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In the summertime of 2016, Coca-Cola gross sales govt Denise Woodard went grocery procuring in New York Metropolis. “My husband and I discovered that our younger daughter had all these sophisticated meals allergic reactions, so I sought out scrumptious and secure treats for her to take pleasure in,” she explains.
She left empty-handed. Apart from a life-changing concept, that’s.
Woodard is now the founder and CEO of Partake Foods, a line of cookies and baking mixes recognized for its vegan, allergen-free elements. (Suppose wheat, eggs, soy, dairy and peanuts). “Individuals can benefit from the merchandise and share them safely,” she says. “Additionally they style good.”
And sure, she actually did create the concept from scratch. Woodard first concocted the recipes in her Manhattan kitchen after which offered three flavors of cookies out of the again of her automobile. “I attempted to boost seed funding, however I bought almost 100 ‘no’s,” she says. She lastly obtained a sure in 2019 through the Jay-Z-co-funded Marcy Enterprise Companions, which helped her scale the enterprise.
Woodard notes that the merchandise are presently offered in about 10,000 shops, together with Goal, Kroger, Wal-Mart and Entire Meals, in addition to Amazon. “It’s loopy to see one thing that we dreamt in our kitchen truly be in a field on retailer cabinets,” she says.
The daughter of a Korean mother and Black dad, Woodard can also be a founder-in-residence of Goal’s Ahead Founders program — which helps get women-led and different various companies prepared for retail. “Black founders are nonetheless elevating only one% of enterprise capital and Black girls elevate lower than half of that, in order that provides gasoline to my fireplace.” she says. “I do really feel like I’ve a duty to mentor others on their journey.”
To that finish, Woodard makes some extent to inventory her pantry with gadgets from small household and minority-owned companies. “We’re in an house, and I’ve to be super-selective due to the small area,” she says. “I need to be certain I’m voting with my {dollars} with manufacturers I imagine in.” She opens her cupboard for CNN Underscored.
Simply add water, and breakfast is served. “My daughter eats it nearly each morning,” she says of the vegan and gluten-free product. “I like that I’m making her one thing actually hearty however doesn’t take up an excessive amount of time and work on my finish.” She provides that the combo may also be used for cake, banana bread and different baked items: “You can also make 5 various things actually simply. It’s super-versatile.”
Woodard loves Brightland’s Alive taste a lot that she depends on a subscription service to obtain two bottles each two months. “I exploit it day by day and put it on salad dressing, bread and roasted veggies and protein,” she says. “The product is of phenomenal high quality.” Certainly, the olives are sourced from household farms in California’s Central Coast after which cold-pressed by a close-by miller for freshness and taste. (BTW, a four-flavor set is on the market on Amazon.)
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She’s able to spill the beans on certainly one of her favorites. “You set it in a microwave or on a stovetop after which use it as a foremost dish or a facet,” Woodard says. “It’s very easy to arrange for my complete household due to all our dietary restrictions.” (The product is non-GMO, non-MSG and gluten-free.) She additionally raves about its “easy” elements, because the basic recipe consists of onion, garlic, bell peppers and avocado oil with a mix of spices.
No Taco Tuesday at her family could be full with out it. Due to her daughter’s meals allergic reactions and her husband’s gluten and dairy-free restrictions, “I simply need to discover regular issues that style good,” she says. “This suits the invoice.” The first elements: Cassava-grain flour, pumpkin and avocado oil.
Don’t cross on the salt: Woodard says this product — based mostly within the UK since 1882 — is additional tasty due to its massive flake-like crystals. “I by no means thought the form of your salt would make such an enormous distinction as a topping,” she says. “However I just like the little crunchy texture.” She sifts it on every little thing from chocolate chip cookies to a roasted vegetable dish.
“I grew up consuming rice for each single meal and find it irresistible,” she says. “It’s a part of my tradition.” She singles out this Japanese-style brief grain as a result of it’s USDA-certified natural. Given its carb content material, she tosses it in as a facet dish to enhance roasted rooster, greens stews and soups — and if her mom have been shut by, she’d pair it with scallion pancakes and Kimchi toast, too: “She’s higher at cooking Korean breakfasts than I’m!”
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We’ve now reached the compulsory scorching sauce portion of Woodard’s pantry. “I like to spice it up and use this day by day!” she says of the Charleston, South Carolina-based product, which is product of candy gentle Fresno chili peppers, barrel-aged French white wine vinegar, water, salt, fermented rice flour and tradition. Woodard pours it on Mexican and Asian-inspired dishes, raving, “The flavour is simply so on-point!”
May or not it’s . . . ? A Gluten-free pasta that tastes nice?! Woodard insists the reply is sure. “I used to be drawn to the packaging within the grocery retailer as a result of it is available in a super-bright orange field — and it ended up being scrumptious,” she says. “My daughter truthfully loves it and we’ve been clients for years.” she says. The noodles, she explains, are product of protein and fiber-enriched chickpeas as an alternative of wheat flour. For dinners, she’ll sprinkle in marinara sauce, garlic and olive oil.
Woodard boasts that in a blind style take a look at, these treats — constituted of a gluten-free flour mix, Truthful Commerce cane sugar, sunflower oil, oats, vanilla and semi-sweet chocolate chips — got here out on high towards a number one cookie competitor: “We beat them throughout the board.” In truth, “We discover {that a} good portion of our shoppers don’t have meals allergic reactions, so they only select our product due to the style.” Not surprisingly, she all the time retains them on-hand. “I’m referred to as the cookie woman at my daughter’s faculty,” she says. “My daughter doesn’t assume it’s cool, however her mates do!”
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