22 (More) Female Founders Changing Food & Beverage in 2022
Whether it be products that are more sustainably sourced, allergen friendly, nutritious snacking, culturally informed and ethically sourced, or simply designed to let you eat more dessert, having more women at the CPG table is the future.
Earlier this month, we released a post celebrating female founders creating products that we are obsessed with, but knew that we were only dipping our toes into the impressive talent of women in our industry. So, because it’s still Women’s History Month, we’re back embracing these exciting talents in our ranks and celebrating the spices, syrups, bars and bites, dips and sauces, hydrating and nutrient rich beverages, and of course- desserts!
The innovative takes on sustainability (shout-out to climate-friendly, regenerative famring and upcycled ingredients!), sneaking healthy ingredients into yummy desserts and increasing accessibility for those with diet restrictions or health issues are nothing short of inspiring. Julia Child used to say that “to be a good cook you have to have a love of the good, a love of hard work, and a love of creating.” It’s certainly true of every one on this list!
Jennifer Weise and her mother had a personal mission to replicate her son Auggy’s favorite foods, only to make them gluten- and dairy- free. This mission grew into the business it is today (i.e. in stores across the country and online sales on Amazon). The Warrior Mix, a chewy, soft take on granola, is inspired by the Crossfit community and their Paleo lifestyle, but really, none of this would have happened without Auggy and his inspiring journey with Autism. Check out their website for a list of resources on Autism.
Melissa Martinelli must be a super frau (aka super woman!) to have created such a tasty and nutritious beverage utilizing upcycled fresh liquid whey generated during yogurt fermentation that would otherwise go to waste.
Melissa is excited to see more people pop open Superfrau’s 100% magenta cans and to hear them exclaim, "Wow! Wow! Wow!" when they launch into new doors everyday and expand their offering on their own e-comm platform.
You’ll be able to grab your fav upcycled sparkling fresh whey beverage this spring at other local woman-owned businesses like Vinal General in Somerville, MA, Ebo & Co in East Boston, and Love Child in Southie, not to mention Urban Outfitters; GoPuff in Philly, NYC, and Boston; select Whole Foods Market locations in New England... and keep an eye out for their super cute trike filled with ice cold Superfraus on college campuses in the fall!
The female founders that Melissa admires: Kayla Castenada & Erin PonTell-- founders of Agua Bonita-- hands down- crushing it with their delicious aguas frescas. There's nothing more inspiring than seeing underrepresented people, concepts, and flavors disrupting the marketplace.
Anjali has a lifelong reverence for turmeric, so it was onlynatural that she turned to the sacred turmeric root for support during some health challenges. The Resilience Tumeric Elixir uses three varieties of organic Hawaiian turmeric and ginger and can hot or cold, mixed with water or the milk of your choice.
After a rebranding overhaul and scaling her business, including adding more varieties, Anjali is looking forward to growing the business while taking care of herself and enjoying the journey. After experiencing burnout, she realized that she cannot inspire others and reach all of the people who need what she offers if she is out of balance in her own life. With a new umbrella brand that can properly support new products, Anjali is looking forward to launching more innovative products, with at least 1 launching in 2022.
Also in 2022, she hopes to bring the business out of debt. She adds that she does’t think this is talked about enough, that access to capital for a CPG brand is a survival need. If you don't have the privilege of personal wealth or reserves, and it is still a privilege to get even the most predatory loans, it is a cycle that is tough to break.
The female founders Anjali admires: There are so many, and for so many reasons, but a few CPG founders that I am continually inspired by personally and professionally are: Auria (@thesamballady), Anita (@anitasyogurt), Chitra (@brooklyndelhi), Diana (@cantinaroyalhotsauce), Fany (@lanewyorkina), Katherine (@barebonesbroth), Laura (@legallyaddictivefoods), Ashley (@matzoproject). I could easily give you 20 others because everyone needs to talk and learn more about the incredible women that are slowly but surely raising the bar and changing this industry for the better.
Tara Pate built a home coffee bar during the pandemic as she worked from home at her corporate job, but soon was moved to leave that job to go all in on organic syrups for flavoring coffee. She had noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients. Soon she launched Daysie, offered in Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond in pleasing glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara is eager to disrupt the coffee aisle with her launch this year, just as consumers are starting again to enjoy browsing the aisles IRL. She’s talking to retailers and looking to pop-ups to build an omni-channel presence for the brand. She’s also determined to support women-owned CPGs: as a Public Benefit Company, Daysie has a goal of dedicating 2.1% of post tax profits to organizations funding women-owned CPG brands (21% is a symbolic call for the need to raise more than the 2% of venture capital historically invested in women-owned businesses).
The female founder Tara admires: When I started Daysie I set a quote by Sara Blakely as my phone background, “If you have a good product, if you’re solving a problem, if you are making a product or service better…it’s always a good time to start a business.” She’s someone I’ve always admired for her resilience, grit and philanthropy.
I’ve also been Instagram fan-girling over Dawn Brennan Maire of Starla Wines (non-alc wines) & Becca Millstein of Fishwife – not only are both of their products insanely delicious but I’m a consumer marketer by background and their branding is superb.
