Our Story

The “Pickle Lady” from New Jersey

Pickle Licious founder Robyn Brown Samra (known as “The Pickle Lady”) has a passion for pickles. In 1993, Robyn was a struggling waitress who just wanted to improve the lives of her two small children. So, despite having limited resources, she vowed to follow her dream of starting her own business. She decided to open a booth at a local flea market. And as a Jewish kid from Jersey who was practically raised on pickles and bagels, Robyn felt confident that pickles would be a runaway bestseller.

Together with her brother Jay, Robyn sold pickles at flea markets and street fairs throughout the New York and New Jersey area. It was there she met her husband, Leo, who soon also joined the family business. They opened their first Pickle Licious gourmet store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 1997.

Life threw Robyn another curveball when Leo passed away suddenly in 2001. Overnight, she became a single mother and widow who was left to run the business alone. But instead of giving up, Robyn kicked things into overdrive and expanded the business tenfold. She opened a Pickle Licious store closer to home in Teaneck, New Jersey, and began selling pickles at farmer’s markets all over the state, with daughters Alex and Taylor by her side.

Before long, Pickle Licious was being written up in The New York Times and New York Magazine, and featured on MTV and CNN. Pickle Licious won many prestigious local awards, and was voted “Best Pickles” by the Jewish Standard Newspaper for eight years in a row.

Things were looking up for Robyn personally as well as professionally when she tied the knot in 2010. Her husband Ray shared her love of pickles and enthusiastically joined the family business, ramping up online sales and shipping. Her daughter Alex handles retail, events, and social media. And her daughter Taylor develops new products as a recent grad of The Culinary Institute of America.

Pickle pushers Alex, Taylor, Ray and Robyn

When Robyn started her business, customers would often share memories of waiting on line to get pickles on the Lower East Side. Today, customers share memories of going to Pickle Licious with their parents and eating pickles on a stick. Robyn is honored to play a part in so many treasured childhood memories.

Pickle Licious can now be found at over 45 weekly farmers markets throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. You can also visit their retail store in Teaneck, NJ or find their products at other local shops and restaurants. Nationwide shipping is also available.

Our Customers LOVE Pickle Licious Products!

“Hi, I’m a huuuuge fan, born in Brooklyn, raised in Bethel, been getting your pickles at the Harvest Fest in Bethel, now that season is over I did my 1st online order! I am a Weight Watchers Success story losing 118 lbs to date. Love your pickles, cut them up in my salad at night. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!”

- Brian P, NY

"Our favorite Pickle Licious product is the "Pickle on a stick," or as my 3 year old twins call it, a "pickle on a stickle." Whenever we're in the neighborhood we try to stop for a container of full sour pickles to enjoy at home, and a pickle on a stick for the kids to enjoy in the car. It's their favorite travel treat!"

- Zachary S., Staten Island, NY

"Love the sundried tomatoes, garlic, Mediterranean olives and of course the new half sour pickles. The olives and tomatoes are better than any olive bar we have ever gotten. The pickles are in a league of their own."

- Lou P., NY

"I've loved everything from Pickle Licious so far. My favorites are the Dill Pickles, Citrus Olive Combo and the Hot Pepper Mix. They are all so good I keep finishing them too quickly! Just placed another order yesterday and can't wait to get them! I know I'll be a regular customer for life. Thanks for the great quality products! Now only if you can start selling fancy cheeses too..."

- Steve R., NJ

"The BEST product is...KRELISH! Where to begin? You want to have a nice chicken sandwich, but so boring! What to do? Krelish! First, you get the tangy crunch of the sauerkraut. Next, the spicy mustard coats your mouth. But wait, it's not enough! The hot pepper relish hits the back of your throat and you realize that you have been thinking about how many more foods Krelish can go on! Now for my confession...I eat Krelish for breakfast sometimes. I think about it, a lot. Yes, the pickles are amazing. We know that. But if you want a surprise food, eat Krelish! Your taste buds will thank you!!"

- Michele A., Hackensack, NJ

"Received my order and it was just perfect. I wanted to compliment you on the packing of these items. I will be ordering again from you and will tell my friends about you. Thanks again! The most delicious pickles in the world."

"I just moved to Fort Myers FL this month from Superior WI and I cannot find half sour pickles anywhere. My friend In Minneapolis MN got me hooked on them when she took me to a Deli called Mort’s. I would drive the 2hrs just to get them. I would come home with 5lbs (well 4lbs) I had eaten a 1lb before I even left the city. So I was looking on line to see if I could find them locally and your name popped up. I’ve been trying to find a way for my friend to send me some but now I see I can get them from you. I so recommend the half sour (I call them half dills) I got so many peps hooked on them. I don't even eat regular pickles anymore. They are just a light refreshing pickle. I just hope I have enough room in the fridge for the gallon of pickles I’m going to order. If they even last that long."

"When the pickles first arrived at my front door in Birmingham, Alabama, I tore into them and took a bite. They weren't as crisp as I'd hoped but they'd been traveling for two days. After a couple of hours in the fridge they were as crisp as could be, and oh, so sour!!! Wonderful! I wish they sold pickles this good in the south but since they don't I'm glad I can order them from Pickle Licious. I try to make them last but they never make it longer than a week or two."

These pickles are the greatest. I have never tasted any like these before. I have had sour pickles before, but none can compare to these. I finally found something that my son doesn't like, and I can save them all to myself, but whoops the problem is I can't keep them because they are like a Lays potato chip bet’cha can't eat just one. My mom loves me to get them because she can find everything to do with the jars. You have a pickle buyer for life as far as I am concerned. I currently reside in a nursing home and my hair dresser has told her family about them, so I won't be surprised if they are not right behind me in line to order pickles. I am afraid to buy less than a gallon of pickles for the fear I will run out like I have done. Since I know they are this good when I see myself getting real low I know I need to order ASAP. Thank you so much for delivering such a reliable product.

