Totem Serveware, like many great ideas, was born at the dinner table.
Jordan Stuart, founder and CEO, comes from a long line of entrepreneurs—but more importantly, from a family who never missed a chance to sit together and connect over a meal. Jordan's mother, Breanne, scaled her own business while still making time to gather the family five nights a week for homemade meals. These dinners weren’t just about food—they were about the family bond; About decompressing after the chaos of life. About laughing at inside jokes, sharing dreams, and solving problems together. In Jordan’s words, “I wouldn’t trade those table memories for the world.”
Jordan, Breanne, and Brian Stuart
That deep-rooted appreciation for mealtime connection is the beating heart behind Totem Serveware.
A Fajita-Fueled Spark
The seed of Totem was planted in 2018, during what seemed like a typical family dinner at a Mexican restaurant. Jordan, his brother Courtland, and their parents had all ordered sizzling fajitas—only to be bombarded with four plates per person. The small booth turned chaotic. Plates were overlapping, drinks nearly tipped, and elbows bumped with every bite. It was cramped, messy, and frankly, frustrating. But in that chaos, an idea was born.
“There has to be a better way to serve food at the table,” Jordan thought.
That night, the family sketched the concept of a stackable, swivelable fajita tray that would elevate the meal, literally and figuratively. They filed for a design and utility patent in 2018, but life moved on. Jordan was only 14 at the time. The idea sat on the shelf until he was ready to pick it back up and run with it.
From Michigan Roots to Colorado Mountains
Jordan graduated from Hartland High School in 2022, where he played varsity golf and spent his weekends racing mountain bike trails and finding jumps for skiing. After graduation, he realized college dorm life or corporate internships didn’t speak to him. What did? Freedom. Purpose. And a gnawing belief that the world needed a reminder of what mealtime really meant.
So he moved to Colorado, working for Yeti Cycles in the mountain bike industry by day, and dreaming by night. It was there, surrounded by peaks and possibility, that he dusted off the old patent and began envisioning something bigger than a product.
In February 2023, Totem Serveware was born.
More Than a Product—A Purpose
Jordan wasn’t interested in just launching another kitchen gadget. There are hundreds of serveware companies on the market—but none that center their entire brand around connection. Totem's mission was clear from the start: to make the kitchen a better place. Not just by decluttering tables or simplifying cleanup—but by reigniting a lost ritual. Bringing people back to the table, phones down, hearts open.
Totem’s flagship product—the Totem Axis—is a three-tiered, swiveling serving tray that saves space, sparks conversation, and enhances the visual and aromatic experience of mealtime. It’s functional, yes—but it’s also symbolic. A totem, by definition, is an emblem of unity. And that’s exactly what Jordan set out to create: a centerpiece for modern tables that anchors people in presence and purpose.
“We didn’t just want to sell something,” Jordan says. “We wanted to offer a seat at our table of love.”
Totem team during the photoshoot (San Diego, CA)
The Grind Behind the Vision
Building Totem hasn’t been easy. Over the past two years, Jordan has been the visionary and the workhorse. He’s managed product development, supply chain logistics, digital marketing, lead nurturing, content creation, website design, customer service, and cash flow—often all in the same day. He built the brand from the ground up, pouring his heart into every detail and learning every facet of the business through grit and curiosity.
Now in college, Jordan juggles academics with entrepreneurship, waking up early to lift weights and stay grounded, then diving headfirst into the day’s Totem tasks. His work ethic is intense, but it’s fueled by passion. Totem isn’t a side hustle. It’s his why.
He sees it as a movement—one that reconnects families and friends through food, ritual, and meaningful conversation. Totem's mission is bigger than dinner—it’s about belonging.
Jordan Stuart
A Future Worth Sharing
Jordan isn’t stopping with the Totem Axis. He envisions Totem as the go-to hub for all things mealtime connection: serveware, table rituals, hosting tips, conversation card decks, and more. Everything is designed to enhance the mealtime experience, not just to make it more efficient, but more sacred.
And he’s inviting you to be a part of it.
“Totem Axis is just the beginning,” Jordan says. “We’re building a community that honors the magic of coming together over food. We’re not here to sell you clutter—we’re here to offer clarity, beauty, and connection.”
So pull up a seat. Explore the website. Discover the Totem Axis. Join us on social media. And most importantly—set the table, and make time to connect.
Because mealtime isn’t just about eating. It’s about living.