Michelle and Nikki conceived of ELAVI as busy fitness instructors who struggled to find the time to eat nutritiously, an essential component to wellness alongside exercise. Both were unimpressed by the bars with dairy and sugars on the market so they teamed up to create collagen bars that used natural sweeteners and helped athletic performance and recovery- while maintaining the convenience of bars. They have been working on ELAVI for two years and are excited to grow the team. In 2022, they are launching new flavors and entering into partnerships and collaborations with other brands and expanding in new cities.
The female founders Michelle and Nikki admire: Regina at Nemi Snacks and Kaitlin at Pulp Pantry, not only are they our dear friends, but they're some of the hardest working, kind, and passionate female founders we know who both genuinely care about our food system and revolutionizing how we're snacking. We are so grateful to have them in our orbit as we all navigate building emerging brands during this crazy time.
Square Root- previously named Hungry by Nature- was created in response to Ellie’s experience with Celiac disease and not having suitable snack options. She developed Nutnola, a fresh take on granola that leaves out the grains, that comes in flavors like Maple Cinnamon, Chocolate Cherry Chia, and Lemon Blueberry. Square Root also offers nut butters that can be found in stores across the midwest and online.
Kate and her co-founder Jeff learned about maple water while doing an Ironman triathlon in Canada. Maple water is the ultra-hydrating water tapped from trees that is naturally full of over 46 phytonutrients such as electrolytes, antioxidants, prebiotics and polyphenols. It takes 40 gallons of the water to boil to make 1 gallon of syrup, so it is naturally low in sugar and has no added sweeteners. Not to mention, it boosts athletic performance and is very sustainable. Maple water is protecting North American forests which provide clean air and mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. Visit select Whole Foods locations or their website or Amazon to purchase.
Mariam is very "pro-garlic", stemming from her family's Lebanese restaurant in Silicon Valley. Her first product was one of their most popular sauces: original garlic dip, or Toom. She’s now offering multiple flavors at grocery stores throughout California, and moving forward, Mariam will be expanding Mariam’s Garlic Goodness’ distribution network, introducing a new flavor (garlic and chives!) and launching a line of gourmet crispy pita chips.
The female founders Mariam admires: Annie Woo of SweetDuet Chocolate, Erica Rankin of BroDough and Kirsten Sutaria of Doozy Pots!!
With Honey Mama's, Christy has created a delicious not-chocolate chocolate bar that is both nourishing and delicious. Her indulgant truffle bars are made from five nutrient-rich ingredients and are inspired by Christy’s commitment to creating foods that are both pleasurable and healing. Traditional flavors include Oregon Peppermint, Peruvian Raw and Lavender. Recently launched are the brand's innovative line of cake-inspired bars - Birthday Cake and German Chocolate Cake.
Dyanna and Daphne set out to reinvigorate breakfast, making oatmeal more appealing for young kids looking to flex their independence while ensuring they are eating their fruits and veggies. Oatis the affable oat is a whimsical character, who alongside this wholesome breakfast, may just make families’ mornings a little more joyful.
Renewal Mill was born out of an idea to eliminate food waste by repurposing byproducts and upcycled ingredients. This includes a line of high fiber, gluten-free flours and baking mixes made with the byproducts of plant-based milk. This food-system efficiency is why Renewal Mills was named a World Changing Idea by Fast Company. Caroline is co-founder and COO and is the Board President of Upcycled Food Association.
Raina was looking to integrate health and healing foods into day-to-day foods. This meant tapping into the Ayurveda practices she grew up with. Illnesses were met with the spice drawer, not drugs. Using raw ingredients, Spicewell offers a line of seasonings that are filled with plant-based vitamins and minerals for your daily dose of flavor and nutrition. Spicewell was recently launched so the next year will be extensive testing and experiments to learn how to get in front of customers who will love them. Look for their Kickstarter soon and some Web3 experiments!
The female founders Raina admires: Some of my fave femme founders are Jing Gao, an advisor to Spicewell and rockstar founder of FlyByJing, Jessica Rolph of Happy Baby and now LoveEvery, Gregg Renfrew of Beauty Counter and Courtney Nichols Gould of SmartyPants and countless others!
Jessica is the founder and chief ice cream engineer of Peekaboo, a name that must have been conceived of because of the vegetables she snuck into her pints. Jessica brought her experience as being a scooper in Miami in her own shop for a decade to this innovative company. Visit their website for fun flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip with hidden spinach, Strawberry with hidden carrots, Vanilla with zucchini, Chocolate with hidden cauliflower, and more.
Susan is the whole CPG founder package- she is a recipe developer for hire, food stylist and photographer, and writes a recipe and story blog called The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. It is her lifelong love of baking- namely cookies- that spurred her to start Little Red Kitchen. She offers a range of baked goods and a couple of monthly subscriptions (DIY cookie kits and cookie of the month).
Priya set out to help customers learn about Ayurveda principles in a very approachable medium: cookies! After healing severe health issues and finding personal balance through Ayurveda and adaptogens, she set out to introduce others to these principles by transforming modern comfort foods, like baking mixes, into delicious and nutritious functional foods. With fun and clear information and graphics, they educate that everyone has their own bio-individuality and with superfoods and adaptogens, we can bring our mind, body and hormones back into harmony. You can choose between energizing Oat Ginger Raisin, mood boosting Mint Chocolate, calming Chocolate Chip, and soon, their newest mix, gut-healthy Chocolate Graham.
