Pi00a (pronounced “pie-oh-ah”) is a family-owned business that handcrafts frozen Neapolitan pizzas. Pi00a was founded by the Stein family—deaf entrepreneurs Melody and Russ Stein, alongside their CODA (Children of Deaf Adults) children. Driven by a passion for an authentic Neapolitan style and a mission to combat high unemployment in the Deaf community, the Steins officially launched the packaged retail brand …
Grape Republic
Grape Republic is an innovative natural winery in Yamagata, Japan, founded by restaurateurs and sommeliers Kazuomi Fujimaki and Takayuki Taira. Officially established in 2017 in Nanyo City, the winery was born out of a desire to revitalize the region’s rapidly growing number of abandoned farmhouses and agricultural lands. Driven by a philosophy of “Made of 100% Grapes,” their core mission …
G-nola
G-nola is a family-owned artisan granola company rooted in Sonoma County, known for its small-batch, handcrafted approach to a classic snack. Made with simple, recognizable ingredients, G-nola sets itself apart by using certified organic maple syrup as its sole sweetener and real creamery butter instead of oils, creating a rich, indulgent texture. Each batch is gluten-free and carefully baked to …
Cream Co. Meats
Founded in 2016 by Cliff Pollard, Cream Co. Meats emerged from a desire to challenge the industrialized meat system and rebuild a more transparent, sustainable supply chain. Drawing on years in the Bay Area food community, Pollard envisioned a “missing middle” that could connect small, regenerative ranchers directly with chefs and consumers. Oakland became the company’s home base, where its …
Poe
Samantha Sheehan founded POE in 2009 after being inspired by the wines she tasted in France. Her goal is not to replicate Burgundy and Champagne, but instead create alluring, vineyard specific, age-worthy wines revealing the beautiful terroir of California. In POE wines, there is minimal intervention, judicious use of sulfur, and never any additives. POE produces traditional Champagne method sparkling …
Clairesquares
Claire Keane’s path as an entrepreneur began in County Cork, Ireland and led her to San Francisco where she founded Clairesquares in 2006. Claire’s love affair with crafting delicious treats started at the age of 12, inspired by her mother’s cherished cookbooks. Following family recipes, Claire set out to perfect an Irish shortbread that was buttery and crisp, with just …
Hartland
Hartland Cards was founded by designer Emily Johnson in 2012. Emily started the business while living in Brooklyn, creating hand-illustrated greeting cards as a creative outlet from her day job. Her warm, whimsical cards found an audience, and became a full-time venture when big retailers began ordering. Emily is known for her vivid, artful prints, and commitment to sustainability. Hartland …
Marini
A former chef, Tute Marini moved to Northern California after living in Argentina for 30 years. Working in restaurants and the restaurant business, Tute admired the bounty of food and beverage products the Bay Area offered. After a while he decided to bring something to the table as well. Naturally, he started with his favorite family recipes from home, and …
Petit Pot
Petit Pot began with founder Maxime Pouvreau’s love of classic French desserts and the memories he carried from growing up in southwest France, where pot de crème was a symbol of comfort and celebration. Trained as a pastry chef from a young age, Max moved to California and noticed that authentic French custards were hard to find. In 2013, he …
Rishi Tea
Rishi Tea was founded in Milwaukee in 1997 by Josh Kaiser, and remains an independent company nearly 30 years later. Kaiser’s extensive travels throughout Asia inspired him to bring traditionally crafted teas to American consumers. Alongside his partner Benjamin Harrison, Kaiser started Rishi with modest resources, sourcing teas directly from growers, and prioritizing organic practices long before the standards were …
KiVi Organics
KiVi Organics was founded in Marin by Kirsten Santa out of a personal journey that became a passion for skincare. While living in Italy in 2006, Santa’s young son became ill, and doctors there unexpectedly recommended natural remedies. Her son’s recovery sparked Santa’s deep interest in botanical medicine. After returning to Marin, she applied her new-found knowledge to skincare, particularly …
Bell Mountain
Bell Mountain Naturals is a woman-owned business based in Tacoma, WA, offering beauty products rooted in a philosophy of ethics and sustainability. The company crafts soaps and body care made with all plant based oils and butters that are ethically and sustainably harvested. Always free of palm oil, parabens, phthalates, and petrochemicals, Bell Mountain products are Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free. …
Alicia’s Tamales
Alicia’s Tamales Los Mayas in Hayward, CA is rooted in the rich heritage of founder Alicia Villanueva, who grew up in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, learning to make tamales alongside her mother and grandmother. After arriving in the US in 2001, she saw the country’s vibrant diversity as an opportunity to share her own traditions. Alicia began crafting and selling tamales door …
Celebrating Women-owned brands
We are honoring Women’s History Month with a look at local, women-owned products that we stock at the market. These brands are award winners, best sellers, renowned trailblazers, and new endeavors. They are all founded and run by innovative, local women who bring new ideas to the grocery industry everyday.
St. Agrestis
St. Agrestis founders Louie and Matt Catizone and spirits expert Steven DeAngelo have gained attention for an innovative approach to non-alcoholic cocktails. While originally inspired by Italian amaro and aperitivi, the team expanded their vision to meet the growing demand for sophisticated alcohol-free options for the modern drinker. Their standout, the Phony Negroni, has dominated at San Francisco’s Ready to …
KESSHO
This Austin based craft chocolatier fuses Asian flavors with western recipes. Founders Liang Wang, originally from Beijing, and midwesterner Mark Huetsch blend their backgrounds in science, culinary training and entrepreneurship. Liang studied biology in China, and later refined her pastry and chocolate-making skills at Le Cordon Bleu. Mark studied computer science and Chinese studies at Stanford, and shared his entrepreneurial …
Saint Frank
Founded by Kevin Bohlin in 2013, Saint Frank is the pursuit of coffee as a social connection and a celebration of the global community. Kevin discovered there is a story behind every coffee, and the people and place that makes it. He met small scale farmers who produce some of the most celebrated specialty coffees, but who didn’t know what …
Délice Glacé
When Redwood City baker Azarmeen Pavri realized that French-style meringues were missing from store shelves in her local markets, she decided to be the change. She became passionate about creating clean sweets, made with minimal processing and no preservatives. Meringues are naturally free of gluten, dairy, nuts and fat– they fit the bill perfectly. Azarmeen first created the line for …
Aubry
Dylan Lundstrum has a master’s degree in viticulture, but credits most of his knowledge to time working in the fields. With Aubry, he set out to make wines that feel honest and real to him. Aubry chardonnay comes from a single organically farmed block in Oak Knoll. The fruit is picked early, and the fermentation process is slow for a …
Bonny Doon
The team of women that run Bonny Doon skincare call themselves the farm ladies: Anita, Victoria, Dorothee and Jessica. On weekdays you’ll find them receiving calls, prepping products, and packing orders. Their lavender is harvested, for 52 years and counting, on the historic Bonny Doon farm in Santa Cruz. The team credits their work ethic and passion for perfection that …