CalorieKing
CalorieKing operates a clinically-verified nutritional database of 80,000+ foods, delivering it through consumer mobile apps, printed reference books, and a B2B Food API/Data License sold to healthcare providers, pharma, medical device makers, and app developers across the US, Australia, and the UK.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What CalorieKing does
CalorieKing, operated by CalorieKing Wellness Solutions Inc., is a privately held nutrition-data company headquartered in San Diego, USA, with roots dating to 1973 when founder Allan Borushek published the first Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter in Australia (US edition in 1988). The company built and maintains a proprietary nutritional database covering 80,000+ foods — brand-name products, generics, and items from 200+ fast-food chains and restaurants — under a model in which dietitians and food researchers manually verify each entry to clinical standards and continuously update it as manufacturers reformulate. This verified dataset is the firm's central technical asset and is delivered through four distribution surfaces: consumer mobile apps (ControlMyWeight for iOS; Food Search for iOS and Android), printed reference books (15M+ copies of the Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter sold lifetime), a free web database and health calculators, and a developer-facing Food API plus downloadable Data License for enterprise integration.
CalorieKing operates a hybrid consumer/B2B revenue model. On the consumer side, the company monetizes through one-time app purchases (ControlMyWeight), freemium ad-supported mobile apps with optional paid ad removal (Food Search), and physical/digital book sales through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and bulk direct orders. On the B2B side, CalorieKing licenses its nutritional database via a JSON Food API and a downloadable Data License to health plans, medical device makers, pharmaceutical and nutrition companies, fitness operators, and CPG/food manufacturers — disclosed partners include Aetna, BD, Sanofi, Insulet, Fernwood Fitness, dotFIT, Nutricia, and Nestle. Pricing for the API and Data License is not publicly disclosed and is handled through direct sales contact.
The company serves three primary customer segments: health-conscious general consumers tracking daily intake; people with diabetes and clinicians requiring accurate carbohydrate data (the company's content has been co-authored with the Joslin Diabetes Center); and healthcare providers, app developers, and consumer health companies requiring verified, clinically-accurate nutritional data without the user-submitted errors common in competing apps. Regional localization spans the United States (with Spanish), Australia (the original market), and the United Kingdom, with additional regions planned. The company is privately held, founder-led, and has no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investment.
CalorieKing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CalorieKing
- Legal name
- CalorieKing Wellness Solutions
- Website
- https://calorieking.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CalorieKing operates a clinically-verified nutritional database of 80,000+ foods, delivering it through consumer mobile apps, printed reference books, and a B2B Food API/Data License sold to healthcare providers, pharma, medical device makers, and app developers across the US, Australia, and the UK.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CalorieKing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nutrition Data Software
- NAICS
- Diet and Weight Reducing Centers (812191)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Nutrition Facts / Nutrition Panel Verification (macro/micro nutrients, calories) (AFALAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Nutrition Coaching (HSADAFAA), Meal Planning & Prep Coaching (Macros, Grocery Guidance) (HSADAFAN)
Keywords
Where CalorieKing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CalorieKing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- ControlMyWeight App (iOS): One-time purchase for unlimited, advertising-free use of the calorie counter app for iPhone and iPad. No monthly subscriptions or hidden fees.
- Food Search App: Free version supported by advertising. Option to permanently remove adverts for a small fee. Available on iOS and Android.
- Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter Books: Physical book sales through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Bulk pricing for 40+ copies sold directly from CalorieKing. Authored by Allan Borushek.
- Food API Access: Developer licensing for API access providing fast development time and reduced maintenance costs for third-party health apps.
- Data License: Downloadable food database package for full offline access. Enables developers to implement their own algorithms and build offline-capable products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | ControlMyWeight - One-time purchase app |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Food Search App - Freemium model |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter Book |
| Subscription | Annual | Food API - B2B licensing |
| Subscription | Annual | Data License - B2B licensing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
CalorieKing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CalorieKing operates a clinically-verified food nutrition database covering over 80,000 foods including brand-name products, generic foods, and restaurant menu items. The database is delivered to consumers through mobile apps (ControlMyWeight for iOS, Food Search for iOS/Android), printed reference books, and a free website; developers and healthcare partners access the same data through a JSON Food API and a downloadable Data License.
