Today we’d like to introduce you to Emilia Rizzuto
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I never set out to become an entrepreneur, but my journey with health challenges led me to create something bigger than I ever imagined. Years ago, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which pushed me to take a closer look at what I was putting into my body. I became passionate about natural remedies and holistic wellness—especially the power of elderberries. What started as making elderberry syrup for my family quickly turned into a business when friends and neighbors kept asking for it. That’s how All Things Elderberry was born.
What began in my home kitchen has grown into a nationally recognized brand, available online and in major retailers like Fresh Thyme Market. We’ve expanded our offerings to include teas, gummies, and even skincare—harnessing the antioxidant-rich benefits of elderberries. But building a brand as a woman-owned business hasn’t been without challenges. The natural food and wellness industry is competitive, and breaking into grocery retail requires significant investment in distribution, marketing, and education.
Through it all, my mission has remained the same: to provide clean, high-quality products that support health and wellness. I’m proud to create products sourced from Midwest farmers and made right here in the USA. As All Things Elderberry continues to grow, my goal is to inspire others to embrace natural remedies and make healthy living more accessible to everyone.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood has been both rewarding and challenging. As a mom of two teenagers, I’ve had to juggle the demands of growing All Things Elderberry while ensuring my family remains a priority. There have been countless late nights, unexpected hurdles, and sacrifices along the way. From securing distribution deals to navigating the financial challenges of scaling a small, women-owned business, every step has required resilience. One of the biggest struggles has been breaking into the retail space, where many small brands don’t make it past local markets. Expanding into national grocery chains requires significant investment, from marketing to filling distributor shelves before we see any return. But despite the obstacles, my passion for clean, health-focused products and the belief in my brand keep me pushing forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
All Things Elderberry is dedicated to bringing the elderberry plant back into modern medicine cabinets and kitchens. We specialize in crafting high-quality, elderberry-based wellness products, including syrups, teas, gummies, and skincare, all made with clean ingredients and Midwest farmer-sourced elderberries. What sets us apart is our commitment to transparency, potency, and tradition—rooted in the belief that nature provides powerful remedies when used with care and intention.
As a 100% women-owned brand, we are proud to have grown from a local favorite to a national presence, landing in stores like Fresh Thyme Markets while maintaining the integrity of our handcrafted recipes. Our mission is to make elderberry an accessible, trusted staple for families looking for natural ways to support their health. Whether it’s for immune support, everyday nourishment, or skincare, we’re passionate about educating and empowering our customers to embrace the benefits of elderberry in their daily routines.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking is an inevitable part of being an entrepreneur, and I’ve learned that the biggest risks often come with the greatest rewards. When I started All Things Elderberry, I took a leap of faith—leaving behind the security of a traditional career to build something I truly believed in. I invested time, money, and energy into a brand that I knew had the potential to impact people’s health in a meaningful way, even though there were no guarantees of success.
One of the biggest risks I took was scaling into retail and distribution. Getting All Things Elderberry into major stores like Fresh Thyme Markets required upfront investments in production, packaging, and marketing—without the promise of immediate returns. It meant betting on the strength of our brand and our ability to educate customers on the benefits of elderberry. There was also the challenge of being a small, women-owned business competing in an industry dominated by larger corporations with bigger budgets.
But I’ve found that taking calculated risks, backed by passion and a clear mission, has been key to our growth. I believe in trusting my instincts, staying adaptable, and never letting fear keep me from moving forward. At the end of the day, I’d rather take the risk and chase the vision than wonder “what if.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allthingselderberry.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allthingselderberry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allthingselderberry
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliarizzuto/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@allthingselderberry?lang=en
