Trenton Nutrition providing Jones County residents a healthy alternative
From left, co-owners of Trenton Nutrition, Donnie and Michelle Jarman and Chanel and Brandon Grantham pose for a photo inside their business at 111 West Jones St. in downtown Trenton. Photo by Janet Sutton / Neuse News
By Janet Sutton
TRENTON — Word is getting around about Trenton Nutrition; its Herbal Life custom-flavored shakes and teas are causing quite a stir on West Jones Street in Trenton.
As early as 6 a.m., customers arrive for the 16-ounce meal replacement shakes and calorie-burning teas that taste like delicious desserts; a shake and tea combo costs $8.50.
This month, the business is offering a $1 off discount to teachers and school staff, with other monthly promotions to follow. Social media plays a huge role in its business where customers are proud to take a selfie with one of the signature flavored drinks.
Along with appetizing blends such as pineapple upside down cake, blueberry muffin and caramel latte, Trenton Nutrition sells protein bars and energy-boosting tablets, among other items.
Trenton Nutrition, owned and operated by Brandon and Chanel Grantham along with co-owners Donnie and Michelle Jarman, follows the Herbal Life philosophy of offering a guide to weight loss and lifestyle nutrition program.
'We have a whole catalog of products," Brandon Grantham said. "For the immune system, digestive system, heart health, fitness, stress management and skin care.”
They also offer wellness evaluations and work one-on-one with clients to help them achieve their goals.
"It's not just for losing weight, it's for anyone," Chanel Grantham said.
There are 10 basic Herbal Life flavors and the Granthams wanted to create flavors that appealed to customers whether they're trying to lose or gain weight. The idea process is quite simple.
It's the taste of these 300 calorie or less shakes that motivated Donnie Jarman to make a daily drive to Kinston Nutrition on Vernon Avenue, where he initially met the Granthams about a year ago.
'It's the flavor of them," he said. 'I wanted one every day.”
He craved the shakes so much, he drove through the floodwaters of Hurricane Florence to purchase one. The Granthams recognized they had a lot of support from Jones County residents; when they were looking to extend their healthy lifestyle nutrition business, the Jarmans were happy to recommend Michelle's hometown of Trenton and join them as co-owners.
After a few text messages and conversations, “magic happened,” according to Michelle Jarman and soon the team had a location — a former food pantry that flooded during the hurricane.
After walls were repaired and cabinets were removed, Donnie Jarman and his father constructed a bar and applied some finishing touches to the business in the heart of downtown, which is still recovering from the natural disaster that closed the courthouse, ravaged homes and damaged businesses last September.
'With everything that happened with the hurricane, we felt like this was a place we could come and rebuild with them,” Brandon Grantham said. "We want to create a healthy and happy community and this place is a good place to start that.”
Since opening Trenton Nutrition on Aug. 16 they've served more than 400 customers and are working on creating more flavors to entice the taste buds.
Trenton Nutrition, 111 West Jones St., in Trenton, is open 6 a.m.-3 p.m.
