Cleveland Kitchen
Cleveland Kitchen is a Cleveland-based fermented foods CPG company producing sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and fermented sauces with live probiotic cultures. Products are sold across 15,000+ U.S. retail stores including Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger, and directly via e-commerce to health-conscious consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCleveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cleveland Kitchen does
Cleveland Kitchen is a privately held consumer packaged goods company founded in 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio, that produces fresh fermented foods using naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria. The company's core products include sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and fermented sauces, all positioned at the intersection of gut-health functional benefits and mainstream flavor appeal. Its proprietary technology centers on a 'lightly fermented' process that delivers live Lactobacillus plantarum cultures (10M-100M CFUs per serving) without the intense sourness of traditional fermentation, produced in a one-of-a-kind 'living microbiome' fermentation facility at the company's Cleveland headquarters.
The company operates a hybrid go-to-market model combining enterprise retail sales with direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Products are distributed across 15,000+ stores nationally through partnerships with major grocery retailers including Walmart (500+ stores), Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, H-E-B, Sprouts, Publix, and Albertsons, as well as through Amazon, Instacart, Hungryroot, and the company's own e-commerce site. The company employs 11-50 people, generates revenue through traditional CPG product sales at varied retail price points, and supports consumer demand through content marketing, brand ambassador programs, and educational content about fermentation science. Revenue mechanics are straightforward CPG unit sales with placement fees and promotional allowances from retail partners.
Founded by Drew Anderson, Mac Anderson, and Luke Visnic, Cleveland Kitchen has raised $23M+ across multiple rounds including a $19M Series A led by Amberstone in June 2022, which funded production facility expansion and the acquisition of pickle manufacturer Sonoma Brinery. The company continues to expand its product portfolio into adjacent categories like mayo-free coleslaw, hot honey jalapenos, and fermented sauces, and has secured a $10M tax credit award (July 2024) to support further capacity buildout. Leadership combines founding operational involvement with a Chief Operations Officer holding a Ph.D. in microbiology who leads fermentation science and product development.
Cleveland Kitchen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cleveland Kitchen
- Legal name
- Cleveland Kitchen Co.
- Website
- https://clevelandkitchen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cleveland Kitchen is a Cleveland-based fermented foods CPG company producing sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and fermented sauces with live probiotic cultures. Products are sold across 15,000+ U.S. retail stores including Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger, and directly via e-commerce to health-conscious consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cleveland Kitchen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fermented Foods / Probiotic Foods
- NAICS
- Fruit and Vegetable Canning, Pickling, and Drying (31142), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114), Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermented & Pickled Fruit & Vegetable Products (Pickles, Kimchi, Sauerkraut) (AFAKAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pickled & Fermented Foods Manufacturing (AFAKACAI), Probiotic, Prebiotic & Gut-Health Foods Manufacturing (Fermented Functional Foods, Synbiotics) (AFAKAJAH)
Keywords
Where Cleveland Kitchen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cleveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cleveland Kitchen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Cleveland Kitchen generates revenue through the sale of fresh fermented and lightly fermented food products including sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and sauces. Products are sold through major retail chains, grocery stores, and e-commerce platforms. This is a traditional CPG revenue model based on product sales at various price points.
- Retail Distribution Partnerships: Revenue is generated through placement fees, promotional allowances, and volume-based sales through retail partners including Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, and other national and regional grocery chains.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cleveland Kitchen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cleveland Kitchen manufactures and sells fresh and lightly fermented foods including sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and sauces, all produced at its Cleveland, Ohio fermentation facility using naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria to deliver live probiotic cultures and gut-health benefits. Products are sold under the Cleveland Kitchen brand through major grocery retailers and e-commerce channels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sauerkraut Naturally fermented cabbage sauerkraut with live probiotic cultures, sold refrigerated in grocery retail and online for health-conscious consumers.
- Pickles Lightly fermented pickles containing live cultures, sold refrigerated in retail and online to consumers seeking gut-healthy snack and condiment options.
- Kimchi Fresh fermented kimchi with live cultures and bold flavor, sold refrigerated in grocery retail and online, including a 24oz Kimchi Pickle Chips SKU launched at Walmart in July 2024.
- Pickled Vegetables Fresh-picked lightly fermented vegetables such as Pickled Red Onions, sold refrigerated in grocery retail and online as condiment and topping options.
- Coleslaw (Classic and Korean) Mayo-free, lightly fermented coleslaw products including Classic Coleslaw (exclusive to Kroger) and Korean Coleslaw (Walmart and H-E-B), positioned as gut-healthy produce-aisle side dishes.
