Struesli: Adrienne Lufkin Redefines Granola
Fueled by passion for culinary arts and optimal nutrition, Adrienne Lufkin turned her family’s pristine estate in Washington, Connecticut, into an atelier where she crafted a versatile superfood earning national recognition for its superior quality.
“It’s nice to have our kitchen back to normal,” laughs her husband, Wall Street legend and environmental advocate Dan Lufkin, reminiscing about the long days Adrienne spent experimenting with “ingredients of all shapes and sizes that fit the formula just right.”
Thus originated Struesli, an organic brand encapsulating impactful nutrients, zero gluten, and zero added sugar.
Adrienne Lufkin holds containers of Struesli Granola in her kitchen.
(Photos by Jill Nelson/Annie Watt)
Elegant on the outside, every container is impressive on the inside: a bespoke medley including tiger nuts, coconut flakes, golden flaxseeds, and hemp hearts. Whether sprinkled on toast, added as a satisfying crunch to salads, or drizzled over fresh fruit, each serving delivers a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants.
“It’s much more than just a granola,” Adrienne notes. “It’s a pantry staple replacing the multiple packages of nuts and seeds we all acquire.”
Struesli culminates decades of culinary experience inextricably linked to wellness. A Fordham University graduate, Adrienne trained at The French Culinary Institute of NYC before spending years cooking alongside chefs in Nantucket and for high-profile clients throughout the country. Many required customized meals in response to dietary restrictions and health issues ranging from diabetes to inflammatory conditions and cancer. She approached the task with compassion, having personally suffered from chronic migraines and Crohn’s disease.
Dan and Adrienne Lufkin at their estate in Washington, Connecticut, where Adrienne founded Struesli.
“I had a hard time finding granola that is sugar and sweetener free, and packed with good-for-you superfoods and nothing else,” explains Adrienne. “What makes Struesli ‘redefined’ is everything it contains and everything it doesn’t.”
Wendy Carduner, one of Struesli’s first taste testers, was optimistic from the onset. A decades-long friend of the Lufkin family, she met Adrienne almost nine years ago. A hello hug ignited a deep friendship, bonded by a love of fashion, dogs, fitness, and nutrition. Upon her first sample, Carduner was immediately impressed by the all-natural fresh-tasting healthy taste and texture of Struesli. “To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of granola. Sometimes it’s overly sweet, and generally, it doesn’t have a naturally clean feeling,” Carduner remarks. “Instantly, though, as soon as I tasted Struesli, I said, ‘This is really delicious. It’s fresh-tasting, healthy, and all natural.”
Adrienne Lufkin and Wendy Carduner at the Lufkins’ Connecticut estate.
Carduner has spearheaded the very successful Doubles Club for almost five decades…and each of her days is fueled by a desire for excellence. “I am a very health conscious and particular eater,” she confesses. “Struesli won me over and has become part of my morning breakfast routine.”
Impressed by Struesli’s quality, Carduner will feature it in the 2023 Doubles Club Holiday Shopping Boutique and add Struesli Yogurt Parfaits to the club’s Luncheon Dessert Table.
When not tinkering with recipes, Adrienne is a busy mom, community volunteer, and nature lover. Proud of her accomplishments, Dan praises her for taking something unknown and building brand recognition. “She’s always been an amazing cook, but it’s truly exciting and astounding to see her flourish and thrive as a businesswoman,” he declares. Though he is happy to have the family kitchen back, as the epicenter of Adrienne’s creativity, its serenity is short-lived. She continues to create and test new flavors and future products.