
• Dogwood Farms (Hillsborough)
• Martenette Farms (Hillsborough)
• Duke Farm Barn Cafe @ Duke Farms (Hillsborough)
• Dessert Plate (Somerville)

Or order online at bonbutters.com or Facebook or Instagram.

Images 1 and 2 via Nikitczuk: The Nikitczuk family - Jenn, Jason and their daughters Angel, 3 and Faith, 1.

Images 3 and 4 via Bon Nut Butters & Sweets

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.