Almanac Insights

Scout is a company that manufactures and distributes canned seafood, focusing on providing deliciously crafted and responsibly sourced products. They obtain their seafood directly from regional fishing communities and manage fisheries that emphasize the well-being of both workers and the environment. By utilizing centuries-old canning methods combined with a homegrown artisan approach, Scout aims to reduce food waste and protect oceans and waterways. The company caters to specialty shops, including bakeries, seafood markets, and cheese shops, enabling customers to prepare their favorite dishes at home with quality ingredients.

BlueCart, Inc. is a free ordering platform designed to connect restaurants with suppliers, streamlining the wholesale procurement process. The company provides an operations management and inventory ordering service, enabling restaurants to efficiently consolidate and track their inventory orders while allowing suppliers to receive orders, market their products, and manage incoming requests through BlueCart’s website. Key features of the platform include real-time messaging between sales representatives and restaurants, customizable price sheets, and an ordering interface that fosters relationships between buyers and suppliers. BlueCart's solutions are accessible via both web and mobile applications, available on Android and iOS. Founded in 2014 and based in Washington, D.C., BlueCart was previously known as Improvonia, Inc. before rebranding in October 2015.

Onfleet, Inc. is a B2B software company that specializes in last-mile delivery logistics, founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company operates an online platform that streamlines delivery operations for businesses, enabling efficient communication of locations between customers and service providers. Onfleet's comprehensive suite of tools includes a web-based dispatch dashboard for routing, tracking, and analytics, as well as mobile applications for drivers on iOS and Android. It automates customer notifications and provides real-time tracking of deliveries. The platform serves a diverse range of clients, including food and beverage services, local couriers, and e-commerce businesses, powering millions of deliveries each month worldwide. By consolidating routing and dispatch operations, Onfleet enhances productivity and accountability while facilitating the integration of existing business tools.

Foxtrot Ventures, Inc., established in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a food and beverage delivery company. It operates a mobile application and website, enabling users to shop for a wide range of products, including wine, spirits, groceries, ice cream, and essential household items. Foxtrot also owns and operates physical grocery stores in Chicago and Texas, further expanding its reach. The company delivers orders directly to customers within an hour of purchase.

Smallhold, Inc. is a farming technology company based in Brooklyn, New York, that specializes in growing mushrooms using innovative methods. Established in 2017, Smallhold utilizes climate-controlled, do-it-yourself mini farms to cultivate a variety of mushrooms. The company partners with restaurants, grocery stores, and markets to distribute its produce, ensuring freshness and local availability. Smallhold's modular and automated growing systems allow food industry professionals to customize their produce based on specific business requirements, while also capturing extensive data to optimize growing conditions. By providing a reliable source of local produce, Smallhold bypasses the challenges posed by climatic changes and market fluctuations.

Kingdom Supercultures is a Brooklyn-based company established in 2019 that specializes in developing and producing microbial cultures for the food industry. The company focuses on reassembling nature's microbes into innovative combinations, allowing food manufacturers to create new varieties of food with enhanced benefits. Their product line includes Koji, a traditional Japanese ingredient used in miso, sake, and soy sauce, as well as microbial cultures for fermented sodas, beers, and plant-based dairy alternatives. Kingdom Supercultures employs an automated scientific platform that features a comprehensive biobank of Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) microbial strains and utilizes advanced algorithms to predict and assemble microbial communities. By providing functional ingredients and biopreservatives, the company aims to support healthy and sustainable food development across various industries, including food, beverage, personal care, and beauty.

Scout is a company that manufactures and distributes canned seafood, focusing on providing deliciously crafted and responsibly sourced products. They obtain their seafood directly from regional fishing communities and manage fisheries that emphasize the well-being of both workers and the environment. By utilizing centuries-old canning methods combined with a homegrown artisan approach, Scout aims to reduce food waste and protect oceans and waterways. The company caters to specialty shops, including bakeries, seafood markets, and cheese shops, enabling customers to prepare their favorite dishes at home with quality ingredients.

Meati Foods is a consumer goods company based in Boulder, Colorado, that specializes in the production and sale of fungi-based meat alternatives. Founded in 2016, the company aims to provide nutrient-dense, plant-based options that serve as sustainable substitutes for traditional meat. Meati's products are crafted using proprietary fermentation technologies and are minimally processed, ensuring they are free from common allergens. The company is committed to offering vegan food choices that are accessible and enjoyable for a diverse range of consumers.

Good Catch Foods is a company that specializes in the development and manufacture of vegan, plant-based seafood alternatives. Founded in 2016, it produces a variety of products designed to replicate traditional seafood, including fish-free shredded tuna, crab cakes, salmon filets, and patties. These offerings are crafted using a blend of pea proteins and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, and fava beans. Initially headquartered in Newtown, Pennsylvania, Good Catch has since expanded its presence to New York, New York. The company aims to provide sustainable and health-conscious food options for consumers seeking plant-based diets.