Field and Farmer grew (pun intended) from an indoor urban farm in Chicago that grew greens and herbs. To reduce waste, the leftover basil was used to make salad dress, which was a huge hit. Field and Farmer now offer a range of dressings and dips, all plant-based, all quality produce, all sourced from independent farmers. Megan has deep ties to environmentalism (including as an environmental lawyer) and Field and Farmer is no exception.
Thengai Foods is an innovative new brand that is bringing Coconut Blossom Syrup made from coconut nectar stateside. A superfood sweetener with low glycemic index- sounds impossibly good... we can't wait to drizzle this over everything from oatmeal to pancakes.
In battling chronic tonsillitis, Carly tapped into the world of bees and found that propolis, a combination of tree and plant resin that bees create to protect the hive, brought her some relief. That, along with bee pollen and a mix of other potent ingredients are used to create a line of supplements, throat sprays, honey, lozenges, cough syrups and other mending products.
Britt and Ashley teamed up to bring a line of sparkling adaptogenic beverages to the market, in an effort of supporting accessible wellness. The beverages are made with adaptogens, antioxidants and caffeine and are named based on cpnsumers will feel after drinking them: calm and hydrate, calm and restore, energy and immunity, and energy and focus.
Najwa is all about gut health. She knows that a processed diet can lead to chronic pain and gut issues. She also knows that without a clean dessert option, it can be hard to stay on a healthy lifestyle. As she puts it, “diet culture sucks and we all deserve to enjoy a treat at any time of the day, with confidence, knowing it’s made in the cleanest way with real ingredients.”
Named after the word for cinnamon in Bengali, Dalci offers brownies that support gut health by using non-inflammatory ingredients, unrefined natural coconut sugar, and eliminating refined oils and gut-irritating additives, gums, and emulsifiers typically used for shelf stability. In the upcoming year, Najwa is looking to reach more customers and expand Dalci’s retail footprint, grow the team, launch new flavors and products, and continue to bring the Dalci community fact and science-based food and wellness information.
The female founders that Najwa admires: Jessica Gebel of Fabalish, Heather Terry of GoodSam, and Jing Gao of Fly by Jing.
Fact: You need to eat 8 oranges today to get the same vitamins and minerals our grandparents received from just 1! Blown away by the declining nutrient value of our food, entrepreneur Daniela Jensen is doing her part to a heal broken system. She launched Big Picture to provide an alternative to industrial, empty foods and restore the health of people and the planet. Creating slow food for a fast world, Big Picture’s line of raw, regenerative organic olives, peppers, and capers are naturally fermented using only 3 ingredients (artesian mineral water, sea salt and organic kosher wine vinegar). Free from additives, stabilizers, and heat pasteurization, they’re the tastiest way to nourish yourself.
To see the Big Picture is to consider all the little details, from soil to shelf, that make it. Big Picture Foods partners with small family farms committed to regenerative agriculture. Their vertical supply chain is a win-win and allows crops to go from field to fermentation in hours for superior taste, nutrients, quality, and farmers earn more income in doing so. Supporting Big Picture means you’re taking a bite out of climate change, too. Their groves sequester 1 ton of carbon per acre, vs. the traditional equivalent that releases 1/3 ton per acre into the atmosphere. Better for farmers, Better for eaters, Better for the planet – that’s the Big Picture!
Jessica and her husband John co-founded Humble Nut Butter in 2018, choosing the name “Humble” because food should be honest, real (and of course nutritious AND tasty) with minimal ingredients. Jessica and her team are proud to be an inclusive employer, woman-owned, gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO and clean label. Every single jar is made by hand and with care. The Turmeric Pecan is TOO good.
Earlier this month, we released a post celebrating female founders creating products that we are obsessed with, but knew that we were only dipping our toes into the impressive talent of women in our industry. So, because it’s still Women’s History Month, we’re back embracing these exciting talents in our ranks and celebrating the spices, syrups, bars and bites, dips and sauces, hydrating and nutrient rich beverages, and of course- desserts!
The innovative takes on sustainability (shout-out to climate-friendly, regenerative famring and upcycled ingredients!), sneaking healthy ingredients into yummy desserts and increasing accessibility for those with diet restrictions or health issues are nothing short of inspiring. Julia Child used to say that “to be a good cook you have to have a love of the good, a love of hard work, and a love of creating.” It’s certainly true of every one on this list!
Jennifer Weise and her mother had a personal mission to replicate her son Auggy’s favorite foods, only to make them gluten- and dairy- free. This mission grew into the business it is today (i.e. in stores across the country and online sales on Amazon). The Warrior Mix, a chewy, soft take on granola, is inspired by the Crossfit community and their Paleo lifestyle, but really, none of this would have happened without Auggy and his inspiring journey with Autism. Check out their website for a list of resources on Autism.
Melissa Martinelli must be a super frau (aka super woman!) to have created such a tasty and nutritious beverage utilizing upcycled fresh liquid whey generated during yogurt fermentation that would otherwise go to waste.
Melissa is excited to see more people pop open Superfrau’s 100% magenta cans and to hear them exclaim, "Wow! Wow! Wow!" when they launch into new doors everyday and expand their offering on their own e-comm platform.
