ZEGO
ZEGO Foods is a B Corp-certified clean food company that makes allergen-free, gluten-free, and purity-verified oat cereals, plant protein powders, and fruit/seed bars. It serves people with food allergies, celiac disease, and health-conscious consumers seeking batch-level lab transparency via QR-coded T-CODE tracking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ZEGO does
ZEGO Foods is a privately held, B Corp-certified clean food company founded in 2013 by Colleen Kavanagh (diagnosed with celiac disease as a teen) and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, with manufacturing and fulfillment operated through a sister entity (CIVC LLC) at the Montana Gluten Free Processors (MGFP) facility in Belgrade, MT. The company's stated positioning is "the first purity-transparent food company," and it is built around two primary customer segments: people with food allergies, celiac disease, and dietary restrictions (a founder-driven persona segment), and health-conscious consumers seeking clean-label, transparently tested nutrition. Product revenue comes from a portfolio of oat-based cereals (Double Protein Oats using hulless Avena Nuda cold-rolled for higher protein digestibility, Superfood Oatmeal Blends, Muesli, Regenerative Organic Oats), a Sacha Inchi-based plant protein powder, and a range of fruit and seed bars. All SKUs are free from the top 14 allergens and corn, certified gluten-free to under 10 ppm, and packaged in a top-14-allergen-free and corn-free manufacturing facility.
The company's underlying technology is its Purity Verification Program combined with a proprietary T-CODE batch-level tracking system. Every incoming ingredient lot (notably oats for gluten/glyphosate and blueberries for fungicides) and finished product (tested 2-12 times per year depending on risk) is screened by certified third-party labs (BIA, AGQ Labs, FARRP, Edacious) for over 500 agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, glyphosate, gluten, allergens, and mycotoxins. Each consumer package carries a QR code that resolves to the specific batch's lab results in a thermometer-style visual with audio descriptions — turning laboratory data into a consumer-facing product attribute rather than a back-office compliance function.
ZEGO operates a dual GTM: direct-to-consumer via zegofoods.com (subscription tier at 10% off, free shipping over $75, monthly deals) and retail/wholesale through premium and natural grocery chains (Sprouts, Wegmans, Whole Foods mid-Atlantic, Gelson's, Erewhon, Jewel-Osco, Natural Grocers), a 52-location Raley's Get Curious innovation test, online (Vitacost), and wholesale via Faire. Pricing is publicly disclosed online (e.g., Organic Plant Based Protein Powder at $29.99 one-time / $26.99 subscription) while wholesale pricing is available on request. The company has historically been lightly capitalized (a 2017 Techstars round of approximately $120,000) and remains small (1-10 disclosed employees), but the 2024 USDA $3 million Organic Market Development Grant and the 2025 acquisition of the MGFP facility mark an inflection toward scaled capacity and broader retail distribution.
ZEGO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZEGO
- Legal name
- ZEGO Foods
- Website
- https://zegofoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ZEGO Foods is a B Corp-certified clean food company that makes allergen-free, gluten-free, and purity-verified oat cereals, plant protein powders, and fruit/seed bars. It serves people with food allergies, celiac disease, and health-conscious consumers seeking batch-level lab transparency via QR-coded T-CODE tracking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZEGO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic allergen-free breakfast foods and snacks
- NAICS
- Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing (31123), Food Manufacturing (311), Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing (31134)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Bakery Products (2050), Cookies & Crackers (2052)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gluten-Free & Allergen-Friendly Bakery Wholesale (AFAIAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Labeling, Nutrition Facts & Allergen Verification Services (AFALAAAH), Allergen Presence & Cross-Contact Verification (ELISA/PCR; allergen cleaning validation) (AFALAHAB)
Keywords
Where ZEGO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ZEGO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-Commerce: ZEGO sells directly to consumers through its website zegofoods.com, offering one-time purchases and subscription plans. Subscriptions provide a 10% discount and priority shipping. The company ships orders from its Montana facility, typically within hours of order placement, to individual consumers across the US and Canada. This is a primary revenue channel.
- Retail and Wholesale Distribution: ZEGO distributes its products through national and regional grocery chains (Sprouts, Wegmans, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, Gelson's, Erewhon, Jewel-Osco, Raley's) and online retailers (Vitacost). It also sells to independent retailers through wholesale pricing via email and Faire. This is a significant revenue channel alongside DTC.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Organic Plant Based Protein Powder (15oz bag) — one-time purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping threshold for online orders |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Wholesale pricing for retailers |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
ZEGO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZEGO designs, manufactures, and sells organic, gluten-free, top-14-allergen-free breakfast foods and snacks — including oat-based cereals, muesli, nutrition bars, and a Sacha Inchi plant protein powder — produced at a dedicated allergen-free facility. Every product is subject to a Purity Verification program that batch-tests for 500+ agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, gluten, allergens, and mycotoxins, with the resulting lab data made available to consumers via QR code on each package. Products reach customers through the company's own subscription-enabled e-commerce store, national and regional natural-grocery chains, online retailers, and a wholesale marketplace.
