Better-for-You Food and Beverages Fuel the Inc. 5000 List
Remember 2019? It was a year in which food and beverages brands were already growing — before the pandemic sent consumers into new modes of pantry loading and cooking from home. Today, Inc. released its annual Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the U.S. in a range of industries.
Of the better-for-you food and beverage companies that made the list, 68 were returning honorees, with a combined revenue of $4.4 billion in 2019, during which they added 29,261 jobs to the economy. In particular, growth was seen amongst functional and plant-based coffee brands as well as ready-made meals and kits, which may be experiencing a renaissance as consumers cook at home.
In this gallery, we highlighted the top 20 highest-ranking food and beverage companies from the list, from cauliflower crust to nutritious, ready-made meals and keto cakes, as well as service providers, that reported significant three-year growth results.
Kitu Life
New York-based Kitu Life, parent company of Super Coffee, expanded its retail footprint and saw high growth in 2019, during which it launched K-cups and cold brew products.
Outer Aisle
Alternative bread brand Outer Aisle in 2019 launched two new flavors of its cauliflower-based Plantpower Sandwich Thins and Plantpower Pizza Crust, accompanied by new packaging. The efforts led to $11 million in revenue for the brand, which launched in 2013 and bills itself as the first to produce cauliflower-based breads.
Koia
Plant-based protein beverage brand Koia reported another high-growth year in 2019. The company this year completed a bridge round from CircleUp Investment and launched Keto and Core line extensions.
Sprinly
Plant-based meal startup Sprinly, founded in 2016, produces organic meals that are crafted by chefs and nutritionists and take under three minutes to prepare. Based in Ohio, the company delivers throughout the Midwest, South and East Coast.
Siddhi Ops
Brooklyn-based Siddhi Ops provides food and beverage brands with operational tools and strategies, having worked with Magic Spoon, Beanfields and Rebbl among others. Its investment arm, Siddhi Capital, has fueled CBD beverage brand Recess and functional coffee brand Kitu Life.
Smart Baking Co.
Better-for-you baked goods brand Smart Baking Company produces alternatives to indulgent muffins and cakes including gluten-free, keto-friendly, low-calorie options. The brand recently debuted an immunity-focused Apple Cinnamon flavor of its Smartmuf’n product, which launched last year.
Foodie Fit
Las Vegas-based meal prep company Foodie Fit focuses on micro and macronutrients for its fresh meal solutions. The company allows consumers to customize their own meals or choose from a rotating variety of signature dishes.
Basemakers
Austin-based sales and retail merchandising company Basemakers, which helped beverage brands Health-Ade Kombucha and Iconic Protein grow their footprints, has seen demand explode since it launched in 2015 from a $4,000 investment.
A-Sha Foods USA
Taiwan-based better-for-you ramen brand A-Sha Foods, which launched in the U.S. in 2011, saw another year of growth for its products, which include snacks, instant ramen and more. Its U.S. headquarters opened in 2015 and the brand is now sold in all 50 states.
Splendid Spoon
Ready-to-eat plant-based meal company Splendid Spoon focuses on bowls, soups and smoothies, along with wellness shots, all served in recyclable packaging.
Willy's Salsa
Since launching in 2006, natural salsa brand Willy’s has expanded distribution for its cantina-style salsas to every state and is currently in over 8,800 stores. In 2019 the company’s revenue reached $4.9 million.
Spinning Wheel
CPG firm Spinning Wheel in 2019 saw its revenue increase to $3.1 million. The company, which focuses on plant-based snacks and milks, has launched brands such as chip maker Mozaics, alternative milk brand Hope & Sesame and snack producer Handfulls.
Zolli Candy
Founded in 2013, sugar-free candy brand Zolli is sold in every conventional retailer in the country, with products including Zollipops, Zolli Drops, and Zaffi Taffy.
Keto and Co.
Keto platform Keto and Co in 2019 saw its revenue reach $4.2 million as it builds out a portfolio of keto-friendly alternatives, from Fudge Brownie Mix to Flatbread and Pizza Bread Mix.
Hofseth North America
Seafood distributor Hofseth North America saw rapid growth in 2019 as one of the nation’s top suppliers of Norwegian salmon, steelhead, haddock, and cod, with an emphasis on sustainability.
Factor
Factor’s nutrition-focused ready-made meals, including paleo and keto-friendly options, also offer a side of nutrition coaching for customers.
Chomps
Meat snack brand Chomps has been fueled by the uptick in consumers following Whole30, Paleo, Keto and Weight Watchers diets and its sales at Walmart, Trader Joe’s and on Amazon have driven rapid growth: the brand in 2019 generated $34 million in sales.
Sweet Loren's
Clean cookie brand Sweet Loren’s has seen an increase in demand for healthier sweets since it started in 2010 and is now sold in 10,000 stores. Its most recent launch was single-serve cookie dough cups.
Sifted
Meal company Sifted recently shifted its focus from serving some of the nation’s highest-profile offices to at-home meals via Sifted Lunch Club. The company also now sells specialty snack boxes including olives, charcuterie and more.
Hungryroot
New York-based meal kit service Hungryroot last year generated $27.5 million for its 10-minute meals made from fresh groceries, which are included in each delivery.