You’ll be able to grab your fav upcycled sparkling fresh whey beverage this spring at other local woman-owned businesses like Vinal General in Somerville, MA, Ebo & Co in East Boston, and Love Child in Southie, not to mention Urban Outfitters; GoPuff in Philly, NYC, and Boston; select Whole Foods Market locations in New England... and keep an eye out for their super cute trike filled with ice cold Superfraus on college campuses in the fall!
The female founders that Melissa admires: Kayla Castenada & Erin PonTell-- founders of Agua Bonita-- hands down- crushing it with their delicious aguas frescas. There's nothing more inspiring than seeing underrepresented people, concepts, and flavors disrupting the marketplace.
Anjali has a lifelong reverence for turmeric, so it was onlynatural that she turned to the sacred turmeric root for support during some health challenges. The Resilience Tumeric Elixir uses three varieties of organic Hawaiian turmeric and ginger and can hot or cold, mixed with water or the milk of your choice.
After a rebranding overhaul and scaling her business, including adding more varieties, Anjali is looking forward to growing the business while taking care of herself and enjoying the journey. After experiencing burnout, she realized that she cannot inspire others and reach all of the people who need what she offers if she is out of balance in her own life. With a new umbrella brand that can properly support new products, Anjali is looking forward to launching more innovative products, with at least 1 launching in 2022.
Also in 2022, she hopes to bring the business out of debt. She adds that she does’t think this is talked about enough, that access to capital for a CPG brand is a survival need. If you don't have the privilege of personal wealth or reserves, and it is still a privilege to get even the most predatory loans, it is a cycle that is tough to break.
The female founders Anjali admires: There are so many, and for so many reasons, but a few CPG founders that I am continually inspired by personally and professionally are: Auria (@thesamballady), Anita (@anitasyogurt), Chitra (@brooklyndelhi), Diana (@cantinaroyalhotsauce), Fany (@lanewyorkina), Katherine (@barebonesbroth), Laura (@legallyaddictivefoods), Ashley (@matzoproject). I could easily give you 20 others because everyone needs to talk and learn more about the incredible women that are slowly but surely raising the bar and changing this industry for the better.
Tara Pate built a home coffee bar during the pandemic as she worked from home at her corporate job, but soon was moved to leave that job to go all in on organic syrups for flavoring coffee. She had noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients. Soon she launched Daysie, offered in Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond in pleasing glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara is eager to disrupt the coffee aisle with her launch this year, just as consumers are starting again to enjoy browsing the aisles IRL. She’s talking to retailers and looking to pop-ups to build an omni-channel presence for the brand. She’s also determined to support women-owned CPGs: as a Public Benefit Company, Daysie has a goal of dedicating 2.1% of post tax profits to organizations funding women-owned CPG brands (21% is a symbolic call for the need to raise more than the 2% of venture capital historically invested in women-owned businesses).
The female founder Tara admires: When I started Daysie I set a quote by Sara Blakely as my phone background, “If you have a good product, if you’re solving a problem, if you are making a product or service better…it’s always a good time to start a business.” She’s someone I’ve always admired for her resilience, grit and philanthropy.
I’ve also been Instagram fan-girling over Dawn Brennan Maire of Starla Wines (non-alc wines) & Becca Millstein of Fishwife – not only are both of their products insanely delicious but I’m a consumer marketer by background and their branding is superb.
Michelle and Nikki conceived of ELAVI as busy fitness instructors who struggled to find the time to eat nutritiously, an essential component to wellness alongside exercise. Both were unimpressed by the bars with dairy and sugars on the market so they teamed up to create collagen bars that used natural sweeteners and helped athletic performance and recovery- while maintaining the convenience of bars. They have been working on ELAVI for two years and are excited to grow the team. In 2022, they are launching new flavors and entering into partnerships and collaborations with other brands and expanding in new cities.
The female founders Michelle and Nikki admire: Regina at Nemi Snacks and Kaitlin at Pulp Pantry, not only are they our dear friends, but they're some of the hardest working, kind, and passionate female founders we know who both genuinely care about our food system and revolutionizing how we're snacking. We are so grateful to have them in our orbit as we all navigate building emerging brands during this crazy time.
Square Root- previously named Hungry by Nature- was created in response to Ellie’s experience with Celiac disease and not having suitable snack options. She developed Nutnola, a fresh take on granola that leaves out the grains, that comes in flavors like Maple Cinnamon, Chocolate Cherry Chia, and Lemon Blueberry. Square Root also offers nut butters that can be found in stores across the midwest and online.
Kate and her co-founder Jeff learned about maple water while doing an Ironman triathlon in Canada. Maple water is the ultra-hydrating water tapped from trees that is naturally full of over 46 phytonutrients such as electrolytes, antioxidants, prebiotics and polyphenols. It takes 40 gallons of the water to boil to make 1 gallon of syrup, so it is naturally low in sugar and has no added sweeteners. Not to mention, it boosts athletic performance and is very sustainable. Maple water is protecting North American forests which provide clean air and mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. Visit select Whole Foods locations or their website or Amazon to purchase.
Mariam is very "pro-garlic", stemming from her family's Lebanese restaurant in Silicon Valley. Her first product was one of their most popular sauces: original garlic dip, or Toom. She’s now offering multiple flavors at grocery stores throughout California, and moving forward, Mariam will be expanding Mariam’s Garlic Goodness’ distribution network, introducing a new flavor (garlic and chives!) and launching a line of gourmet crispy pita chips.
The female founders Mariam admires: Annie Woo of SweetDuet Chocolate, Erica Rankin of BroDough and Kirsten Sutaria of Doozy Pots!!
With Honey Mama's, Christy has created a delicious not-chocolate chocolate bar that is both nourishing and delicious. Her indulgant truffle bars are made from five nutrient-rich ingredients and are inspired by Christy’s commitment to creating foods that are both pleasurable and healing. Traditional flavors include Oregon Peppermint, Peruvian Raw and Lavender. Recently launched are the brand's innovative line of cake-inspired bars - Birthday Cake and German Chocolate Cake.
Dyanna and Daphne set out to reinvigorate breakfast, making oatmeal more appealing for young kids looking to flex their independence while ensuring they are eating their fruits and veggies. Oatis the affable oat is a whimsical character, who alongside this wholesome breakfast, may just make families’ mornings a little more joyful.
Renewal Mill was born out of an idea to eliminate food waste by repurposing byproducts and upcycled ingredients. This includes a line of high fiber, gluten-free flours and baking mixes made with the byproducts of plant-based milk. This food-system efficiency is why Renewal Mills was named a World Changing Idea by Fast Company. Caroline is co-founder and COO and is the Board President of Upcycled Food Association.
Raina was looking to integrate health and healing foods into day-to-day foods. This meant tapping into the Ayurveda practices she grew up with. Illnesses were met with the spice drawer, not drugs. Using raw ingredients, Spicewell offers a line of seasonings that are filled with plant-based vitamins and minerals for your daily dose of flavor and nutrition. Spicewell was recently launched so the next year will be extensive testing and experiments to learn how to get in front of customers who will love them. Look for their Kickstarter soon and some Web3 experiments!
The female founders Raina admires: Some of my fave femme founders are Jing Gao, an advisor to Spicewell and rockstar founder of FlyByJing, Jessica Rolph of Happy Baby and now LoveEvery, Gregg Renfrew of Beauty Counter and Courtney Nichols Gould of SmartyPants and countless others!
Jessica is the founder and chief ice cream engineer of Peekaboo, a name that must have been conceived of because of the vegetables she snuck into her pints. Jessica brought her experience as being a scooper in Miami in her own shop for a decade to this innovative company. Visit their website for fun flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip with hidden spinach, Strawberry with hidden carrots, Vanilla with zucchini, Chocolate with hidden cauliflower, and more.
Susan is the whole CPG founder package- she is a recipe developer for hire, food stylist and photographer, and writes a recipe and story blog called The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. It is her lifelong love of baking- namely cookies- that spurred her to start Little Red Kitchen. She offers a range of baked goods and a couple of monthly subscriptions (DIY cookie kits and cookie of the month).
Priya set out to help customers learn about Ayurveda principles in a very approachable medium: cookies! After healing severe health issues and finding personal balance through Ayurveda and adaptogens, she set out to introduce others to these principles by transforming modern comfort foods, like baking mixes, into delicious and nutritious functional foods. With fun and clear information and graphics, they educate that everyone has their own bio-individuality and with superfoods and adaptogens, we can bring our mind, body and hormones back into harmony. You can choose between energizing Oat Ginger Raisin, mood boosting Mint Chocolate, calming Chocolate Chip, and soon, their newest mix, gut-healthy Chocolate Graham.
Field and Farmer grew (pun intended) from an indoor urban farm in Chicago that grew greens and herbs. To reduce waste, the leftover basil was used to make salad dress, which was a huge hit. Field and Farmer now offer a range of dressings and dips, all plant-based, all quality produce, all sourced from independent farmers. Megan has deep ties to environmentalism (including as an environmental lawyer) and Field and Farmer is no exception.
Thengai Foods is an innovative new brand that is bringing Coconut Blossom Syrup made from coconut nectar stateside. A superfood sweetener with low glycemic index- sounds impossibly good... we can't wait to drizzle this over everything from oatmeal to pancakes.
In battling chronic tonsillitis, Carly tapped into the world of bees and found that propolis, a combination of tree and plant resin that bees create to protect the hive, brought her some relief. That, along with bee pollen and a mix of other potent ingredients are used to create a line of supplements, throat sprays, honey, lozenges, cough syrups and other mending products.
Britt and Ashley teamed up to bring a line of sparkling adaptogenic beverages to the market, in an effort of supporting accessible wellness. The beverages are made with adaptogens, antioxidants and caffeine and are named based on cpnsumers will feel after drinking them: calm and hydrate, calm and restore, energy and immunity, and energy and focus.
Najwa is all about gut health. She knows that a processed diet can lead to chronic pain and gut issues. She also knows that without a clean dessert option, it can be hard to stay on a healthy lifestyle. As she puts it, “diet culture sucks and we all deserve to enjoy a treat at any time of the day, with confidence, knowing it’s made in the cleanest way with real ingredients.”
Named after the word for cinnamon in Bengali, Dalci offers brownies that support gut health by using non-inflammatory ingredients, unrefined natural coconut sugar, and eliminating refined oils and gut-irritating additives, gums, and emulsifiers typically used for shelf stability. In the upcoming year, Najwa is looking to reach more customers and expand Dalci’s retail footprint, grow the team, launch new flavors and products, and continue to bring the Dalci community fact and science-based food and wellness information.
