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FOUNDER

Denise Woodard is the Founder and CEO of Partake Foods. She is the first Black woman in the US to raise more than $1 million for a CPG food startup. Prior to launching Partake, Denise was the Director of National Sales for Coca Cola’s Ventures & Emerging Brands group. Denise also holds a B.A. in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University.

Denise Woodard

Denise Woodard

Former Coca Cola executive Denise Woodard founded Partake Foods after struggling to find safe, healthy, and delicious snacks for her daughter who has severe food allergies. Known for their best-selling cookies, Partake offers snack products that are gluten-free, vegan, and free of the Top 8 allergens. Partake products give a delicious peace of mind to those with dietary restrictions and "How is this so good?" enjoyment to everyone else.

COMPANY

MILESTONES

  • Closed $11.5M Series B raise with a post-money valuation of $54.5M (2022)

  • Closed $4.9M Series A raise with a post-money valuation of $30.9M (2021)

  • Closed $2.1M Series Seed raise with a post-money valuation of $5.3M (2020)

  • Founded in 2016

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • NOSH Award for 2022 Brand of The Year, joining the likes of Ben and Jerry’s and Beyond Meat

  • B Corp Certified, highlighting Partake’s transformational impact on their community, partners, and customers

  • Products currently in 10,000+ retail locations across the US including Target, Costco, Whole Foods, Walmart, and Kroger

  • Strategic sales partnerships with Ben & Jerry’s, Sesame Street, American Airlines, and WW (formerly Weight Watchers)

  • Recipient of “Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 New Jersey Award” from Ernst & Young

  • Leadership team includes a Harvard-trained food scientist, former COO Swell Foods and Promax Nutrition, former CMO Wanderlust, and former CEO Marlo’s Bakeshop (acq.)

  • Investors include Black Star Fund, Marcy Venture Partners, Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty, Supply Change, Cleveland Avenue, Black Capital, Lotus Bakeries, CircleUp Ventures, and Fearless Fund

  • Board members include Irene Chang Britt (Former President & CEO, Pepperidge Farms), Robert Kavner (Former CFO, AT&T), Chuck Muth (Former Chief Growth Officer, Beyond Meat), and Larry Marcus (Managing Director, Marcy Venture Partners)

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