With a longing to engage more in the local community, Lane Levine started A Friendly Bread out of his home in 2017. Specializing in his signature Obsessible Sourdough Snacks made out of a delicious, naturally leavened sourdough bread, Levine’s notable frozen grilled cheese is now distributed in all The Fresh Market stores.

The story of GT’s doesn't begin with a business plan; it starts with a young man on a mission. Witnessing its incredible effects firsthand, a teenage GT Dave realized his purpose to share the gift of kombucha in its purest, most potent form to help people everywhere live healthier, happier lives.

One morning in Brooklyn, NY, in 2008, Nekisia Davis thought about how she might brighten her breakfast experience. After stocking up on ingredients at a local coop, she created a batch of granola that wowed her friends and co-workers, and Early Bird Foods & Co. was hatched. Since then, Nekisia’s delicious granola has garnered fans in high places. Martha Stewart was among the first, followed by the New York Times’ Melissa Clark and then Rob & Robin at New York Magazine. Today, Early Bird Foods & Co. is proud to offer its favorite granola anywhere fine cereals are sold.

Co-founders Charles and Tim established Fever Tree in 2005 on the belief that drink mixers should be made with the best that nature has to offer. Fever-Tree produces premium carbonated mixers, sourcing ingredients from across the globe, including quinine from the Democratic Republic of Congo, ginger from Ivory Coast and lemons from Sicily. Since its launch, Fever-Tree has not only been recognized as the Best Selling & Top Trending Brand for 10 consecutive years by Drinks International, but the brand also works to ensure responsible production, invest in the circular economy and catalyze positive impact on local communities worldwide.

While working in the nonprofit outdoor education sector, Maureen Cacioppo was also harvesting sea salt. Combining her passions for the sea, food and community, she launched Florida Pure Sea Salt to share small batch finishing salts—free of anti-clumping agents or other chemicals—with the world. She now has a renowned product, admired for its exquisite taste and purity. Maureen reflects in her values her brand, making everything in small batches and infusing her products with intention, care and love every step of the way.

Fueled by a love of Greek culture and a desire for fresh, pure food, Bart Jan Manten started Neolea to take the elements of Hellenic happiness he knew so well and share them beyond the borders of the land that bred them. After Bart teamed up with his cousin Daan to make Neolea available in America, The Fresh Market became the first natural grocer to acknowledge the brand’s quality in 2021. Today, Neolea offers such pure Mediterranean ingredients as extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar that not only taste better but are also a feast for the eyes.

The Stonewall Kitchen family of brands in York, Maine, traces its history to a humble beginning in 1991—a small folding table at the local farmer’s market. That’s where founders Jonathan King and Jim Stott sold several dozen jams and other items that they made in Jim’s summer cottage. As the business grew to include vinegars, oils and baked goods, Jonathan and Jim soon needed more than just the assistance of their families to meet demand. Today, Stonewall Kitchen is home to 11 brands and produces an award-winning line of specialty food and home goods products.

Vanessa and Kim Pham, daughters of Vietnamese refugees, spent their childhood in their family's kitchen, watching dinners made from scratch every night. Inspired by these memories and a profound passion for their heritage, they built a company of their dreams, making “real deal” Asian cuisine via noodles and sauces in a range of authentic, delicious—and often, fiery—flavors. Through sharing the food of their culture, they not only honor their community, but also celebrate the grand, intricate tapestry of Asian flavors and stories. At Omsom, everyone is welcome.

In North America in decades past, local fishermen would bring their catch to canneries to be preserved with salt, smoke and time. That tradition was reimagined in 2014 when Chef Charlotte Langley, a Prince Edward Islander, discovered an antique home canning machine. She spent years elevating the practice of seafood canning, all the while perfecting recipes that would give the modern home cook access to deliciously crafted seafood. In 2018, joining forces with Adam Bent and Nate Dunn, she founded Scout Canning to bring these restaurant quality goods to market while also making seafood more convenient and responsibly sourced.

While brother-and-sister team Jeff and Jen Martin were packing up for a move back in 2012, they made a delicious discovery. A bag of tiny heirloom popcorn kernels from the Chicago health food store where Jen worked was the only food left in the empty apartment, so the two popped them. They were so impressed that they tracked down the Indiana farmer who grew it from his family’s heirloom seed stock. Then, along with Jeff’s wife, Teresa, they created Pipcorn. Since then, their popcorn has been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey and the investors on Shark Tank. Today, they also make cheese balls with their signature heirloom corn.