4C Foods Corp.

What 4C Foods Corp. does

4C Foods Corp. is a family-owned food and beverage manufacturer founded in 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, operating four core product categories: grated Italian cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, and HomeStyle blends in jars and canisters); bread crumbs (Seasoned, Plain, Panko, Whole Wheat, Salt Free, Gluten Free, and Spicy variants); iced tea and drink mixes (canister, Stix, and Pitcher Pack formats in regular, Reduced Sugar, and Zero Sugar); and Energy Stix including an Energy + Electrolytes variant. The core technology is food manufacturing and beverage formulation, anchored by a proprietary family recipe for seasoned bread crumbs unchanged across four generations, 100% imported Pecorino Romano cheese aged 5-10 months with no additives or cellulose, and energy formulations delivering 130-200mg of caffeine with Taurine and Vitamin B. The company also holds kosher certification on all beverages and gluten-free certification from the Gluten Free Certifying Organization on its GF crumb line.

Revenue is generated through Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sales via broad retail distribution in US supermarkets and supercenters, complemented by international wholesale distribution across Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. Direct-to-consumer channels include a branded Amazon storefront and the company's e-commerce site, while a dedicated Military Agent Program supplies products to US military personnel and families. Pricing is unit-based across a wide range of pack sizes (e.g., bread crumbs from 8oz to 46oz; Stix in 18-pk, 24-pk, 350-pk, and 500-pk formats; drink mix canisters yielding 22-45 quarts).

The customer base is primarily general consumer/retail shoppers — everyday American families and individuals purchasing through grocery and e-commerce — with secondary outreach to younger consumers through college campus sampling, NASCAR event sampling, beach volleyball sponsorship, and presenting sponsorship of BIKE NEW YORK's TD Five Boro Bike Tour. The company is led by Frank Celauro as President, continuing the Celauro family's multi-generational ownership, and is headquartered in Brooklyn, NY with 101-250 employees across corporate and production facilities.

Name

4C Foods Corp.

Legal name

4C Foods Corp.

Website

https://4c.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

4C Foods Corp. is a family-owned Brooklyn-based food and beverage manufacturer founded in 1935, producing grated Italian cheeses, bread crumbs, iced tea and drink mixes, and energy stix for US supermarket and international wholesale distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Packaged Foods (Grated Cheese, Bread Crumbs, Drink Mixes)

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing (3118)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Bakery Products (2050), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Cheese (Natural & Processed) (CRADACAC)

Keywords

• Grated cheese products
• Bread crumbs
• Iced tea mixes
• Energy drink mixes
• Consumer packaged foods

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Sales: 4C Foods generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of food and beverage CPG products including grated cheeses, bread crumbs, iced tea/drink mixes, and energy drinks through retail grocery channels, supermarkets, supercenters, and e-commerce platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

4C Foods Corp. is a family-owned food manufacturer founded in 1935 in Brooklyn, NY that produces and sells grated Italian cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, blends), bread crumbs (seasoned, plain, panko, whole wheat, gluten-free, salt-free, spicy), iced tea and drink mixes in canisters, stix and pitcher packs, and energy drink stix. Products are sold through supermarkets, supercenters, e-commerce and a dedicated military sales channel across the United States and internationally.

