Andy Tullis / The Bulletin

Jem Raw Organics left the chocolate business about two years ago for a simpler venture, one contained in the truffles they once helped produce.

That would be nut butter, and not just any nut butter, but organic nut butter made from raw almonds and hazelnuts.

“Compared to chocolate, it’s real easy to produce,” said Nik Rueth, co-owner and chief operations officer for the small company in Bend with a big reach. Its owners expect to make Jem Raw, already selling in stores in Oregon and on the East Coast, a premier brand throughout the Pacific Northwest and California.

“We didn’t think it was a viable product to build a business around,” said Tim Moore, co-owner and vice president of sales. “But, it turned out that way.”

The 5-year-old company works out of about 2,000 square feet in a commercial plaza on Southeast Wilson Avenue near Southeast Ninth Street. It can receive as much as a ton of almonds per week, Rueth said. It also operates a tasting room in NorthWest Crossing.

The almonds come unpasteurized from Europe, primarily. Raw almonds have greater nutritional value, Rueth said.

“Raw is a selling feature,” he said.

Once they’re received, the nuts, which must be certified organic, are tested for contaminants, soaked to remove bitter-tasting phytic acid and dried overnight, Rueth said.

At the heart of the enterprise, three small tubs with granite grindstones inside that turn almonds or hazelnuts and a variety of natural flavorings into the four main product lines. The stones turn for 24 hours at low temperature, rendering the ingredients inside into a smooth, tasty butter. To sweeten the nut butter, Rueth said, Jem Raw uses coconut palm sugar, touted by some as a healthier alternative to processed sugar.

Two employees work to bottle and label the product, which has a shelf life of about a year. Another 10 salespeople work across the country to bring the product to market. A 16-ounce jar of Coconut Cardamom Almond Butter on the company website sells for $29.99. One-ounce jars sell for $3.99.

“Our vision was to create a healthy indulgence, something really delicious and good for you,” said Jen Moore, co-owner and CEO.

Organic nut butter is a more nutritious alternative to more familiar, sugary spreads and toppings, she said. She likes the Coconut Cardamom Almond Butter in her coffee.

A demographic survey showed Jem Raw’s primary consumers are women aged 26 to 52, Jen Moore said, but she thinks they’re spreading a taste for Jem Raw products within their family circles. They want a healthier alternative to familiar spreads and dessert toppings, she said.

Jem Raw products are available locally at Whole Foods, Newport Market, Devore’s General Store, Central Oregon Locavore and several other outlets.

— Reporter: 541-617-7815, jditzler@bendbulletin.com

Q: Where do you see the company in five years?

A: Jen Moore: I see it as an international business that actually has a brand name that is recognized.

Q: Where do your ingredients come from?

A: Nik Rueth: We get them from everywhere: Spain, Bali, Indonesia. There are only a handful of distributors that sell these types of goods.

Q: What convinced you that nut butter would sell?

A: Tim Moore: When we made our first almond butter, it had such a “wow” factor.