We’re thrilled to announce one of our latest American Heart Investment Grant recipients: Javier A. Bryan, founder of Javier A. Bryan Peanut, a gluten-free, vegan-friendly peanut brittle company based in Austin, Texas. Javier recently sat down with AHIG Advisory Board member Susan P. Jennings to share the heartwarming journey behind his business and how a simple family recipe blossomed into a mission-driven brand.

You can watch the full interview on our recipients members’ portal, and read the highlights below.

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From Peace Corps to Peanut Brittle: A Recipe for Impact

“It started with my great-uncle Gallman’s 35-year-old peanut brittle recipe,” Javier shared. “After college, I joined the Peace Corps and worked with Hindu communities in the South Pacific. Uncle Gallman used to send me peanut brittle, and it became a sweet connection between my life in the U.S. and the village where I was serving.”

Javier soon realized that this delicious treat created not just joy—but community. After forming a friendship with a local woman named Bettis, he launched a crowdfunding campaign to help her start a small business. As a thank-you to donors, Javier made and shipped Uncle Gallman’s brittle.

“That campaign changed both of our lives,” he said. “She now owns property, bought a car, and her son is in pharmacy school. It also inspired me to turn this recipe into a real business.”

And with that, Javier A. Bryan Peanut was born.

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What’s in the Brittle? Mission, Flavor, and Community

The company offers a line of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan peanut brittle, made with simple ingredients and a lot of heart. What sets the brand apart is not just its unique recipe, but its mission: to do good with what you’ve got.

Javier’s approach to growth has been as creative as the origin story. He’s built momentum through community marketing and strategic bartering.

“I’ve been featured nationwide in magazines and on camera, and I’ve only ever paid $20 for a Facebook ad,” he laughed. “After the holidays, I had extra inventory and bartered with a local women’s magazine. I gave them product for an event, and they featured me in their holiday gift guide. That’s a win-win.”

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Resources That Fueled the Journey

Javier credits much of his early success to two specific resources:

• The book “Good Food, Great Business” gave him insight into the food business landscape and how to scale a CPG brand.

• His local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offered free, expert advising that helped him navigate everything from product development to distribution.

“My SBDC mentor was incredible—especially with her background in food. She helped me structure things the right way from the start.”

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Looking Ahead: Demos, Growth & A Big Ask

With his newly awarded $98,000 AHIG grant, Javier plans to bring his peanut brittle into retail demos and immersive in-store experiences.

“We want people to feel the warmth and story behind our brittle,” he said. “We’ve got some exciting activations planned at grocery stores—we want our customers to experience the brand, not just taste it.”

He also encouraged the AHIG community to vote for Javier A. Bryan Peanut in the upcoming $1 million Year-End Grant competition.

“We’re so grateful for this opportunity. Your support means everything to us.”

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Final Words of Wisdom

Javier’s story is a reminder that great businesses often start with great intentions—and that even the sweetest success can be rooted in service.

“You don’t need a massive budget,” he said. “You just need to use what you’ve got, build real connections, and always stay true to your mission.”

Congratulations, Javier! We’re proud to support you and can’t wait to see what comes next for Javier A. Bryan Peanut.