Product overview

4C Foods Corp. is a family-owned food manufacturing company founded in 1935 in Brooklyn, NY, producing four core product categories: (1) Grated Italian cheeses including Parmesan, Romano, and blended HomeStyle varieties in jars and canisters; (2) Bread crumbs including Seasoned, Plain, Panko (Seasoned and Plain), Whole Wheat, Salt Free, Gluten Free, and Spicy varieties; (3) Iced Tea and Drink Mixes in canisters, single-serve Stix packets, and Pitcher Packs with regular, reduced-sugar, and zero-sugar options; and (4) Energy Stix drink mix packets enhanced with Taurine and Vitamin B, including Energy+Electrolytes variants. All products are available in supermarkets and supercenters across the United States with distribution also in Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central & South America, Europe, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grated Italian Cheese (Parmesan, Romano, Parmesan-Romano Blend, HomeStyle Three Cheese) Grated Italian cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Parmesan-Romano Blend, and HomeStyle Three Cheese) aged over 5-10 months, 100% natural with no additives, preservatives, cellulose or fillers, available in jars, shaker-top canisters, and shredded formats for home cooking consumers.
• Seasoned Bread Crumbs Seasoned bread crumbs made with freshly toasted bread blended with herbs, spices and 100% Pecorino Romano cheese using a secret family recipe unchanged for over four generations, available in 15oz, 24oz, and 46oz sizes for home cooking consumers.
• Plain Bread Crumbs Plain toasted bread crumbs with even texture, serving as a versatile base that lets consumers add their own seasonings, available in 15oz, 24oz, and 46oz sizes.
• Panko Bread Crumbs (Seasoned and Plain) Japanese-style panko bread crumbs in Seasoned and Plain varieties, larger and flakier than regular bread crumbs for lighter, crunchier coatings on chicken and shrimp, available in 8oz, 13oz, and 25oz sizes.
• Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs 100% whole wheat seasoned bread crumbs infused with herbs, spices, and 100% imported Pecorino Romano cheese, providing whole grain goodness for health-conscious home cooking consumers.
• Salt Free Bread Crumbs Sodium-free seasoned bread crumbs made with a unique blend of herbs and spices, allowing consumers to limit sodium intake without sacrificing taste.
• Gluten Free Crumbs Gluten-free bread crumbs certified by the Gluten Free Certifying Organization, made with rice flour for a light and crispy texture, available in Seasoned, Plain, and Panko Plain varieties for gluten-intolerant consumers.
• Spicy Crumbs Spicy bread crumbs packed with a fiery blend of peppers and 4C's signature mix of herbs, spices and Pecorino Romano cheese, available in Panko (8oz, 13oz) and regular Crumbs (15oz) formats.
• Iced Tea & Drink Mixes (Canisters) Powdered iced tea and drink mixes (Lemon, Peach, Raspberry, Green, Decaf, Half & Half, lemonade and fruit punch variants) sweetened with real sugar and containing 100% Vitamin C, packaged in easy-open canisters with measuring scoops yielding 9-45 quarts per container.
• Reduced Sugar Drink Mixes Reduced-sugar beverage mixes sweetened with Stevia and cane sugar, offering 50% less sugar than standard offerings with only 50 calories per serving, available in Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Sweet Tea, and Lemon Iced Tea varieties.
• Iced Tea & Drink Mix Stix Single-serving drink mix packets yielding 16.9-20oz per packet, sugar-free with 100% Vitamin C and no sodium (varies by flavor), available in 24-packs and bulk 500-packs across multiple flavors for on-the-go consumers.
• Iced Tea & Drink Mix Pitcher Packs Concentrated drink mix packets for making pitcher servings, sugar-free with 5 calories and 100% Vitamin C, each box making 14 quarts with 7 packets, available in Green Iced Tea and Half & Half Iced Tea/Lemonade flavors.
• Zero Sugar Iced Tea Mix Sugar-free, low-calorie iced tea mixes with no added sugar and 100% Vitamin C, available in Green, Half & Half, Decaf, Raspberry, and Lemon flavors, packaged in canisters yielding 22-45 quarts with a measuring scoop.
• Energy Stix Energy drink mix packets enhanced with Taurine and Vitamin B, lightly carbonated with only 15 calories and marketed as providing two times more energy than competition at a lower price, available in Berry, Orange, Citrus, Half & Half, Green Tea, plus Energy+Electrolytes varieties (200mg caffeine) in Grape, Strawberry, and Lemonade.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4C Energy Stix provide two times more energy than the competition for less money
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island SCminorOthers4C Foods contributed its Seasoned Breadcrumbs as a key ingredient for the World's Largest Meatball Guinness World Record event (1,707 lbs, 8 oz) organized by the Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island SC for charitable hunger relief. 4C was honored to participate in this momentous charitable event.
• BIKE NEW YORKcoreGTM or Marketing Partner4C Foods is a Presenting Sponsor of BIKE NEW YORK, participating in the TD Five Boro Bike Tour where over 32,000 cyclists traveled 40 miles through all five boroughs of New York City. 4C Foods handed out thousands of free samples of Totally Light Drink Mixes and Energy Rush Drink Mixes.
• Volley AmericaminorGTM or Marketing Partner4C Foods Totally Light Energy Rush has been a recurring sponsor of East End Volleyball and Volley America beach volleyball events in the Atlantic City area, with product sampling at events.
• Pole Position MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPole Position Magazine facilitated 4C Foods' product sampling event at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina during NASCAR events, where 4C offered free samples of Totally Light 2Go drink mixes.
• College Campuses (various)minorGTM or Marketing Partner4C Foods representatives conducted on-campus sampling events at several college campuses, distributing samples of Totally Light 2GO Energy Rush Stix to students, with special college pricing and promotions offered through the 4C E-Store.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BelGioioso Cheese: BelGioioso is a family-owned Italian cheese manufacturer offering grated Parmesan, Romano, and Italian cheese blends. Directly comparable to 4C's grated cheese product line in both product format and channel (US grocery retail).
• Sargento: Sargento is a major US natural cheese brand with strong presence in shredded/grated Italian cheese varieties. Competes directly with 4C in grated cheese across US supermarket and supercenter channels.
• Mrs. Cubbison's: Mrs. Cubbison's is a heritage California-based brand specializing in bread crumbs, stuffing, and seasoned coatings. Directly comparable to 4C's bread crumb product line including seasoned, plain, and panko varieties.
• Crystal Light (Kraft Heinz): Crystal Light is a leading powdered drink mix brand competing directly with 4C's iced tea and drink mix line in the zero/low-calorie beverage aisle of US grocery.
• 5-hour Energy: 5-hour Energy is the leading shot/stix-format energy product in US convenience and grocery channels, directly competing with 4C's Energy Stix line on format, positioning, and shelf placement.
• Mio (Kraft Heinz): Mio is a leading liquid water enhancer/stix-format beverage product owned by Kraft Heinz, directly comparable to 4C's single-serve drink mix stix and energy stix formats in US retail.

Broad incumbents

• Kraft Heinz (Kraft Cheese): Kraft Heinz offers grated Parmesan/Romano cheese products through its Kraft brand, directly competing with 4C in the grated cheese category as part of a much broader CPG portfolio.
• Contadina (Nestlé): Contadina, owned by Nestlé, markets bread crumbs and Italian meal components, overlapping with 4C's bread crumb portfolio as part of Nestlé's broader food portfolio.
• Progresso (General Mills): Progresso, owned by General Mills, markets Italian-style bread crumbs and breadcrumbs alongside its soup and prepared meal portfolio. Overlaps with 4C's bread crumb category through major US retail distribution.
• Lipton (Unilever): Lipton is a global iced tea brand that competes with 4C's iced tea mix portfolio across US supermarkets and international markets as part of Unilever's broad beverage portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/4cfoods
• Instagraminstagram.com/4cfoods
• TikToktiktok.com/@4cenergyrush?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4c-foods-corp-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 4C Foods Corp.