Hu Kitchen is a company that specializes in producing and selling healthy and minimally processed foods. It was founded in 2012 by Jason H. Karp and siblings Jordan Brown and Jessica Karp. The company is headquartered in New York City, United States. Hu Kitchen is driven by the philosophy of providing food that is not only nutritious but also tastes great. The name “Hu” is derived from the word “human,” reflecting the company’s focus on food that is suitable for human consumption without artificial or processed ingredients.

Company History:

Hu Kitchen was founded with the intention of addressing the gap in the market for high-quality, clean, and healthy food products. It started as a restaurant in New York City in 2012, focusing on offering a wide range of food options made from simple, natural, and healthy ingredients. The establishment became known for its “Get Back to Human” approach, which aimed to provide food that was free from harmful additives, chemicals, and processed ingredients.

The success of the restaurant led to the creation of Hu Products, a line of packaged food items that followed the same philosophy. The product line quickly gained popularity and expanded into retail stores and e-commerce platforms. As the demand for their products grew, Hu Kitchen transitioned from a restaurant business to a packaged food company, focusing on the production and distribution of their healthy food products.

Products:

Hu Kitchen offers a variety of food products, with a strong focus on clean ingredients and minimal processing. Some of their popular product categories include:

Chocolate: Hu Kitchen’s flagship product is their vegan, paleo, and dairy-free chocolate bars made with organic and fair-trade ingredients. They offer a range of flavors such as almond butter, cashew butter, raspberry jelly, and hazelnut butter.

Snacks: The company also produces grain-free crackers and snack bars made from clean ingredients like almond flour, flax seeds, and chia seeds.

Pantry Items: Hu Kitchen offers a selection of pantry staples such as nut butters, granola, and baking mixes made with whole, unprocessed ingredients.

Funding Rounds:

Hu Kitchen has raised a total of $30 million in funding over three rounds. The company’s latest funding round was a Series B round in January 2019, which raised $22 million from investors such as Sonoma Brands, Driven Capital, and VMG Partners.

Acquisitions:

In October 2020, Mondelez International, a global snacking powerhouse and the parent company of brands like Oreo, Cadbury, and Toblerone, acquired a majority stake in Hu Kitchen. The acquisition was part of Mondelez’s strategy to expand its healthier snack offerings and capitalize on the growing consumer demand for better-for-you food products.

Partnerships:

Hu Kitchen has formed partnerships with several major retailers and e-commerce platforms to expand its distribution network. Some of the company’s key retail partners include Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Wegmans. Additionally, Hu Products are available through various online platforms such as Amazon, Thrive Market, and their official website, hukitchen.com.

Awards and Recognition:

Hu Kitchen has received numerous awards and recognition for its commitment to providing high-quality, healthy food products. Some notable accolades include:

Specialty Food Association’s Sofi Awards: Hu Kitchen has won several Sofi Awards, which are considered the “Oscars” of the specialty food industry. The company’s chocolate bars have been recognized in various categories such as Best New Product and Gold Award Winner.

Prevention Magazine’s Cleanest Packaged Food Awards: Hu Kitchen’s products have been featured in Prevention Magazine’s annual Cleanest Packaged Food Awards, which recognize the best and healthiest packaged food products available in the market.

Whole Foods Market Supplier Award: In 2019, Hu Kitchen received the Whole Foods Market Supplier Award for Outstanding Innovation, which acknowledged the company’s commitment to creating innovative, high-quality, and healthy food products.

Physical Store Locations:

Hu Kitchen initially started as a restaurant in New York City. However, as the company transitioned to focus on packaged food products, it no longer operates a physical restaurant location. Instead, Hu Products are available through various retail partners and online platforms.

To recap, Hu Kitchen is a health-focused food company that produces a variety of products made from clean, minimally processed ingredients. Founded in 2012 as a restaurant in New York City, the company has since pivoted to focus on packaged food products. Hu Kitchen has raised a total of $30 million in funding, with its most recent round in January 2019. The company was acquired by Mondelez International in October 2020, and has formed partnerships with major retailers and e-commerce platforms to expand its distribution network. Hu Kitchen has received several awards and recognition for its commitment to providing high-quality, healthy food products.