The female founders that Najwa admires: Jessica Gebel of Fabalish, Heather Terry of GoodSam, and Jing Gao of Fly by Jing.
Fact: You need to eat 8 oranges today to get the same vitamins and minerals our grandparents received from just 1! Blown away by the declining nutrient value of our food, entrepreneur Daniela Jensen is doing her part to a heal broken system. She launched Big Picture to provide an alternative to industrial, empty foods and restore the health of people and the planet. Creating slow food for a fast world, Big Picture’s line of raw, regenerative organic olives, peppers, and capers are naturally fermented using only 3 ingredients (artesian mineral water, sea salt and organic kosher wine vinegar). Free from additives, stabilizers, and heat pasteurization, they’re the tastiest way to nourish yourself.
To see the Big Picture is to consider all the little details, from soil to shelf, that make it. Big Picture Foods partners with small family farms committed to regenerative agriculture. Their vertical supply chain is a win-win and allows crops to go from field to fermentation in hours for superior taste, nutrients, quality, and farmers earn more income in doing so. Supporting Big Picture means you’re taking a bite out of climate change, too. Their groves sequester 1 ton of carbon per acre, vs. the traditional equivalent that releases 1/3 ton per acre into the atmosphere. Better for farmers, Better for eaters, Better for the planet – that’s the Big Picture!
Jessica and her husband John co-founded Humble Nut Butter in 2018, choosing the name “Humble” because food should be honest, real (and of course nutritious AND tasty) with minimal ingredients. Jessica and her team are proud to be an inclusive employer, woman-owned, gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO and clean label. Every single jar is made by hand and with care. The Turmeric Pecan is TOO good.
Earlier this month, we released a post celebrating female founders creating products that we are obsessed with, but knew that we were only dipping our toes into the impressive talent of women in our industry. So, because it’s still Women’s History Month, we’re back embracing these exciting talents in our ranks and celebrating the spices, syrups, bars and bites, dips and sauces, hydrating and nutrient rich beverages, and of course- desserts!
The innovative takes on sustainability (shout-out to climate-friendly, regenerative famring and upcycled ingredients!), sneaking healthy ingredients into yummy desserts and increasing accessibility for those with diet restrictions or health issues are nothing short of inspiring. Julia Child used to say that “to be a good cook you have to have a love of the good, a love of hard work, and a love of creating.” It’s certainly true of every one on this list!
Jennifer Weise and her mother had a personal mission to replicate her son Auggy’s favorite foods, only to make them gluten- and dairy- free. This mission grew into the business it is today (i.e. in stores across the country and online sales on Amazon). The Warrior Mix, a chewy, soft take on granola, is inspired by the Crossfit community and their Paleo lifestyle, but really, none of this would have happened without Auggy and his inspiring journey with Autism. Check out their website for a list of resources on Autism.
Melissa Martinelli must be a super frau (aka super woman!) to have created such a tasty and nutritious beverage utilizing upcycled fresh liquid whey generated during yogurt fermentation that would otherwise go to waste.
Melissa is excited to see more people pop open Superfrau’s 100% magenta cans and to hear them exclaim, "Wow! Wow! Wow!" when they launch into new doors everyday and expand their offering on their own e-comm platform.
You’ll be able to grab your fav upcycled sparkling fresh whey beverage this spring at other local woman-owned businesses like Vinal General in Somerville, MA, Ebo & Co in East Boston, and Love Child in Southie, not to mention Urban Outfitters; GoPuff in Philly, NYC, and Boston; select Whole Foods Market locations in New England... and keep an eye out for their super cute trike filled with ice cold Superfraus on college campuses in the fall!
The female founders that Melissa admires: Kayla Castenada & Erin PonTell-- founders of Agua Bonita-- hands down- crushing it with their delicious aguas frescas. There's nothing more inspiring than seeing underrepresented people, concepts, and flavors disrupting the marketplace.
Anjali has a lifelong reverence for turmeric, so it was onlynatural that she turned to the sacred turmeric root for support during some health challenges. The Resilience Tumeric Elixir uses three varieties of organic Hawaiian turmeric and ginger and can hot or cold, mixed with water or the milk of your choice.
After a rebranding overhaul and scaling her business, including adding more varieties, Anjali is looking forward to growing the business while taking care of herself and enjoying the journey. After experiencing burnout, she realized that she cannot inspire others and reach all of the people who need what she offers if she is out of balance in her own life. With a new umbrella brand that can properly support new products, Anjali is looking forward to launching more innovative products, with at least 1 launching in 2022.
Also in 2022, she hopes to bring the business out of debt. She adds that she does’t think this is talked about enough, that access to capital for a CPG brand is a survival need. If you don't have the privilege of personal wealth or reserves, and it is still a privilege to get even the most predatory loans, it is a cycle that is tough to break.
The female founders Anjali admires: There are so many, and for so many reasons, but a few CPG founders that I am continually inspired by personally and professionally are: Auria (@thesamballady), Anita (@anitasyogurt), Chitra (@brooklyndelhi), Diana (@cantinaroyalhotsauce), Fany (@lanewyorkina), Katherine (@barebonesbroth), Laura (@legallyaddictivefoods), Ashley (@matzoproject). I could easily give you 20 others because everyone needs to talk and learn more about the incredible women that are slowly but surely raising the bar and changing this industry for the better.
