Stacking Up Sweet Success: Bold Ideas and Breakfast Reinvented with Sari Megan Kern, Zen Stax
Zen Stax and the Pink-Haired Pancake Queen: Redefining Breakfast with Purpose
What do you get when you combine clean ingredients, island vibes, and a pink-haired visionary with a serious passion for pancakes? You get Zen Stax—a ready-to-pour pancake batter that’s shaking up grocery store aisles and morning routines across Southern California. On a recent episode of The Wild Party Podcast, we sat down with founder Sari Megan Kern to talk about how this registered nurse turned data strategist turned food entrepreneur built a wellness-forward brand grounded in sustainability and Hawaiian values.
A Midnight Pancake Epiphany
Sari’s journey to breakfast entrepreneurship began at 1 a.m., 20 weeks pregnant with her third child, and elbow-deep in data analytics for her consultancy. She had been making nutritious pancakes at home for her kids, blending in superfoods and real fruit. But it wasn’t until a dinner guest casually asked why she didn’t start a business that the idea began to spark. Later that night, frustrated with the time, effort, and dishes it took to make a healthy breakfast from scratch, the idea hit her: what if pancake batter came ready to pour?
That moment turned into an all-night research session. By morning, Sari had a concept. Two days later, she had a name, a Shopify site, and her first order. She began with “black market batter,” delivering jars to friends and neighbors from her own kitchen. Within weeks, demand ballooned, and she partnered with a co-packer to fulfill her first 250 orders.
Pancakes with a Purpose
Zen Stax isn’t just a convenience product it’s a health-forward alternative to sugary, empty-calorie breakfast mixes. All of Sari’s batters are free from seed oils, artificial flavors, and refined sugars. Instead, they feature nourishing ingredients like flax, chia, and real fruit. Bonus: they also work in waffle makers, muffin tins, and even your mom’s tea cake recipes.
While the product began as a vegan option, Sari learned quickly that the term “vegan” was often misunderstood and even off-putting to some shoppers. After removing the word from her packaging and shifting her messaging to “plant-based” and “clean ingredients,” her sales doubled. It was a valuable marketing lesson: meet your audience where they are, and then lead them to better choices.
Packaging, the Hard Way
Originally packaged in glass mason jars, Zen Stax took a significant sustainability leap forward when Sari transitioned to recyclable pouches and soon, plant-based bioplastics. The jars, while cute, weren’t practical. They were heavy, fragile, difficult to clean, and often ended up in landfills due to low recycling rates. “The bottom would fall out, and I’d lose tons of product,” Sari explained. “That’s not just a cost issue, that’s wasted food and wasted resources.”
It took two years to find a vendor who could make a bioplastic pouch that could be frozen and still handle Zen Stax’s nutrient-dense batter. But Sari stuck with it, because for her, sustainability isn’t a marketing buzzword—it’s a core value.
Infusing Aloha Into Every Bite
Despite not being Hawaiian, Sari has built Zen Stax around Hawaiian values like malama (care), pono (do what’s right), and aloha (love, respect, connection). After years of visiting the Big Island and forging deep personal connections with local culture, she now raises her kids with these values and integrates them into her business.
Each new pouch of Zen Stax will feature a Hawaiian value and its meaning printed on the bottom, making every purchase an opportunity to learn and reflect. “If we could infuse more aloha into the mainland,” Sari said, “maybe we could all calm down a little and approach each other with more love.”
A Farmers Market Miracle
Zen Stax’s biggest break came when a Bristol Farms buyer picked up a pouch at a local farmers market. There weren’t even samples that day—just great packaging and a curious customer. That buyer called Sari and offered her a deal on the spot. Weeks later, Zen Stax was in all 13 Southern California locations of the upscale grocery chain. After years of rejection from other retailers, it was the breakthrough Sari needed—and one she’ll never forget.
“I felt seen,” she told me. “After three years of blood, sweat, and tears, I finally had validation that this business matters.”
The Future of Zen Stax
Now, Sari spends most of her time doing in-store demos and connecting with customers, many of whom she met years ago selling jars at her neighborhood market. With three kids, a growing brand, and a full slate of appearances, she’s staying grounded by doing what she does best: nourishing others with food made from love, and modeling for her family what it means to build If you’re craving pancakes that align with your values and actually taste amazing look no further than Zen Stax. Visit www.zen-stax.com to order directly. This isn’t just batter. It’s a movement. And thanks to one sleepless night and a whole lot of heart, the world is finally ready.