Product overview
ZEGO is a clean food company offering purity-verified, allergy-friendly breakfast foods and snacks. The portfolio centers on oat-based products (Double Protein Oats, Superfood Oatmeal Blends, Muesli, Regenerative Organic Oats), a plant-based protein powder (Pure Plant Protein made from Sacha Inchi seeds), and nutrition bars (Seed+Fruit, Just Fruit, Fruit+Chia, Berry Chocolate Decadence, Sunny Day). All products are free from the top 14 allergens, corn-free, certified gluten-free to <10 PPM, and subject to the company's Purity Verification Program that provides batch-level QR code access to test results for heavy metals, glyphosate, pesticides, and allergens.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Montana Gluten Free: A gluten-free brand acquired by ZEGO, offering purity protocol gluten-free oats and products.
Products and services
- Double Protein Oats Organic cold-rolled hulless oats (avena nuda) with higher protein content and digestibility (PDCAAS .65–.72) than conventional heat-processed oats; raw, gluten-free, and produced under Purity Protocol. Targeted at consumers seeking high-protein, allergen-safe breakfast cereals.
- Superfood Oatmeal Blends Pre-mixed oatmeal blends built on Double Protein Oats and fortified with superfruits and adaptogens, available in Blueberry Lemon Poppy and Cinnamon & Spice varieties; targeted at consumers seeking functional, allergen-safe breakfast options.
- Muesli Organic gluten-free muesli cereal in Apple Cranberry and Cinnamon Twist varieties, made with rolled oats and dried fruits and free from nuts and gluten; intended for allergen-restricted consumers.
- Pure Plant Protein (Sacha Inchi Protein Powder) Organic plant-based protein powder made from 100% Sacha Inchi seeds (cold-pressed, roasted, and ground, not chemically isolated); 65% protein by weight, top-14-allergen-free, with a superior amino-acid profile and 20–40% higher digestibility than whey, rice, soy, or pea isolate proteins. Targeted at consumers seeking allergen-safe, clean-label plant protein.
- Regenerative Organic Oats (Regenerative Organic Certified Old Fashioned Rolled Oatmeal) Raw and rolled oats grown under Regenerative Organic Certified farming practices, with lower phytic acid due to active phytase preserved by minimal heat processing; targeted at consumers seeking regenerative-organic, allergen-safe oats.
- Mix-Ins Trail Mix Allergen-friendly trail mix built from seeds and dried fruits, free from the top 14 allergens and gluten; targeted at consumers seeking allergen-safe snacks.
- Seed+Fruit Bars Organic nutrition bars combining Sacha Inchi seeds with dried fruits, leveraging the high omega-3 content of sacha inchi seed oil; targeted at health-conscious consumers needing allergen-safe snack bars.
- Just Fruit Bars Fruit bars made with apples and pears from Columbia River co-op farms in Oregon and Washington; Non-GMO Project verified and targeted at consumers seeking clean-label fruit snacks.
- Fruit+Chia Bars Fruit bars with added chia seeds for nutritional density; Non-GMO Project verified and targeted at consumers seeking allergen-safe snacks with added protein and fiber.
- Berry Chocolate Decadence Bars Indulgent chocolate fruit bars; Non-GMO Project verified and targeted at consumers seeking allergen-safe, better-for-you dessert-style snack bars.
- Sunny Day Bars Breakfast-style fruit bars; Non-GMO Project verified and targeted at consumers seeking allergen-safe grab-and-go breakfast options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Since 2018, ZEGO's tests consistently show no measurable glyphosate in oats at the 10 PPB testing standard (95% confidence level).
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ZEGO
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ZEGO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
ZEGO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- PreparaminorZEGO partnered with Prepara to offer a co-branded giveaway featuring Prepara's Salad Pod and Berry Basket products, designed to encourage customers to make berry overnight oats using ZEGO oats. The giveaway was promoted on ZEGO's Instagram and aimed to drive social media engagement.
- Raley'scoreZEGO launched at Raley's Get Curious Innovation Set in 52 locations of the Raley's grocery chain (including sister brands Nob Hill Foods and Bel-Air) from November 2025 through early January. This is a curated innovation testing program where Raley's showcases new and emerging brands. Products are placed in the front of stores under the Mornings Made Better section. ZEGO aims to convert this test into permanent shelf placement.
- Montana Gluten Free Processors (MGFP)coreZEGO and CIVC acquired the Montana Gluten Free Processors (MGFP) facility in Belgrade, MT. ZEGO acquired Montana Gluten Free's brand DBA and customer accounts. The facility continues operating under both brands, with ZEGO focusing on purity verification, organic, and superfood-based products while Montana Gluten Free continues its existing operations. ZEGO is helping MGFP upgrade equipment and add processing capabilities for ancient grains.
