Keep It Savory Salt Co. — Press Hook

About the Brand

About

Keep It Savory Salt Co.’s handcrafted culinary sea salts are cured with fresh, local ingredients that help you say NO to bland, blah, and boring…and YES to the Savory Life. Whether you’re whipping up a special meal for a table full of your best friends or just trying to make Tuesday night dinner with the fam a little more special, their small batch sea salts are perfect for that salty finish on your favorite cookie, the seasoning that elevates your holiday turkey, or the last-minute add to those roasted potatoes. Their fresh cure process is time-intensive and that pays off in your meal and in their community.Like you, they stay passionate about making the world a more savory place. They believe food tastes better with everyone at the table, so they buy from local growers and vendors working to increase food access on Chicago’s West side. And, at the end of each year, they also donate 10% of their profits to organizations working to unravel the decades of unsavory racism and economic disinvestment on Chicago's west side.So, join the #keepitsavory revolution! Embrace the salty swagger of a savory life that tastes good and does good. A life that dwells on delicious and flaunts flavor. Together, we are all the salt of the earth. Let’s BE it…and make some delicious food along the way.

Founding Story

Keep It Savory Salt Co was founded in 2013 by our salt maven and founder Johanna Thompson. A science and history teacher with a love of being creative in the kitchen, she’s always had a penchant for being salty in the best ways. After a magazine recipe inspired holiday gifts for friends and family, it became clear that a production plan would be needed a couple months later when those same friends indicated the were having a culinary emergency: "We're out of your salt!" Over the next couple years, she'd grow to develop new flavors on her own such as Lemon Thyme, Rosemary Sage, and Thai Ginger Lemongrass. Today the brand boasts eleven flavors, a holiday brine kit, and she's working on test batches for another, hoping to be released next year.

Jo's background as a history teacher and investment in her historically disinvested neighborhood, however, was the inspiration for a savory business model. Starting with the idea that businesses should build communities, not extract from them, Keep It Savory Salt Co works to ensure that our ingredients support small urban farmers and vendors on Chicago's West Side.

Signature Products

Tap a product to view details and request a sample.

Garlic Scape Sea Salt Award Winning

Pantry

$15.50

Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Award Winning

Pantry

$26.50

Holiday Brine Kit

Cooking

$15.25

Gift Set: Keep It Savory

Pantry

$45.50

Gift Set: Citrus Lover's Gift Set

Pantry

$45.50

Gift Set: West Side is the Best Side

Pantry

$45.50

Lavender Sea Salt

Pantry

$15.50

Hops Flower Sea Salt

Pantry

$15.50

Thai Ginger Lemongrass Sea Salt

Pantry

$15.50

Showing 9 of 16

Team & Experts

Tap a name to read the full bio.

Jo's background as a history teacher meant that if she was going to build a business, it would have to be one that worked to make the world a better place - as she always felt that teaching does. Seeing first hand how historical and current disinvestment in her west side Chicago neighborhood had legacy effects on the residents and the economy was the inspiration for a savory business model. Starting with the idea that businesses should build communities, not extract from them, Keep It Savory Salt Co works to ensure that our ingredients support small urban farmers and vendors on Chicago's West Side. Each year since inception, she's found a way to build her list of local growers and grocers to ensure she is keep dollars in her neighborhood as long as possible. Jo's also an avid DIY-er, gardener, cyclist, and lover of food and laughter. Although a very decent cook, Jo admits that her partner is the real home chef and grillmaster. Jo's favorite place is at a dinner party with good friends and a proper cocktail in hand.

Location · Chicago, IL Since · 2013

Press Coverage

BEAUTYNEWSNYC

Jun 1, 2026

SEDNA: Ice Queen of Grief Made Flesh

Monthly BEAUTYSCOPE correlating 12 products to the zodiac, scroll down to 3rd House Sedna

Garlic Scape Sea Salt *Award Winning*

Vanilla Bean Sea Salt *Award Winning*

Holiday Brine Kit

Gift Set: Keep It Savory

Gift Set: Citrus Lover's Gift Set

Gift Set: West Side is the Best Side

Lavender Sea Salt

Hops Flower Sea Salt

Thai Ginger Lemongrass Sea Salt

Keep It Savory Salt Co. Headquarters

Brand Logos

Cover Imagery

Johanna Thompson

Garlic Scape Sea Salt Award Winning

Vanilla Bean Sea Salt Award Winning