Local business, Darlin Dal, is a gut nourishment station.
We visited Jo-Anne Stutley, the lady brains behind Darlin Dal, to learn more about her success story. We were absolutely blown away to hear her Grange Road kitchen has made 32,600 dals!
Jo-Anne shared with us some of her business learnings and experience from participating in our Business Support Program.
Healthy Way of Life
Darlin Dal is all about education and motivation to be your best, no stress. Gut health is number one and Darlin' Dal has it covered.
The products are plant based, locally sourced, organic, spray free, biodynamic, and sustainable.
“When people stopped cooking with spice, I think supermarkets created the sauce aisle. That’s why I call this the most amazing gut biome sauce ever – that nourishes and cleanses 70% of your immune system.”
Darlin Dal is recommended by doctors, nutritionists and alternate health practitioners.
With 30 years in the health food industry, Jo-Anne now enjoys being an Ayurvedic cook and counsellor in the Vedic science at Darlin’ Dal. Assisting you find your rhythm and flow in where you are now, intuition not ambition!
All For The Love
Jo-Anne’s origin story is one of resilience and inspiration. A life-affirming experience has evolved into her life ethos of living in the now.
Throughout our entire interview with Jo-Anne, she was committed to sharing and educating all things gut health, immune system, and this way of life.
Darlin Dal may have a small team, but a big effort - meaning a lot of love and care goes into every dal served.
“These recipes are like Kentucky Fried Chicken – no-one knows how I do it!’
Evolving Business Journey - From Strength to Strength
From the early days as a nurse, to her time in Africa (where she also started a pyjama business), Jo-Anne’s passion for health and wellness has always been alive. Jo-Anne's background in Ayurveda and nursing allows her to chat easily about our bodies and the roles they play.
Adelaide has been Jo-Anne’s home to create firsts in health. Loose certified organics and dry goods, first at the famous Pasadena Foodland, then Frewville then Fairview. Moving quickly to the inner city, The Market Shed on Holland, an all-organic market, that gave the leeway to Plant 4 Bowden.
From here she was only a few doors down from the Darlin Dal location, in Kitchari Kitchen, where she heard about the leasing opportunity.
From these humble beginnings, the ideas and recipes flooded in.
“So I thought I will create products and start freezing them in BioPak packaging. It’s frozen, versatile, compostable, convenient.”
On Sundays, you will find Jo-Anne at the Adelaide Farmers Market at the Adelaide Showgrounds.
Jo-Anne reflects that she originally created Darlin Dal for pregnant women and meatless nights for men, however the business has grown much bigger than this.
During the pandemic, Darlin’ Dal was the winner of Kochie’s Channel 7 Business Builders in 2021, the most innovative business in South Australia.
Advice and Learnings
We asked Jo-Anne what advice she had for other business owners.
On living in the now, “I think that’s where ideas come. If you get out of your own way, there’s this possibility to work with what’s needed.”
Jo-Anne also thinks this applies to chefs and kitchens. “You have to be present and fully attentive to your food to cook good food.”
She also says it was important to not make the brand about her and instead give people an experience. “A brand isn’t a brand without experience.”
She also encourages her customers to leave reviews, because she knows how valuable this is.
What’s next?
Jo-Anne is planning to work with a business mentor, who has alignment with her awakening and enlightenment.
This next step will allow her to find her genius. “Growth and moving forward means not wearing all the hats and working with my genius.”
We look forward to seeing how Jo-Anne and Darlin Dal can continue to grow and shine.
Darlin Dal is located at 462 Grange Road, Fulham Gardens, 5024. You can drop in on Fridays and Saturdays.
You can visit the Darlin Dal website here.
Darlin Dal accessed our Business Support Program to receive digital marketing expertise.
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Emma Grivell
Business Engagement Advisor - Urban Projects
E: egrivell@charlessturt.sa.gov.au