- CIVC LLCcoreZEGO is collaborating with CIVC LLC, a new venture, to acquire and expand the Montana Gluten Free Processors (MGFP) facility in Belgrade, MT. This strategic partnership expands ZEGO's manufacturing capacity and strengthens the mid-tier supply chain for value-added oats and ancient grains in the United States. ZEGO is working with CIVC to upgrade equipment, add purity verification capabilities, and develop co-packing capacity for brands needing top-14-allergen-free and corn-free manufacturing.
- Spokin AppcoreZEGO joined Spokin as a Verified Partner. Spokin's mission is to make managing food allergies and celiac disease easier by connecting the community to safe foods, restaurants, bakeries, travel tips, recipes, and each other. As a Verified Partner, ZEGO's products are listed as trusted options for the food allergy and celiac community within the Spokin platform.
- Food Equality InitiativeminorZEGO donates product to the Food Equality Initiative food bank, which serves people with severe food allergies. This partnership addresses food insecurity among the food allergy community while also supporting ZEGO's B Corp commitment to giving back 2% of gross revenue to the community.
- Sacha Inchi Farmers (Peru)minorZEGO sources sacha inchi seeds from small family farms in Peru. The farming practices are described as 'beyond organic,' and there is an income support program for farming families in case of crop loss. Sacha inchi is grown in the shade of the Amazon Rainforest, helping to maintain rainforest health while providing economic support to smallholder farmers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ZEGO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RXBAR: Protein bar brand owned by Nestlé Health Science, distributed through mainstream grocery and natural channels. Comparable category adjacency to ZEGO's Seed+Fruit and Just Fruit bars, with significantly broader distribution.
- Vital Farms: Public regenerative and pasture-raised food brand distributed across Whole Foods, Sprouts, and mainstream grocery. Comparable to ZEGO on regenerative organic and transparent sourcing story, though in dairy/eggs rather than cereal.
Direct peers
- Bob's Red Mill: Major gluten-free and whole-grain cereal, oat, and baking brand sold through natural and mainstream grocery. Highly comparable to ZEGO on product category (oatmeal, ancient grains, gluten-free) and channel overlap (Sprouts, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers).
- Enjoy Life Foods: Top-14-allergen-free snacks brand (now owned by Mondelez) sold through natural and mainstream grocery. Comparable to ZEGO on allergen-friendly positioning, free-from certifications, and clean ingredient story, though broader in snack formats.
- MadeGood: Allergen-free (top 9) cookies, bars, and granola sold through natural and mainstream grocery. Directly comparable to ZEGO on free-from allergen positioning, school-safe marketing, and natural channel overlap.
- That's it. Clean-label fruit bars made with minimal ingredients (fruit + optional seeds). Comparable to ZEGO on non-GMO, allergen-free, clean-ingredient fruit bar category.
- Purely Elizabeth: Clean-label granola, oatmeal, and granola bar brand sold in Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Target. Directly comparable to ZEGO on premium natural channel, oat/cereal-based portfolio, and clean-ingredient positioning.
- Simple Mills: Clean-label crackers, cookies, and baking mixes sold through Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Target. Comparable to ZEGO on allergen-conscious, better-for-you positioning and natural channel distribution.
Emerging players
- One Degree Organics: Organic, non-GMO, fully transparent oat and cereal brand with a 'transparent supply chain' marketing angle. Direct conceptual competitor to ZEGO's T-CODE traceability and regenerative organic oat positioning.
- Catalina Crunch: DTC-led low-sugar, high-protein cereal and snack brand. Comparable to ZEGO on clean-label, protein-forward cereal positioning, with stronger DTC muscle.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ZEGO social profiles
Digital presenceZEGO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
ZEGO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZEGO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ZEGO subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ZEGO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZEGO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZEGO
What does ZEGO do?
ZEGO designs, manufactures, and sells organic, gluten-free, top-14-allergen-free breakfast foods and snacks — including oat-based cereals, muesli, nutrition bars, and a Sacha Inchi plant protein powder — produced at a dedicated allergen-free facility. Every product is subject to a Purity Verification program that batch-tests for 500+ agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, gluten, allergens, and mycotoxins, with the resulting lab data made available to consumers via QR code on each package. Products reach customers through the company's own subscription-enabled e-commerce store, national and regional natural-grocery chains, online retailers, and a wholesale marketplace.
Is ZEGO a public or private company?
ZEGO is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ZEGO founded?
ZEGO was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ZEGO based?
ZEGO is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does ZEGO make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-Commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail and Wholesale Distribution.
Who are ZEGO's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RXBAR and Vital Farms. Direct peers are Bob's Red Mill, Enjoy Life Foods, MadeGood, That's it., Purely Elizabeth and Simple Mills. Emerging players are One Degree Organics and Catalina Crunch.
Does ZEGO have an API?
No public API is recorded for ZEGO.
What industry is ZEGO in?
ZEGO's product category is Organic allergen-free breakfast foods and snacks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAFAF, Gluten-Free & Allergen-Friendly Bakery Wholesale, with a secondary code of AFALAAAH, Labeling, Nutrition Facts & Allergen Verification Services. Its NAICS code is 31123 and its SIC code is 2000.