Meet the Founder: Denise Woodard of Partake Foods

Ever feel that pang of worry when reaching for a snack, especially if food allergies are in the picture? For Denise, this wasn't just a hypothetical—it was her family's reality.

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Meet the Founders: Daphne Hedley, Diane Wong, and Jang Bauerle of Mekhala

Meet Mekhala: a brand built on passion, courage, and the determination of three women. Though they faced the heartbreaking loss of their co-founder Jang, sisters Daphne and Diane are carrying on their shared mission.

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Meet the Founders: Stacey Lee, Sean Lee, and Tiffany Yang of Sweety Ice Cream

Passion, a shared childhood, and a family legacy—these are the ingredients that make Sweety Ice Cream special.

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Meet the Founder: Candice Choi of GEEM

Imagine a childhood filled with the rich, umami flavors of Korean seaweed, transformed into a modern, irresistible snack.

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Meet the Founders: Colby Barr and Ryan O'Donovan of Verve Coffee Roasters

What happens when musicians turn their passion to coffee? You get Verve Coffee Roasters. Founded in 2007, Colby and Ryan built their brand on sustainable practices and direct trade relationships with coffee producers worldwide.

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Meet the Founders: Myles Powell and Zhanna Godkin of Myles Comfort Foods

Myles is a food entrepreneur and aspiring chef who launched his own line of nostalgic, nutritious, and convenient cuisine. Inspired by the soul food of his childhood, Myles Comfort Foods specializes in mac and cheese made with wholesome ingredients, packed with flavor and plenty of protein.

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Meet the Founders: Hannah Pollack and Xavier Meers of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches

Shortly after falling in love over their shared passion for cooking, chefs Hannah and Xavier combined forces to launch Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches. These signature treats are always handmade using 14% butterfat ice cream and freshly baked cookies.

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Meet the Founder: Den Masanori Shirakata of Den’s Tea

Den is a third-generation Japanese tea merchant who is continuing his family’s legacy here in Southern California. In addition to being the founder of Den’s Tea, Den is the President and CEO of Shirakata-Denshiro Shoten—a tea distribution and manufacturing company founded by his grandfather in 1923.

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Meet the Founder: Matt Feldman of Moku Foods

Growing up in Hawaii gave Matt a strong passion for sustainability and the planet. After learning more about the meat industry’s damaging carbon footprint, Matt decided to take matters into his own hands.

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Meet the Founders: Laird Hamilton & Gabby Reece of Laird Superfood

World-renowned surfer Laird Hamilton wanted a beverage that could boost his energy and help him stay on the waves. When he couldn’t find what he was looking for, he created his very own plant-powered solution.

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Meet the Farmers: Hayley Eckert and Keaton Hale of Farmer Direct Foods

Industrial farming practices have impacted the nutritional value of our grains and the quality of our soil.

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Meet the Founders: Kei Tsuzuki and Molly Luethi of Kei & Molly

Kei & Molly empowers immigrants & refugees through textile arts while making sustainable home goods using solar energy & eco-friendly materials.

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