Tara Pate built a home coffee bar during the pandemic as she worked from home at her corporate job, but soon was moved to leave that job to go all in on organic syrups for flavoring coffee. She had noticed that the syrups on the market were limited in flavors and style and none sourced organic ingredients. Soon she launched Daysie, offered in Madagascar Vanilla, Salted Caramel, and Coconut Almond in pleasing glass bottles with a professional style spout, offering an at home barista experience.
Tara is eager to disrupt the coffee aisle with her launch this year, just as consumers are starting again to enjoy browsing the aisles IRL. She’s talking to retailers and looking to pop-ups to build an omni-channel presence for the brand. She’s also determined to support women-owned CPGs: as a Public Benefit Company, Daysie has a goal of dedicating 2.1% of post tax profits to organizations funding women-owned CPG brands (21% is a symbolic call for the need to raise more than the 2% of venture capital historically invested in women-owned businesses).
The female founder Tara admires: When I started Daysie I set a quote by Sara Blakely as my phone background, “If you have a good product, if you’re solving a problem, if you are making a product or service better…it’s always a good time to start a business.” She’s someone I’ve always admired for her resilience, grit and philanthropy.
I’ve also been Instagram fan-girling over Dawn Brennan Maire of Starla Wines (non-alc wines) & Becca Millstein of Fishwife – not only are both of their products insanely delicious but I’m a consumer marketer by background and their branding is superb.
Michelle and Nikki conceived of ELAVI as busy fitness instructors who struggled to find the time to eat nutritiously, an essential component to wellness alongside exercise. Both were unimpressed by the bars with dairy and sugars on the market so they teamed up to create collagen bars that used natural sweeteners and helped athletic performance and recovery- while maintaining the convenience of bars. They have been working on ELAVI for two years and are excited to grow the team. In 2022, they are launching new flavors and entering into partnerships and collaborations with other brands and expanding in new cities.
The female founders Michelle and Nikki admire: Regina at Nemi Snacks and Kaitlin at Pulp Pantry, not only are they our dear friends, but they're some of the hardest working, kind, and passionate female founders we know who both genuinely care about our food system and revolutionizing how we're snacking. We are so grateful to have them in our orbit as we all navigate building emerging brands during this crazy time.
Square Root- previously named Hungry by Nature- was created in response to Ellie’s experience with Celiac disease and not having suitable snack options. She developed Nutnola, a fresh take on granola that leaves out the grains, that comes in flavors like Maple Cinnamon, Chocolate Cherry Chia, and Lemon Blueberry. Square Root also offers nut butters that can be found in stores across the midwest and online.
Kate and her co-founder Jeff learned about maple water while doing an Ironman triathlon in Canada. Maple water is the ultra-hydrating water tapped from trees that is naturally full of over 46 phytonutrients such as electrolytes, antioxidants, prebiotics and polyphenols. It takes 40 gallons of the water to boil to make 1 gallon of syrup, so it is naturally low in sugar and has no added sweeteners. Not to mention, it boosts athletic performance and is very sustainable. Maple water is protecting North American forests which provide clean air and mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration. Visit select Whole Foods locations or their website or Amazon to purchase.
Mariam is very "pro-garlic", stemming from her family's Lebanese restaurant in Silicon Valley. Her first product was one of their most popular sauces: original garlic dip, or Toom. She’s now offering multiple flavors at grocery stores throughout California, and moving forward, Mariam will be expanding Mariam’s Garlic Goodness’ distribution network, introducing a new flavor (garlic and chives!) and launching a line of gourmet crispy pita chips.
The female founders Mariam admires: Annie Woo of SweetDuet Chocolate, Erica Rankin of BroDough and Kirsten Sutaria of Doozy Pots!!
With Honey Mama's, Christy has created a delicious not-chocolate chocolate bar that is both nourishing and delicious. Her indulgant truffle bars are made from five nutrient-rich ingredients and are inspired by Christy’s commitment to creating foods that are both pleasurable and healing. Traditional flavors include Oregon Peppermint, Peruvian Raw and Lavender. Recently launched are the brand's innovative line of cake-inspired bars - Birthday Cake and German Chocolate Cake.
Dyanna and Daphne set out to reinvigorate breakfast, making oatmeal more appealing for young kids looking to flex their independence while ensuring they are eating their fruits and veggies. Oatis the affable oat is a whimsical character, who alongside this wholesome breakfast, may just make families’ mornings a little more joyful.
Renewal Mill was born out of an idea to eliminate food waste by repurposing byproducts and upcycled ingredients. This includes a line of high fiber, gluten-free flours and baking mixes made with the byproducts of plant-based milk. This food-system efficiency is why Renewal Mills was named a World Changing Idea by Fast Company. Caroline is co-founder and COO and is the Board President of Upcycled Food Association.
Raina was looking to integrate health and healing foods into day-to-day foods. This meant tapping into the Ayurveda practices she grew up with. Illnesses were met with the spice drawer, not drugs. Using raw ingredients, Spicewell offers a line of seasonings that are filled with plant-based vitamins and minerals for your daily dose of flavor and nutrition. Spicewell was recently launched so the next year will be extensive testing and experiments to learn how to get in front of customers who will love them. Look for their Kickstarter soon and some Web3 experiments!
