12 Food Item Business Success Stories [2024]
Here are some real life success stories of starting a food item business:
1. Food Fleet ($18M/year)
After struggling to find locations to operate their own food truck, the founder took over booking for other trucks and realized the need for a turnkey service for corporations. They used their 35 years of food service experience to provide solutions and help the trucks with everything from food safety to insurance. Their unique approach, along with their understanding of the hospitality business, has allowed Food Fleet to secure national contracts with major companies and achieve significant growth.
How much they make: $18M/year
Current team size: 6
Food Fleet grew over 160% in just one year and managed over 20 million in sales for its clients, securing multiple contracts with the likes of Sodexo, Levy Restaurants and more, due to its understanding of catering client needs and its advanced turnkey and design services.
2. Grain ($1M/year)
How much they make: $1M/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
Current team size: 60
Grain is a Singapore-based food and beverage services brand founded in 2014 that uses cloud kitchens to provide wholesome nutritious meals, meal plans, catering services, packaged drinks, and more to their customers while offering a line of Marvel merchandise.
Learn more about starting a food item business:
Where to start?
-> How much does it cost to start a food item business?
-> Pros and cons of a food item business
Need inspiration?
-> Examples of established food item business
Other resources
3. LEAN BENTO ($1.01M/year)
How much they make: $1.01M/year
Current team size:
Lean Bento co-founders use engineering research to develop customizable menu combos for their 13-item healthy meal restaurant, which expanded to a delivery service for the entire island after only one year of operation.
4. Shake Shack ($740M/year)
How much they make: $740M/year
Current team size: 3386
Shake Shack went from a single hot dog stand to a global fast food chain with over 270 locations thanks to its fresh, high-quality, and delicious food at an incredible price.
5. The Vet Chef ($417K/year)
How much they make: $417K/year
How much did it cost to start: $41.2K
Current team size:
This case study highlights how the Vet Chef food truck business, completely established, operated, and managed by veterans, earns more than $400,000 annually and is expanding.
6. Aybla Grill ($648K/year)
How much they make: $648K/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
Current team size:
From Syria to Portland: How one restaurateur started with $20K and now runs a successful business with 3 food trucks and average monthly revenue of $50K.
7. Truvani ($4.44M/year)
How much they make: $4.44M/year
Current team size: 28
Truvani, a health supplement, plant-based proteins, snacks, and personal care product brand founded by Vani Hari, Derek Halpern, and Devin Duncan, boasts an entirely USDA Organic, Non-GMO line of food that is free of risky chemicals and cheap additives, promoting the Truvani Standard.
8. FireCreek Snacks ($500K/year)
How much they make: $500K/year
Current team size: 2
FireCreek Snacks provides a healthy, all-natural snack with exceptional taste, made with pure and traditional ingredients, containing no artificial ingredients, being gluten-free, soy-free, MSG-free, and high in protein and low in sugar.
9. THIS™ ($20.1M/year)
How much they make: $20.1M/year
Current team size: 83
THIS, the UK-based vegan food company co-founded in 2019, is now the fastest-growing meat substitute brand in the UK with a recent valuation at £150 million, annualized revenue of £17.5 million and a 333% YoY growth in UK retail in just 3 years.
10. ChocoSol ($3M/year)
How much they make: $3M/year
Current team size: 11
ChocoSol, the Toronto-based artisanal chocolate and coffee brand, uses sustainable methods to make and package its products, working with small-scale farmers and supporting forest garden agriculture, and has won several national and international awards.
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings