Atlantic Mustard Mill: A Family Business with Heart

Building a New Life and Business on PEI: The Story of Atlantic Mustard Mill

For Sabine and Michael Schoenknecht, the move from Germany to Prince Edward Island was the beginning of a new chapter in their story. They had long dreamed of building a homestead, rearing animals, and living sustainably. After hearing about Canada from friends and making a few visits to PEI, they decided to take the leap in 2013. “We found this beautiful house on two-and-a-half acres and turned that into a homestead,” Sabine says

A few years after their arrival, despite the rows and rows of bottles of mustard lining local grocery store shelves, the couple still could not find decent mustard. What was intended as a small and simple remedy to this problem grew into Atlantic Mustard Mill, a thriving business with a Canada-wide footprint run from their homestead.

Overcoming Setbacks and Building Community Through Hospitality

What makes good mustard?“ First, it is not made using mustard powder,” Sabine says. At the Mill, rawmustard seeds are slowly stone-ground. This process keeps the mustard oil,which also acts as a preservative, intact. The result is mustard that is coarse in texture and better for gut health because of the fermentation involved

At first, Sabine made mustard for her household, but eventually ventured out tolocal farmers’ markets and found that the products were well-received. They continued to sell at farmers markets for a few more years, building an excellent reputation for their delicious mustards. Today, Atlantic Mustard Millsells products in over 150 retail stores across Canada. The Mill’s product lineboasts over 50 items including mustards, pickles, vegan mayonnaise, sauces,chutneys, and aioli. New flavours are added to the count often whether throughthe suggestion of customers or new plants and herbs discovered during morning walks. “Sometimes we look back on the journey and say that’s a job well done,” Sabine says.

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Central also to the philosophy of Atlantic Mustard Mill is charitable giving,specifically, to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. Advancing researchinto the prevention and cure for multiple sclerosis is a cause dear to Sabineand Michael, as they lost both of his parents to the disease 12 years ago. Having witnessed first-hand the toll that multiple sclerosis can take on those who suffer from it, they honor the memory of their loved ones by donating 3% ofall their revenues annually. For Atlantic Mustard Mill, their reason for being goes beyond the condiments they produce, the jobs they create, and the revenuest hey generate. They are redefining business impact to include care and compassion that makes a tangible difference in their community.