The female founders Raina admires: Some of my fave femme founders are Jing Gao, an advisor to Spicewell and rockstar founder of FlyByJing, Jessica Rolph of Happy Baby and now LoveEvery, Gregg Renfrew of Beauty Counter and Courtney Nichols Gould of SmartyPants and countless others!
Jessica is the founder and chief ice cream engineer of Peekaboo, a name that must have been conceived of because of the vegetables she snuck into her pints. Jessica brought her experience as being a scooper in Miami in her own shop for a decade to this innovative company. Visit their website for fun flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip with hidden spinach, Strawberry with hidden carrots, Vanilla with zucchini, Chocolate with hidden cauliflower, and more.
Susan is the whole CPG founder package- she is a recipe developer for hire, food stylist and photographer, and writes a recipe and story blog called The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen. It is her lifelong love of baking- namely cookies- that spurred her to start Little Red Kitchen. She offers a range of baked goods and a couple of monthly subscriptions (DIY cookie kits and cookie of the month).
Priya set out to help customers learn about Ayurveda principles in a very approachable medium: cookies! After healing severe health issues and finding personal balance through Ayurveda and adaptogens, she set out to introduce others to these principles by transforming modern comfort foods, like baking mixes, into delicious and nutritious functional foods. With fun and clear information and graphics, they educate that everyone has their own bio-individuality and with superfoods and adaptogens, we can bring our mind, body and hormones back into harmony. You can choose between energizing Oat Ginger Raisin, mood boosting Mint Chocolate, calming Chocolate Chip, and soon, their newest mix, gut-healthy Chocolate Graham.
Field and Farmer grew (pun intended) from an indoor urban farm in Chicago that grew greens and herbs. To reduce waste, the leftover basil was used to make salad dress, which was a huge hit. Field and Farmer now offer a range of dressings and dips, all plant-based, all quality produce, all sourced from independent farmers. Megan has deep ties to environmentalism (including as an environmental lawyer) and Field and Farmer is no exception.
Thengai Foods is an innovative new brand that is bringing Coconut Blossom Syrup made from coconut nectar stateside. A superfood sweetener with low glycemic index- sounds impossibly good... we can't wait to drizzle this over everything from oatmeal to pancakes.
In battling chronic tonsillitis, Carly tapped into the world of bees and found that propolis, a combination of tree and plant resin that bees create to protect the hive, brought her some relief. That, along with bee pollen and a mix of other potent ingredients are used to create a line of supplements, throat sprays, honey, lozenges, cough syrups and other mending products.
Britt and Ashley teamed up to bring a line of sparkling adaptogenic beverages to the market, in an effort of supporting accessible wellness. The beverages are made with adaptogens, antioxidants and caffeine and are named based on cpnsumers will feel after drinking them: calm and hydrate, calm and restore, energy and immunity, and energy and focus.
Najwa is all about gut health. She knows that a processed diet can lead to chronic pain and gut issues. She also knows that without a clean dessert option, it can be hard to stay on a healthy lifestyle. As she puts it, “diet culture sucks and we all deserve to enjoy a treat at any time of the day, with confidence, knowing it’s made in the cleanest way with real ingredients.”
Named after the word for cinnamon in Bengali, Dalci offers brownies that support gut health by using non-inflammatory ingredients, unrefined natural coconut sugar, and eliminating refined oils and gut-irritating additives, gums, and emulsifiers typically used for shelf stability. In the upcoming year, Najwa is looking to reach more customers and expand Dalci’s retail footprint, grow the team, launch new flavors and products, and continue to bring the Dalci community fact and science-based food and wellness information.
The female founders that Najwa admires: Jessica Gebel of Fabalish, Heather Terry of GoodSam, and Jing Gao of Fly by Jing.
Fact: You need to eat 8 oranges today to get the same vitamins and minerals our grandparents received from just 1! Blown away by the declining nutrient value of our food, entrepreneur Daniela Jensen is doing her part to a heal broken system. She launched Big Picture to provide an alternative to industrial, empty foods and restore the health of people and the planet. Creating slow food for a fast world, Big Picture’s line of raw, regenerative organic olives, peppers, and capers are naturally fermented using only 3 ingredients (artesian mineral water, sea salt and organic kosher wine vinegar). Free from additives, stabilizers, and heat pasteurization, they’re the tastiest way to nourish yourself.
To see the Big Picture is to consider all the little details, from soil to shelf, that make it. Big Picture Foods partners with small family farms committed to regenerative agriculture. Their vertical supply chain is a win-win and allows crops to go from field to fermentation in hours for superior taste, nutrients, quality, and farmers earn more income in doing so. Supporting Big Picture means you’re taking a bite out of climate change, too. Their groves sequester 1 ton of carbon per acre, vs. the traditional equivalent that releases 1/3 ton per acre into the atmosphere. Better for farmers, Better for eaters, Better for the planet – that’s the Big Picture!
Jessica and her husband John co-founded Humble Nut Butter in 2018, choosing the name “Humble” because food should be honest, real (and of course nutritious AND tasty) with minimal ingredients. Jessica and her team are proud to be an inclusive employer, woman-owned, gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO and clean label. Every single jar is made by hand and with care. The Turmeric Pecan is TOO good.
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