"I grew up on store-brand pickles, and the first time my brother brought home Pickle Licious pickles, I fell in love. They are by far the best pickles I've ever eaten. I absolutely love the hot and spicy pickles, and the full sours are also amazing! It wasn't until I saw their website that I realized they have other items besides pickles. Their sun-dried tomatoes are also absolutely delicious! Also, the customer service is amazing, and my orders always come super fast! I just can't wait until payday to start trying the different olives next!"

"I purchased a quart of Pickle Licious pickles at the Muscoot Farm Market two years ago and was hooked! I couldn't wait for the next season to buy more (I was up to the gallon size by the end of the summer) so started to purchase my full sour pickles on-line. As my supply of pickles dwindles down to a precious few, I quickly place my order to ensure I won't have to go without my daily pickle. I now have my son-in-law hooked on Pickle Licious Pickles as well as my granddaughters. You just can't beat a Pickle Licious Pickle!"

"I ordered two quarts of sweet pickle chips. For many years, I was using a name brand pickle. I was shocked when I ate the first one. These are the best pickles made and the service is also great.I use these for sandwiches and find myself just dipping into the jar for a snack. THANK YOU PICKLE LICIOUS FOR HAVING GREAT PRODUCTS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANY OTHER PICKLES. "

-James Oliphant

"This company is without a doubt the best people to deal with whether ordering on line or going to their store. They have shipped to me in Florida and I have purchased in Teaneck. What started out just buying for my house has now grown into neighborhood purchasing. I also lost 40 pounds snacking on their pickles instead of potato chips. Their product is wonderful!"

"This testimonial is so easy to write. These Hot & Spicy Pickles are without doubt the very best I have EVER eaten, period. Being born and brought up in Brooklyn during the '40's, '50's and into the early '60's I have become an expert on the subject of kosher full sour pickles. These are better because they added the hot & spicy spices to give them a tantalizing and exciting awakening with every bite. LOVE 'EM, LOVE 'EM, LOVE 'EM. "

Bobby Estrin (in my heart, Boro Park) Sarasota, FL

Please update my previous testimonial: A hungry note from a native son... I grew up in Teaneck, graduating from THS in 1967. None other than good rye bread from Cedar Lane and full sour pickles make a meal complete for me. I now live in southern Illinois, where a good pickle is impossible to find. I am forever grateful for discovering Pickle Licious online. Their full sours are the best. I break into them immediately whenever a new gallon jar arrives, and I go through them really quickly. My mouth waters just to write this. Thank you for saving my gustatory sanity out here on the prairie. Now, if you could just arrange to send some good seeded rye, too...

- John Hochheimer, Murphysboro, Illinois

"My niece is obsessed with pickles and makes sure we take her to Jewish delis when she visits us in New Jersey. She cannot get good pickles in North Carolina so I have to send them to her. I recently found out I'm going to be a great aunt and will be sending her pickles again. She loves them!! Thanks for a great product!"

"I'm 65 and currently a resident of central Jersey. As a kid I lived in the Bronx and was used to having sour pickles from Sol Yedlin's Deli on Tremont Ave.. Instead of buying popcorn when we went to the Devon movie theater next door to Sol's deli we'd go get a pickle and bring it in - what a great memory. Anyway, we moved out of the Bronx in late 1955 and over the next 55 years it became more and more difficult to find pickles that were anyway near as predictably delicious; that is until I discovered the full-sour pickles from Picklelicious. I had tried quite a number of other on-line purveyors and countless stops in my car when I'd see what looked like a legit Jewish deli. I was always let down. Now, when my pickle stash runs down I go straight to Picklelicious!!!"

"Growing up in NYC and living all over the United States during the past 30 years, it has been hard to find what my friends in the south call "comfort food." Having the ability to recreate favorite foods from the past while living in the deep south has been great! Your pickles are the best! While people come to our house to dine, I always serve them what I consider to be the best pickles in the world.....Don't erase my address too quickly, another order for another gallon will be on its way very soon."

"When we moved away from the Teaneck area more than six years ago, we missed Pickle Licious terribly. At holiday times, we would drive the two hours to shop at your store for your delicious pickles, olives, peppers, mushrooms, and a host of other perfectly seasoned foods. Then we discovered we could order everything over the internet. Let me tell you what a wonderful packing job your employees did. Not one drop of liquid escaped! Whenever we're in your area, you are a stop on our trip. Otherwise, the internet works just fine. Thanks for keeping the high quality in your products. You're a winner!"

"My pregnant daughter and I drove 25 miles each way yesterday just to get a gallon of Pickle Licious full sour pickles yesterday because NO OTHER PICKLE WOULD DO ! We all know that nobody knows pickles like a pregnant lady! If you have never had a Pickle Licious pickle, you have never had a real pickle. We first found Pickle Licious at the 4th of July Fair in River Edge when she was a kid and have enjoyed many years of pickles on a stick (and take home!). They are so good that it is just not a complete 4th of July celebration in our house unless we have "the good pickles". Later we discovered the store in Teaneck, and now they have a website! We are looking forward to enjoying many pickles and other good treats."

"Just wanted to let you know how much my family loves your products. It brings back the thoughts of my childhood in the Bronx. I'm 62 years old and since I was a child I haven’t been able to find a pickle that tastes as good as yours. Pickle Licious brings whatever you’re eating to a new level."