Heritage Foods USA
Heritage Foods USA is a Brooklyn-based specialty e-commerce retailer founded in 2001 that sells 100% heritage breed meats — including Akaushi Wagyu beef, five heritage pork breeds, Standardbred poultry, lamb, and goat — sourced exclusively from a curated network of US family farms, serving discerning home cooks via heritagefoods.com and fine-dining restaurants via wholesale.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Heritage Foods USA does
Heritage Foods USA is a Brooklyn-based specialty meat e-commerce company founded in 2001 that sources 100% heritage breed livestock exclusively from a closed network of US family farms and sells via a Shopify-powered DTC storefront (heritagefoods.com) and a B2B wholesale division serving hundreds of restaurants and butcher shops coast-to-coast. The company carries Akaushi Wagyu beef from HeartBrand Ranch (Texas), heritage pork across five breeds (Berkshire, Red Wattle, Duroc, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Tamworth), Standardbred poultry from Frank Reese's Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch (the last Standardbred hatchery in the US), heritage lamb from Tamarack Farm (Vermont), heritage goat from Shannon Creek Farm, and artisan charcuterie (Tempesta, Broadbent's est. 1909, Volpi est. 1902, Smoking Goose). The product catalog spans individual cuts, curated packages, breed-tasting kits, six subscription clubs (Steak, Chop, Bacon, Sausage, Poultry, Shaved Deli Ham at $110-$169/month), historically-themed Bicentennial/Semiquincentennial boxes, digital gift cards ($25-$500), and artisan cheeses.
The underlying supply chain technology is a closed-network whole-herd purchasing model: Heritage Foods commits to buying entire flocks and herds from each partner farm, enabling a nose-to-tail program with specialty cuts (pork head, trotters, caul fat, leaf lard, offal) unavailable through commodity channels. Sourcing relationships are anchored by domain experts including David Newman (Ph.D meat science and muscle biology, Berkshire genetics traceable to 17th-18th century English bloodlines), Larry and Madonna Sorell (Red Wattle conservation network across 5 states with 18 Amish families), and Craig Good (Duroc genetics spanning 85 years). Akaushi Wagyu is DNA-verified for breed purity. All animals are pasture-raised and antibiotic-free.
The business model combines three revenue streams: one-time DTC meat sales at premium price points (e.g., $98/14-16oz Wagyu ribeye, $222+ bone-in ribeye roast), recurring subscription clubs across six SKUs ($110-$169/month), and B2B wholesale to restaurants. Pricing is layered with tiered shipping ($28-$46 by order value, +$35 overnight), a $40 gift certificate threshold at $399+ orders, and a multi-tier loyalty program (free pork chops every 5th order, free gift from 6th order, $250 Rare Breed Membership at 25th order). Go-to-market relies on owned digital media (recipe blog, email newsletter, YouTube/Vimeo cooking videos), organic social (Facebook, X, Instagram), and earned media positioning as the leading nonindustrial meat brand per The New York Times. The company operates as private, founder-owned, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or revenue figures, and runs a single Brooklyn headquarters with fulfillment shipping nationwide Monday-Thursday.
Heritage Foods USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heritage Foods USA
- Legal name
- Heritage Foods
- Website
- https://heritagefoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Heritage Foods USA is a Brooklyn-based specialty e-commerce retailer founded in 2001 that sells 100% heritage breed meats — including Akaushi Wagyu beef, five heritage pork breeds, Standardbred poultry, lamb, and goat — sourced exclusively from a curated network of US family farms, serving discerning home cooks via heritagefoods.com and fine-dining restaurants via wholesale.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heritage Foods USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Meat Retail
- NAICS
- Meat Retailers (44524), Meat Retailers (445240), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Retail-Food Stores (5400), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty & Exotic Meats Retail (Game, Halal, Kosher) (CRAHAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Specialty & Regional Processed Meats (Ethnic/Traditional Sausages, Regional Cures) (AFANAEAK)
Keywords
Where Heritage Foods USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Heritage Foods USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Meat Sales: Heritage Foods generates primary revenue through direct online sales of heritage breed beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, and charcuterie. Products are sold as individual cuts, curated packages, breed-tasting kits, and seasonal/specialty boxes. Shipping fees are layered on top, with free gift certificates for orders over $399.
