Janne Kataja gets real about life after bankruptcy: "I'm still thousands in debt" – His popular spice blend is still selling

Most Kiwis would know Janne Kataja from the telly – that energetic host, actor, and entertainer who's been making people laugh for the best part of a decade. But while the camera's been rolling and the crowds have been cheering, life behind the scenes for Kataja has been a whole different story lately. His company going under has sparked plenty of conversation, and now Kataja himself is being straight up about what this period has really felt like.

When news broke that his business had folded, plenty of folks probably wondered what it meant for Kataja's own life. Has the setback knocked the wind out of his sails? What's happening with Janne Kataja's spice blend 250g – that seasoning that's found its way into so Kiwi kitchens? Well, Kataja himself has been surprisingly candid and upfront throughout the whole process. He hasn't gone to ground; instead, he's been sharing on his socials and in interviews that yeah, it's been tough, but it's hardly the end of the world.

In debt, but not ashamed

In a recent interview, Kataja got down to brass tacks about how much debt he's still working to pay off. According to him, we're talking thousands of dollars, but it's not some insurmountable hurdle. "Of course it stings, and when you're a business owner, you always second-guess what you could've done differently. But with a small business bankruptcy, it's often personally guaranteed loans, unfortunately, and you just chip away at them month by month," Kataja says.

Listening to Kataja, it's clear he's not dwelling on the failure. Quite the opposite – he's focusing on the things that keep the home fires burning and bring him joy. One of those is definitely his own spice brand.

The spice is still nice, even after the business folded

You can still spot jars of Janne Kataja's spice blend 250g on supermarket shelves, and Kataja confirms sales are ticking along as normal. "That's a different company altogether, and it's doing its own thing. Thank goodness, because I've had such awesome feedback on it. People seem to love having a simple spice that gives their weekday meals a bit of a kick," he laughs.

• The spice blend is still selling – the bankruptcy hasn't affected its availability.
• Kataja is still on the box – he's got new shows in the pipeline.
• He's chipping away at the debt – Kataja's just grateful to be working.

Kataja's attitude is pretty infectious: yeah, the business went under, but the man himself hasn't gone anywhere. He's still the same warm and funny character beloved by telly viewers and social media followers alike. And if anyone thought this would shut him up, they've got another thing coming. Kataja's already talking about lining up new TV projects and brainstorming what cool stuff to tackle next.

Maybe that's the lesson Janne Kataja wants to share: sometimes you get knocked down, but that doesn't mean you stay down. You get back up, look ahead, and carry on. And while you're at it, you spice up the everyday with some good kai.