Denise R. Wright Ryback is a renowned and respected entrepreneur in the cookware utensil category. Since 2019, she has flourished as the founder of The Porridge Mom Inc., through which she has designed the ultimate stirring utensil, better known as a spurtle, with roots as a porridge stirring stick. Unique and effective, the spurtle is recognized as a centuries-old, unique cookware stirring tool that is being applied to new, expanded uses in the kitchen. Inspired to create her stirring sticks by her two adopted sons, whom she rescued from the foster care system and whose health improved upon incorporating porridge oats into their diets. She was so passionate about this, that, in 2018, she applied to compete in The World Porridge Making Championship in Scotland. She was the first Canadian to be accepted to compete.
To be authentic in the championship, Ms. Ryback learned that a spurtle is the most important tool for making delicious and lump-free porridge. What she learned was that some were made of toxic wood while others split and were not produced to last. Thus, she set out to produce her own spurtle—one that would be made of non-toxic wood, that being hardwood maple, only sustainable forest-sourced, with no characteristic odor, resistant to splitting, and highly suitable for culinary use. This product is well-suited to stir meals such as porridge, batter, rice, pasta, soup, and cornmeal into a smooth, lump-free consistency each and every time. Each spurtle is handcrafted on a wood lathe and then sanded by hand before it is brass brand stamped.
Ms. Ryback notes that her spurtles are never made from plastic or metal and only crafted using high quality, hardwood maple. Thus, they can stir a pot of food on high heat without resulting in melting or scratching, or even more importantly, without toxic leakage of any kind. Moreover, she emphasizes that maple wood is naturally resistant to splitting and staining and is naturally anti-bacterial, providing utmost insurance for safe culinary use. As the founder of her own business, Ms. Ryback has teamed with a reputable woodturning team who expertly produce the spurtles according to the safety guidebook procedures of study and knowledge. Alongside her dedication to The Porridge Mom Inc., she holds trademarks for nine products in total.
After her studies in business management, she remained active with a rich background in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and the cosmetics distribution sector where her hard work brought her to the team that launched the Pantene hair care brand originally from Switzerland and more. She has held both regional and national management positions in her career in both Canada and the United States where she was honored with several accolades and commendations from such well-known corporations as Richardson-Vicks and Colgate-Palmolive. All this has brought Ms. Ryback to her passion for family, health, and healthy at-home goods. This brought her to be most comfortable at designing and overseeing the manufacturing of her own product, this being “the ultimate stirring utensil.”
In accounting for her success, Ms. Ryback credits the influence of her family and her own sense of confidence and innate drive. In this regard, she lends a great deal of gratitude to her sons, both of whom inspired her to continue progressing in her entrepreneurial endeavors. Equipped with an unwavering determination to succeed and a compassionate attitude toward the health of children and families, Ms. Ryback is proud that her business has a 30-32% growth per year with goals to grow to the North American market.
Looking toward the future, Ms. Ryback aims to expand upon The Porridge Mom Inc. to build her trademark products and sell them across the globe. As such, she notes that she is proudly continuing her family’s legacy, as her mother and grandmother both spent their lives cooking porridge oats for their children. In addition, she intends to continue serving her community, with a particular emphasis on helping at-risk youth. Married to Philip for many years, Ms. Ryback has two children: Zachary and Andreas. She has resided in Toronto, Ontario, Canada for many decades other than when she worked in New York City.
