Phil Amormino, a retired science teacher and 35-year resident of Sonoma, has found something new in life to get excited about. After the passing of his wife, Kerry, to cancer three years ago, he suddenly found himself the lone grandparent to a bevy of new grandchildren-six to be exact. While his three oldest children loved being parents, he couldn’t help but notice they all had one common complaint: Constantly cleaning up spilled food. Observant that there were plenty of spill- resistant cups for liquids but not so for solid food snacks, Amormino took it upon himself to create a snack cup that was both spill-resistant and also completely safe for children. The end result was “Munchie Mug” – a product that Amormino produces himself in Sonoma, California-constructed with materials entirely acquired from U.S. suppliers that are BPA and phthalate free, 100% FDA food grade compliant, and recyclable.
“Besides the convenience and practicality of use, my main concern over the Munchie Mug was safety. I wanted it to be safe for children in ever way possible,” says Mr. Amormino. This added an extra year to the entire project as an elastic fabric that was also FDA food grade compliant was developed. In total it took three years of research, product testing, and production machine building before the final product, “Munchie Mug” was released to the public.
During the three-year journey, Phil brought alongside himself his good friend Mike Tuhtan, another local grandfather who retired from Sola Optical, where he was a mechanical engineer, several years ago. Together, Amormino and Tuhtan designed and built an automated production machine that has made it possible to manufacture the Munchie Mugs in volume. Amormino says, “We really do have a unique and practical product here for parents, grandparents, and anyone else who is tired of picking cheerios and goldfish off their living room floor or out of the backseat of their car. When I made the first Munchie Mug for my oldest daughter, I never thought we’d get this far, to actually be selling our product to the public. I just made it so my daughter would not have to clean up after her 1-year-old son all the time. But once I saw how totally convenient it was to use and how it filled such a practical need in a mom’s everyday life, I thought, ‘We are really on to something here.’ And so, Munchie Mug was born.”
Amormino formed his company, Witty Works Inc., which is dedicated to the invention of safe, smart, U.S.A.-based baby and children’s products. Right now, Munchie Mug is the only product that Witty Works offers, but Amormino says that they have received many other suggestions for potential products that could improve the quality of life for both babies and parents alike. Munchie Mugs are currently available for sale only through the company’s website, but Amormino promises that in a short time they will be retail ready and we may soon start seeing Munchie Mugs in Sonoma County children’s stores. To contact the company by email use wittyworks@gmail.com. For product information go to www.munchiemug.com.
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