AustiNuts

Photo by Joe Lanane

Business continues to trend upward each year

Fresh off its 20-year anniversary, AustiNuts celebrated the end of 2013 with its busiest year yet.

"This was the best holiday season in our history," said Cipi Ilai, AustiNuts manager and mother of owner Doron Ilai. "We grow every year, but it's usually a smaller percentage."

She credits an increase in corporate gifts and return customers for the uptick in sales, a trend Ilai hopes to see continue in 2014. AustiNuts, located on West Anderson Lane, specializes in dry-roasted, salted and unsalted gourmet nuts, many of which are coated in popular flavors such as unsalted, mesquite barbecue, garlic, Cajun, chili lime and more. Customers can also request any size bag of pecans, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin kernels, peanuts and more.

"They're super fresh and super tasty," she said.

In addition, AustiNuts has also assembled a variety of gift baskets and snack packs with various nuts, dried fruits and trail mixes, all of which are customizable, she said.

"[Customers] walk in, and we take care of everything else," she said.

Orders can also be done remotely on the company's website. The next big holiday rush will be Valentine's Day, she said, although Mother's Day and Father's Day often attract more business.

AustiNuts, 2900 W. Anderson Lane, 512-323-6887, www.austinuts.com, Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.