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Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co.’s journey from kitchen to storefront

Published 8:29 pm Sunday, May 10, 2026

Five years ago, Sarah Almond was making charcuterie boards in her kitchen while raising three young kids and figuring out what came next in life. Today, Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co. has become a destination in Port Angeles, drawing locals and visitors alike for artfully crafted boards, catering, classes and a storefront experience that feels equal parts gathering space and creative studio. 

Along the way, Sarah’s learned nearly every part of entrepreneurship in real time, growing her business while raising three children and navigating the challenges that come with rapid growth.

“I learned everything as I went,” Sarah says. “I built it from the ground up.”

Sarah Almond, owner of Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co.

What started as a hobby making boards for friends and family quickly evolved after a friend encouraged her to turn her creativity into a business. Within months, orders were rolling in.

“I had just had my third baby and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do,” she says. “A friend told me, ‘You should just do this,’ and I laughed at her. Then six months later, I was taking money from customers.”

As demand grew, so did the need for space and equipment. Sarah remembers receiving a $3,000 medical settlement from a car accident just as she realized she needed commercial refrigeration to handle a surge of holiday orders.

“I had something like 25 Halloween orders and nowhere to store them,” she says. “Then this check showed up, and I used it to buy an industrial fridge. It just felt like every time I needed to take the next step, a door opened.”

That mindset – continuing to move forward as opportunities appeared – became central to how she approached both creativity and business ownership.

Today, Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co. has become known not only for its food, but for the artistry behind it. Each board is uniquely designed, balancing color, texture, symmetry and detail in a way that feels more like art than catering.

“It’s not just food, it’s art,” Sarah says. “Every single board I do is different. I don’t really go in with a strategy. I just start creating.”

Custom charcuterie designed by Sarah Almond, owner of Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co.

Her style has evolved over time, inspired in part by other creators online but ultimately shaped by her own instincts and personality.

“I feel like my personality has been my brand,” she says. “My family has been my brand. My failures and successes too. I’ve tried to be really authentic through all of it.”

That authenticity resonated in a community that rallied around her early on, including local businesses like First Fed, which started ordering charcuterie boards for employee events long before Sarah officially banked there.

“First Fed has been supporting me since the beginning, even before I was a customer,” she says. “As my business grew, it just made sense to partner with people who had already been encouraging me and believing in me.”

According to Sara Myers, Sarah’s local First Fed Branch Manager in Port Angeles, that community connection is part of what makes small business relationships meaningful.

“Sarah built something really special by staying true to herself and her vision,” Sara says. “As a local branch manager, it’s exciting to watch businesses like hers grow because you see firsthand the impact they have on the community. We’ve loved being able to support her along the way.”

For years, Sarah operated the business out of her home while balancing motherhood and increasing demand. Eventually, though, the business outgrew the space.

“If you had asked me two and a half years ago if I wanted a storefront, I would have laughed,” she says.

But when the right property became available at the same time her children were moving into a more consistent school schedule, she decided to take the leap. The storefront has since become both her largest milestone and one of her biggest learning experiences as a business owner.

The Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co. storefront offers indoor and outdoor seating and on-site classes.

“It’s something I never thought would be feasible for me,” she says. “But everything just kind of fell into place.”

As the business expanded, so did the operational realities behind it. Seasonal cash flow, staffing, inventory management, and financing all became larger considerations. That’s when Sarah’s relationship with First Fed evolved from community support into a formal business partnership.

Working with First Fed Commercial Relationship Manager John Textor and the local First Fed team helped her secure financing tools that supported continued growth through slower seasons.

“The line of credit and loan have been a game changer for me, especially during the winter,” Sarah says. “John has been wonderful, and It feels like I have a team behind me.”

John says supporting local business owners means understanding the realities behind entrepreneurship.

“Business owners wear a lot of hats, especially entrepreneurs building something from the ground up,” John says. “What Sarah has created is really impressive because she’s built a business that people genuinely connect with. Our goal is to understand what business owners are trying to accomplish and provide tools that help them grow sustainably while still maintaining flexibility.”

Today, Sarah employs a small seasonal team while continuing to balance the demands of entrepreneurship with raising a family. Through every stage of growth, she says the support of the Port Angeles community has remained one of the biggest reasons the business continues to thrive.

“This community has been so good to me,” she says. “There were times I had no clue what I was doing, and I’m so grateful people still showed up and supported me.”

As for what comes next, Sarah says she’s continuing to embrace growth one step at a time.

“I honestly don’t know what’s next, and that’s exciting,” she says. “I just keep walking through the doors that open.”

To learn more about Sea to Summit Charcuterie Co., place an order, or book a class, visit seatosummitcc.com.

Local business owners interested in learning how First Fed can support their business growth can explore small business banking solutions at www.ourfirstfed.com/small-business-banking.

First Fed is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.