What Inspired Denise Woodard to Start Partake Foods

Merryfield caught up with Partake Foods CEO and Founder Denise Woodard, who talks about how she got her start and why family is her focus every day.

What motivated you to start Partake Foods?

Shortly after her first birthday, my daughter Vivienne (now 5) was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. When I couldn't find solutions that met my nutritional standards, safely satisfied her taste buds, and would allow her to confidently and happily snack amongst her friends, I left my career at Coca-Cola and got started on Partake Foods. 

How did you get your start?

We launched in August 2017 with three flavors of cookies. As a self-funded and self-distributed brand, I spent my early days filling up our SUV and selling Partake into natural food stores in New York and New Jersey. The days were devoted to selling during the day, demoing in the evenings to garner customer feedback, and managing the business in windows of time in between.

Any obstacles you faced along the way?

Funding to support scaling the business was one of our largest challenges. I received 86 "no's" along the way to raising our seed round of funding, which was led by Jay-Z's Marcy Venture Partners. (See Denise featured in Pharrell and Jay-Z's new video "Entrepreneur" here.)

Why are you committed to clean ingredients?

Partake is personal to me. I started the company because I wanted something better for my daughter, and we will never make a product that I don't feel comfortable sharing with my own family. 

What’s the most important thing you learned in starting Partake?

It takes a village. I'm so thankful for all of the experienced founders that have poured into me, by sharing their knowledge and network with me, and I hope to pay that forward with other entrepreneurs and those interested in making a career in CPG food and beverage. 

Do you have a favorite cookie flavor? Any plans for new flavors or products?

Give me all the chocolate! Our Soft Baked Triple Chocolate is my favorite cookie flavor. For cookies, we are rolling out our Soft Baked Pumpkin Spice and Crunchy Vanilla Sugar flavors for Holiday 2020. Those will be available on PartakeFoods.com and select retailers. And, it's still hush hush, but we are launching our first non-cookie product on PartakeFoods.com in October. 

Favorite place to shop for groceries?

It annoys my husband, but I like to shop multiple stores. :) I regularly shop Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, my local neighborhood store, and Fresh Direct.

Where do you find inspiration?

My daughter! To see the entrepreneurial fire that Partake has ignited in her, even at the age of 5, is exciting. In addition, I'm inspired by the opportunity to continue to lift other women and minority-led companies looking to grow in the food industry. 

Who have been your biggest mentors or role models?

Personally, my dad was the first entrepreneur I saw in action. After leaving the US Army, he was an over-the-road truck driver who slowly built a path to owning his own truck and several others. I learned how hard, but also how rewarding, entrepreneurship can be from him—as well as the importance of a relentless work ethic and to treat everyone along the journey with kindness (from the janitor to the CEO).  Professionally, I'm a huge fangirl of Sara Blakely and how she has bootstrapped Spanx into a multi billion dollar company, and how she continues to champion women and girls. 

Check out Partake Foods on Merryfield, where you'll always earn Everyday Rewards when you purchase any of Partake's better-for-you products.