- Fermented Sauces (Everything Sauces and Hot Honey Jalapeños) Gut-friendly fermented sauces including Kimchi Ranch, Dill Pickle Buffalo, and Hot Honey Jalapeños, sold refrigerated at Whole Foods, Target, and other retailers as flavorful condiments.
Quantifiable outcome
- Products contain 100,000,000+ CFU per serving at time of packing for sauerkraut and kimchi
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cleveland Kitchen
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cleveland Kitchen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Cleveland Kitchen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- PureCycle TechnologiesminorPureCycle and IPL Schoeller developed polypropylene tubs and lids incorporating 25 percent post-consumer recycled content. Cleveland Kitchen launched the first food-contact grocery container using PureFive resin in late June 2026, representing the first full commercial production of a food-contact grocery container made with PureCycle's dissolution recycling process.
- Sonoma BrinerycoreCleveland Kitchen acquired Sonoma Brinery, a pickle manufacturer, using Series A funding. This acquisition strengthened Cleveland Kitchen's position in the fermented foods market and expanded their product portfolio.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cleveland Kitchen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wildbrine: Direct competitor in the fresh-fermented and probiotic vegetable category, offering sauerkraut, kimchi, and other live-culture products through natural and mainstream grocery channels.
- Farmhouse Culture: Direct peer in gut-health fermented vegetables and kraut-based products, including sauerkraut, kimchi, and gut shots sold through natural and conventional grocery retail.
- Bubbies: Direct competitor in the refrigerated pickle and fermented vegetable space, with national grocery distribution and a focus on naturally fermented, probiotic-rich products.
- The Real Dill: Direct peer specializing in fermented pickles and Bloody Mary mixes, sold through natural grocery and DTC — overlapping with Cleveland Kitchen's lightly fermented pickle positioning.
- Olive My Pickle: Direct competitor offering naturally fermented pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, and probiotic condiments through DTC and select retail channels.
- Sonoma Brinery: Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cleveland Kitchen; historically a direct peer in small-batch fermented pickles and sauerkraut, acquired in 2022.
- Mama O's Premium Kimchi: Direct competitor in the premium kimchi category, sold through natural and specialty grocery retailers with similar live-culture claims.
Emerging players
- True Made Foods: Emerging player in vegetable-based, lower-sugar condiments and sauces — comparable gut-health positioning and overlap with Cleveland Kitchen's Everything Sauces line.
Broad incumbents
- Bragg Live Food Products: Broader CPG incumbent in the health-and-wellness foods space with overlapping gut-health positioning across dressings, supplements, and condiments; serves similar mainstream natural channels.
Others
- Whole Foods Market (365 brand): Key retail partner and adjacent private-label operator of fermented and gut-health products (365 by Whole Foods Market), representing both a customer and a competitive private-label threat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cleveland Kitchen social profiles
Digital presenceCleveland Kitchen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cleveland Kitchen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Cleveland Kitchen subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Cleveland Kitchen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cleveland Kitchen 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 Cleveland Kitchen
What does Cleveland Kitchen do?
Cleveland Kitchen manufactures and sells fresh and lightly fermented foods including sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, coleslaw, and sauces, all produced at its Cleveland, Ohio fermentation facility using naturally occurring lactic acid bacteria to deliver live probiotic cultures and gut-health benefits. Products are sold under the Cleveland Kitchen brand through major grocery retailers and e-commerce channels.
Is Cleveland Kitchen a public or private company?
Cleveland Kitchen is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cleveland Kitchen founded?
Cleveland Kitchen was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cleveland Kitchen based?
Cleveland Kitchen is headquartered in Cleveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cleveland Kitchen make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consumer Packaged Goods Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution Partnerships.
Who are Cleveland Kitchen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wildbrine, Farmhouse Culture, Bubbies, The Real Dill, Olive My Pickle, Sonoma Brinery and Mama O's Premium Kimchi. True Made Foods is listed as an emerging player. Bragg Live Food Products is listed as a broad incumbent. Whole Foods Market (365 brand) is listed as an others.
Does Cleveland Kitchen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cleveland Kitchen.
What industry is Cleveland Kitchen in?
Cleveland Kitchen's product category is Fermented Foods / Probiotic Foods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAFAF, Fermented & Pickled Fruit & Vegetable Products (Pickles, Kimchi, Sauerkraut), with a secondary code of AFAKACAI, Pickled & Fermented Foods Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 31142 and its SIC code is 2033.