Denise Woodard is the founder and CEO of Partake Foods. She launched the brand after her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. A former Coca-Cola executive, Denise became the first Black woman to publicly raise over $1 million for a CPG food startup.
Partake Foods creates delicious, allergy-friendly snacks that are free from the top nine allergens. With a mission rooted in inclusivity and accessibility, the brand is now available in over 18,000 stores nationwide and continues to grow through innovation and community impact.
The brand’s name, “Partake,” reflects Denise’s desire for her daughter and others with allergies to fully participate in the joy of food.
Denise’s journey began with a pitch competition and a nudge from her nanny, Martha—who now holds equity in the business.
Partake has collaborated with major partners like Marvel and Sesame Street, and has donated over one million boxes of cookies to support families in need.
The company is deeply involved in social impact initiatives, including work with No Kid Hungry and the Food Equality Initiative.
Denise founded Partake to create allergy-safe foods her daughter could enjoy, after struggling to find suitable options in the market.
Leaving Coca-Cola, she underestimated how challenging it would be to build a brand from scratch without the resources of a large company.
Getting allergy-friendly products manufactured required finding rare, specialized partners willing to work with a startup founder.
Her family—especially her daughter—has been central to the business journey, often pitching in during trade shows and events.
Denise emphasizes leading with great taste rather than a long list of dietary claims when introducing products to new consumers.
Building strong retail partnerships is about follow-through, not just shelf placement—it requires active investment and support.
She believes inclusivity should be embedded naturally into company culture, hiring, and investor relationships.
To stay energized, Denise now prioritizes time for reflection, creativity, and rest, recognizing the importance of long-term sustainability.
QUOTES
“I sought out products that she could eat and enjoy safely and that we could eat as a family together and couldn’t find the things that I was looking for and decided to do something about it.” (Denise)
“I knew enough to be dangerous. I could speak the lingo. I knew the acronyms. I did not realize what I was in for.” (Denise)
“There’s not very many allergy friendly contract manufacturers. So calling someone up and getting them to agree to work with a woman with an idea was definitely a challenge.” (Denise)
“Being an entrepreneur is a family sport. My daughter too, I think about all the sacrifice that she made. She can probably put together a trade show booth faster than most adults.” (Denise)
“It feels like a game of whack-a-mole. It’s like you think you got one thing covered and then, oh, tariffs or something. Every week there’s a new adventure.” (Denise)
“The name Partake originally came from this idea that I wanted my daughter and people with food allergies to be able to partake.” (Denise)
“You’re nothing if you have a story with no good product. And honestly, the same if you have a good product but nothing to talk about.” (Denise)
“I want my employees to feel like they have the freedom to be able to do the same thing because I think this whole idea of separating your personal life and work life isn’t healthy for anyone.” (Denise)
“I’ve just started this practice. Making time to think and be inspired—setting out time to journal, to go on walks, to visit grocery stores, to visit small markets.” (Denise)
“Food is something that’s supposed to evoke positive memories for everyone. And even if you have food allergies, like you should be able to have that same joy.” (Denise)
