Partake Foods

Partake Foods produces vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly snack products, including cookies and baking mixes. The company was founded in 2016 by Denise Woodard, a former corporate executive, after her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. Frustrated by the lack of safe and appealing snack options, Woodard left her career to create a solution. The journey began with Woodard self-funding the business by emptying her 401k and selling her engagement ring.

The company's products are free from the top nine allergens, including wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, and soy, and are made in a dedicated allergy-friendly facility. The product line includes a variety of cookies and baking mixes, appealing to both health-conscious consumers and individuals with dietary restrictions. The business model is centered on selling these packaged goods through an omnichannel approach, with revenue generated from sales in retail stores and e-commerce. Partake has experienced significant growth, expanding its retail presence from a few hundred stores in early 2020 to over 10,000 by 2023, including major retailers like Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger.

A significant milestone for the company and its founder occurred in 2019 when Denise Woodard became the first Black woman to raise over $1 million for a packaged food startup. The company has since secured substantial funding from a diverse group of investors. A Series A round in 2021 raised $4.8 million, with notable investors including Rihanna, Jay-Z's Marcy Venture Partners, and Black Capital. This was followed by an $11.5 million Series B round in 2022, led by investors focused on supporting diverse leadership. As of early 2023, Partake Foods had raised nearly $18 million in total. The company is also a certified B Corp, reflecting a commitment to social and environmental standards.

Keywords: allergy-friendly snacks, vegan cookies, gluten-free baking, CPG food brand, allergen-free products, minority-owned business, female-founded company, food tech, healthy snacks, children's food, plant-based foods, retail food products, e-commerce snacks, food manufacturing, inclusive foods, B Corp, specialty foods, dietary restrictions, free-from foods, snack industry