Product overview
CalorieKing is a food nutrition and calorie management platform offering a comprehensive suite of products for weight control and healthy eating. The core offering consists of a food database (80,000+ foods) with verified nutritional information, accessible through multiple channels: mobile apps (ControlMyWeight for iOS, Food Search for iOS/Android), printed books (CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter with 15M+ copies sold), developer tools (Food API and Data License), and free web-based calculators (BMI, Waist-Hip Ratio, Target Heart Rate, Calorie Needs). The ecosystem serves both consumers tracking daily food intake and developers building health-related applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ControlMyWeight™: Top-rated calorie counter app for iPhone and iPad that helps users make smarter food choices. Features personalized calorie targets, verified food data, and weight loss progress tracking.
Products and services
- ControlMyWeight Top-rated calorie counter app for iPhone and iPad that provides personalized calorie targets and helps users track food intake to lose, maintain, or control weight. Features verified food data from CalorieKing's database with no confusing points systems, no special foods to buy, and no monthly subscriptions; sold as a one-time purchase with unlimited, advertising-free use.
- Food Search Free mobile app for iOS and Android providing calorie, fat, carbohydrate, and protein counts for over 150,000 foods including 260 fast-food chains and restaurants. Includes protein, fiber, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and alcohol counts; supported by advertising with an option to permanently remove ads for a small fee.
- CalorieKing Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter Printed reference book containing 17,000+ food listings (brand name and generic) with menus from 200 fast-food chains and restaurants. Includes counters for alcohol, caffeine, fat and cholesterol, fiber, protein, iron, and sodium; over 15 million copies sold to date.
- Food & Exercise Journal Printed companion journal used in conjunction with the Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter for tracking food intake and exercise, sold as part of the CalorieKing books product line.
- Food API JSON-based API providing programmatic access to CalorieKing's verified nutritional database for third-party app developers and healthcare partners. Features include multi-region support (US and Australia), tags for food identification, category browsing, comprehensive nutrient data, and reduced maintenance costs.
- Data License Downloadable database package providing full offline access to CalorieKing's food database for enterprise developers. Enables partners to implement their own algorithms and build offline-capable health and nutrition applications.
- Food Database Online nutritional database of 80,000+ foods covering brand-name and generic foods plus fast-food and restaurant menu items across categories including alcoholic drinks, breakfast cereals, beverages, breads, and snacks; free to browse on the CalorieKing website.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15+ million copies sold of Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter book
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CalorieKing
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CalorieKing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CalorieKing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered selected partner, partner and strategic.
- Aetnaselected partnerAetna is listed as a selected partner, indicating integration of CalorieKing's trusted food database into Aetna's health and wellness offerings for members.
- Anytime Healthselected partnerAnytime Health partners with CalorieKing to provide verified nutritional information as part of their health content platform.
- BDselected partnerBD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) is a selected partner, utilizing CalorieKing food data in their healthcare solutions.
- Sanofiselected partnerSanofi partners with CalorieKing, integrating trusted nutrition data into their health and wellness offerings for patients.
- InsuletpartnerInsulet, a medical device company specializing in insulin delivery systems, uses CalorieKing food database for diabetes management applications.
- Fernwood FitnesspartnerFernwood Fitness uses CalorieKing's database for their fitness and weight management programs in Australia.
- dotFITpartnerdotFIT integrates CalorieKing nutritional data into their fitness and nutrition platform offerings.
- NutriciapartnerNutricia, a healthcare nutrition company, partners with CalorieKing to provide verified food data for their products and services.
- NestlepartnerNestle uses CalorieKing's trusted food database as part of their health and wellness technology ecosystem.