Gro Intelligence, Inc. is an agricultural data analytics company founded in 2014, with offices in New York City and Nairobi, Kenya. The company specializes in providing insights into agricultural productivity by utilizing proprietary algorithms and artificial intelligence to collect and synthesize data from various sources. This platform offers predictive analytics that help users understand critical factors affecting commodity markets, including weather patterns, trade flows, and pricing dynamics. By transforming complex data into actionable knowledge, Gro Intelligence enables financial institutions, corporations, and public sector entities to make informed decisions regarding supply chains, climate challenges, and food security. The company's holistic approach combines advanced technology with human expertise, positioning agricultural and climate data as essential infrastructure for societal advancement.

Good Culture, LLC, established in 2014 and headquartered in Irvine, California, specializes in the production of organic cultured dairy products. The company's portfolio includes a range of thick, creamy, low-sugar cottage cheese, probiotic gut shots, and sour cream. Good Culture focuses on providing real-food options with simple ingredients, aiming to offer consumers healthy dairy alternatives that do not compromise their well-being. Its products are available through stores across the United States.

Bowery Farming Inc. is a modern agricultural company based in New York, specializing in post-organic produce. Founded in 2014, the company focuses on growing a variety of greens, including baby kale, lettuce, arugula, and basil, using innovative indoor farming techniques. By leveraging advanced technology, such as its proprietary BoweryOS software, Bowery Farming creates optimal conditions for plant growth, allowing it to operate without pesticides and using significantly less water compared to traditional farming methods. This technology enables the company to be over 100 times more productive on the same land footprint. Bowery's products are distributed through grocery stores and featured in the menus of renowned restaurants, emphasizing the company's commitment to providing fresh, sustainable produce to consumers.

HeatGen specializes in self-heating technology that transforms standard food and beverage packaging into auto-heating containers. This innovative technology allows for the heating of prepared food and drinks using a flameless thermal reaction, ensuring safety and efficiency. HeatGen's solutions are designed for various consumer settings, including offices, outdoor activities, schools, sporting events, and during travel or emergencies. Founded in 2007 and based in Austin, Texas, the company serves the food and food packaging industries, providing convenient access to warm food products on the go.

Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc., established in 2010 and headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, specializes in producing and supplying non-alcoholic beverages. Its product portfolio includes a variety of sodas in flavors like grapefruit, blackberry, and orange, as well as flavored sparkling water and seltzers. Spindrift's beverages are notable for using real squeezed fruit, with no added artificial sweeteners, providing consumers with a healthier, fruit-driven alternative. The company sells its products through distributors, retail stores, and online platforms across the United States.

New Barn, Inc. is a producer of plant-based organic food, specializing in a range of almond-based products. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Rohnert Park, California, the company offers almond milk, almond cream, almond dips, coffee, and a buttery spread. New Barn has established itself as a leader in the organic refrigerated almond milk market within the natural channel in the United States. Its product lineup includes the Barista Almondmilk, designed to cater to both professional and home baristas, providing a non-dairy milk alternative that mimics the performance of dairy. Additionally, the company markets a unique non-dairy frozen dessert called AlmondCrème, distributing its products through a wide network of natural, specialty, and conventional retailers across the nation.

Sfoglini LLC, founded in 2012 and based in Brooklyn, New York, specializes in the production of innovative specialty pasta. The company sources high-quality American organic semolina flour and unique ingredients from local farms and green markets to create its products. Sfoglini emphasizes traditional pasta-making techniques, utilizing bronze dies to achieve a rough texture that enhances sauce adherence, and employs a slow-drying process at low temperatures to preserve flavor and nutrients. By offering seasonal and specialty pasta alongside organic New York state grains, Sfoglini aims to provide consumers with authentic Italian-style pasta that can be conveniently delivered to their homes.

Nona Lim, LLC is a producer of Asian food products based in Oakland, California. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in creating non-GMO, dairy-free, and gluten-free soups, broths, and convenient meals. Nona Lim emphasizes the use of fresh, local, and organic ingredients, offering a range of products including heat and sip bone broth, broth pouches, soup cups, and customizable noodle bowls. The company aims to deliver authentic Asian flavors while ensuring that their offerings meet dietary preferences and restrictions. Nona Lim's products are available for purchase through retail shops and online, catering to consumers looking for healthy and flavorful meal options.

Foodstirs, LLC is a consumer packaged goods company based in Santa Monica, California, specializing in healthier baked goods and food crafting kits. Founded by Galit Laibow, Greg Fleishman, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, the company focuses on creating better-for-you sweet treats that are lower in sugar and made with USDA organic ingredients. Foodstirs offers a variety of products, including baking kits, baking mixes, and ready-made items such as donuts, muffins, and brownies. The kits are designed to teach children and families basic cooking skills while encouraging creativity in the kitchen. By providing both direct-to-consumer treat baking kits and ready-to-eat options, Foodstirs aims to foster connections through enjoyable and healthier baking experiences.