Celebrating Women in Food
Celebrate Women’s History Month — and the power and innovation of the women behind the brands — with these female-founded selections for foodies, enthusiasts and everyday eaters.
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Lemonette: Tenny Avanesian
As the mother of three young children, Lemonette founder Tenny Avanesian found herself with less time to cook, but unwilling to compromise on quality or flavor. Tenny grew up in an Armenian household, where lemons formed the fruity base of many meals; after trying—and failing—to find clean, packaged dressings and sauces, she launched Lemonette. Made in small batches with locally-sourced ingredients, it’s a zesty collection of dressings and marinades, all gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO Project Verified, with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners of any kind. In four flavors—Mediterranean Herb, Italian Herb, Lemon Garlic and Zesty Cumin—they’re super-versatile as sauces, dressings or marinades.
Jinka: Alberta Liao
Jinka began as a snack for a non-profit organization, focused on raising ocean sustainability awareness for teens and young adults. Since then, founder Alberta Liao has grown her passion project into a full brand, with a mission to promote plant-based eating, improve ocean sustainability and inspire future female leaders to stay true to their goals and dreams. Jinka offers a plant-based line of convenient, ready-to-eat tuna spreads, made from plant proteins, herbs and spices. It’s a sustainable, protein-packed alternative for even the most ardent tuna salad fan, vegan or not.
Oleamea: Merve Aydin Doran
For Merve Aydin Doran, extra-virgin olive oil is more than a condiment; it’s a way of life. Her family has been producing olive oil in the southwest region of Turkey for generations, a practice that’s deeply rooted in culture and tradition. Growing up, Merve and her brother were involved in every step of the crafting process, from cultivation to harvesting, milling to bottling. Now, as a co-founder of OLEAMEA, she shares her passion and heritage with the rest of the world. This sustainably sourced extra-virgin olive oil uses Memecik olives—a variety that thrives in the Turkish climate—hand-harvested by local farmers and cold-pressed into oil within two to four hours of leaving the trees, for the highest nutritional value and robust, complex flavor. In a variety of offerings, all sustainably produced and dedicated to helping local farming communities thrive.
Top Seedz: Rebecca Brady
A transplant from New Zealand, mother of three, sports competitor and avid traveler, Rebecca Brady needed wholesome, nutrient-dense foods to fuel her busy life. After years of making homemade crackers and seed blends, she was inspired to share her snacks with the rest of the world. Gluten-free, vegan and squeaky-clean, Top Seedz crackers and seasoned seeds are made from a blend of nutrient-dense pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and flax seeds. In a variety of flavors, savory and sweet—including Sea Salt, Rosemary, Cumin and Magic Maple—they’re a simple, nutritious snack for your crazy-busy life.
Veestro: Monica Klausner 
Growing up in Costa Rica, fresh, home-cooked meals with tons of vegetables and fruit were the daily norm for Monica Klausner. Longing to bring her native pura vida to modern American life, she co-founded Veestro, a 100-percent plant-based meal delivery service. Veestro delivers clean, organic, gourmet meals right to your doorstep—all vegan and ready-to-eat, with no chopping, cooking or cleanup. Packed in compostable carton trays or recyclable BPA-free plastic pouches, it’s an easy way to add more plants to any diet, without sacrificing convenience or taste.
Little GF Chefs: Jereann Zann
When Jereann Zann’s daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease and a dairy allergy, she recognized how often kids with restricted diets feel different or left out. In a move to improve their feeling of belonging (especially in the kitchen), the mother-of-two launched Little GF Chefs. A line of gluten-free, allergen-friendly baking kits, Little GF Chefs is a safe, clean alternative for kids with Celiac and other allergies. In a variety of sweet and salty options, ranging from Rainbow Pop Tarts to Pizza Party kits, this convenient subscription service gets kids cooking, promotes self-confidence and teaches them to have a happier relationship with food.
Mẹ’s Way: Chau Tonnu
Chau Tonnu came to the United States with her family at the age of 17. A first generation Vietnamese American immigrant, she holds many fond memories of Vietnam, including feasting on spicy, flavorful street foods with friends. Recollections of her formative years, combined with her experiences as an adult living in the United States, inspired her to share a piece of her culture through food. Her creation: Mẹ’s Way, a bold, spicy chili sauce crafted from a short, simple list of iconic ingredients true to Vietnamese cuisine. In traditional and vegetarian options, it’s designed for foodies, spice lovers and generations of Vietnamese folks craving a taste of home.
Cool Coffee Clique: Courtney Adeleye
Founder and CEO of Olbali, a global multi-brand company, Courtney Adeleye built her company from the ground up, blending science-based knowledge with a desire to inspire positive change for people across the globe. Her motto: If you can’t make it better, don’t make it at all. With this goal in mind, she created Cool Coffee Clique, a collection of products for connoisseurs of our favorite brew. After tasting and testing coffee varieties all over the world, she formulated Strong AF Coffee—the perfect blend of bold flavor, robust strength and rich, smooth flavor. Cool Coffee Clique also offers a stylish K-Cup machine, super-cute mugs and more the modern working woman and dedicated coffee enthusiast.
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