- Joslin Diabetes CenterstrategicThe world-renowned Joslin Diabetes Center co-authored the diabetes section of CalorieKing's book, lending clinical credibility to their nutrition resources for diabetes management.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CalorieKing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nutritionix: B2B nutrition data API and database provider used by health apps, restaurants, and enterprise platforms. Most directly comparable to CalorieKing's Food API and Data License business lines.
- Lose It!: Consumer weight loss app with food database, barcode scanner, and premium subscription. Direct competitor in the calorie-tracking app category alongside CalorieKing's ControlMyWeight.
- MyNetDiary: Calorie counter and food diary app with verified nutritional data and diabetes-friendly tracking features. Direct peer in the verified-data, diabetes-focused segment of the consumer calorie tracking market.
- Cronometer: Nutrition tracking app known for verified, high-accuracy nutrient data sourced from the Nutrition Coordinating Center (NCC) database. Closest direct peer to CalorieKing in emphasizing clinically verified data over user-submitted entries.
- MyFitnessPal: The dominant consumer calorie and nutrition tracking app, offering a large crowdsourced food database and subscription premium tier. Direct competitor to CalorieKing's ControlMyWeight and Food Search apps, though it relies on user-submitted entries rather than CalorieKing's verified approach.
- FatSecret: Global calorie counting and food database platform with both consumer apps and an API for developers. Comparable to CalorieKing's dual consumer-plus-B2B/API offering, with similar free-with-premium positioning.
Broad incumbents
- WW International (Weight Watchers): Established weight management brand offering structured programs, food tracking, and coaching at scale. Operates more broadly than CalorieKing with a heavier emphasis on coaching and subscription programs rather than verified nutritional data infrastructure.
- Noom: Subscription-based weight management app combining food logging with coaching and psychology. Competes with CalorieKing's CalorieKing Program in the consumer weight management category but operates a much broader coaching-driven model.
Emerging players
- Eat This Much: Automated meal planning app that generates personalized meal plans based on calorie and macro targets. Adjacent competitor in the nutrition planning category that builds on top of food database infrastructure similar to CalorieKing.
- Open Food Facts: Open-source collaborative food product database with global coverage and an API. Comparable to CalorieKing's data offering but crowdsourced and free, representing a low-cost alternative for developers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CalorieKing social profiles
Digital presenceCalorieKing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CalorieKing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CalorieKing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CalorieKing 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 CalorieKing
What does CalorieKing do?
CalorieKing operates a clinically-verified food nutrition database covering over 80,000 foods including brand-name products, generic foods, and restaurant menu items. The database is delivered to consumers through mobile apps (ControlMyWeight for iOS, Food Search for iOS/Android), printed reference books, and a free website; developers and healthcare partners access the same data through a JSON Food API and a downloadable Data License.
Is CalorieKing a public or private company?
CalorieKing is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CalorieKing founded?
CalorieKing was founded in 1973. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CalorieKing based?
CalorieKing is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does CalorieKing make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. ControlMyWeight App (iOS) is the primary driver. The others are food Search App, calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter Books, food API Access and data License.
Who are CalorieKing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nutritionix, Lose It!, MyNetDiary, Cronometer, MyFitnessPal and FatSecret. Broad incumbents are WW International (Weight Watchers) and Noom. Emerging players are Eat This Much and Open Food Facts.
Does CalorieKing have an API?
Yes. CalorieKing provides a JSON API for access to their nutritional database. Features include: no duplicate foods, comprehensive nutrient coverage, continuous updates, verified data quality, multi-region localization (US and Australia), tags for building complex logic, extensive fast-food chain and restaurant coverage, and category browsing. Benefits include fast development time and reduced maintenance costs. Developer documentation is at www.calorieking.com/us/en/developers/food-api/documentation.
What industry is CalorieKing in?
CalorieKing's product category is Nutrition Data Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAHAA, Nutrition Facts / Nutrition Panel Verification (macro/micro nutrients, calories), with a secondary code of HSADAFAA, General Nutrition Coaching. Its NAICS code is 812191.