- Subscription / Meat-of-the-Month Clubs: Multiple subscription options including Steak of the Month Club, Chop of the Month Club, Bacon of the Month Club, Sausage of the Month Club, Poultry of the Month Club, and Monthly Shaved Heritage Deli Ham. These provide recurring monthly revenue.
- Gift Cards: Digital gift cards sold in preset denominations ($25–$500), delivered as PDFs to recipient inboxes. Drives new customer acquisition and gifting revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Steak of the Month Club — monthly steak delivery for 3-6 people |
| Subscription | Monthly | Chop of the Month Club — monthly heritage chop delivery for 2-4 people |
| Subscription | Monthly | Bacon of the Month Club — monthly new bacon style delivery |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sausage of the Month Club — monthly sausage delivery |
| Subscription | Monthly | Poultry of the Month Club — monthly poultry cut delivery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Akaushi Wagyu cuts and packages — priced per item or per pound |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping cost by order total |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Gift cards in preset denominations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Heritage Foods USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Heritage Foods USA is an e-commerce platform that sells heritage breed meats directly to consumers and restaurants across the United States. The company sources exclusively from a closed network of partner farms raising 100% heritage breed livestock (Berkshire, Red Wattle, Duroc, Tamworth, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Akaushi Wagyu, Standardbred poultry), and ships pasture-raised, antibiotic-free beef, pork, lamb, goat, turkey, poultry, charcuterie, and artisan cheeses via its online storefront and B2B wholesale channel.
Product overview
Heritage Foods USA is an e-commerce platform specializing in heritage breed meats, operating as a direct-to-consumer online butcher shop. The company offers a single unified platform with integrated product catalog across multiple protein categories: Akaushi Wagyu beef, heritage pork (five breeds), heritage lamb and goat, turkey and poultry from Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch, artisan charcuterie, and artisan cheeses. Products range from individual cuts (steaks, chops, ribs) to curated packages, subscription clubs (Bacon, Sausage, Poultry, Steak, and Chop of the Month), and gift cards. The company operates a nose-to-tail program sourcing exclusively from their partner farm network, with all meats pasture-raised and antibiotic-free. Core offerings include the Signature Akaushi Wagyu line, Porterhouse Pork Chops (top seller), specialty cuts, and Bicentennial/Semiquincentennial Celebration Boxes marking American historical milestones.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Akaushi Wagyu Beef
Quantifiable outcome
- Red Wattle pig upgraded from Critical to Threatened status on The Livestock Conservancy's watch list, thanks to Larry and Madonna Sorell's conservation breeding network
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Heritage Foods USA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Heritage Foods USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Heritage Foods USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HeartBrand Ranch / Beeman FamilycoreFifth-generation Texas cattle ranchers maintaining Akaushi genetics through DNA verification. Heritage Foods sources its Signature Akaushi Wagyu beef exclusively from this operation. The Beeman family accessed the Akaushi breed via a 1994 Trade Act loophole, importing three bulls and eight cows via a custom-equipped Boeing 747.
- Paradise Locker MeatscoreAbattoir/butcher shop located outside Kansas City that processes all Heritage Foods beef. The relationship began in 2001 when Doug Metzger connected Heritage Foods to the facility. The company has grown alongside Paradise Locker for over 20 years.
- Frank Reese / Good Shepherd Poultry RanchcoreFrank Reese operates the last hatchery in the nation for Standardbred poultry. All Heritage Foods turkey, chicken, duck, and goose products are raised through the Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch Network. He raises Bronze turkeys and New Hampshire chickens that face extinction without consumer support.
- Newman Farm Berkshire Pork (David Newman)coreDavid Newman (Ph.D in meat science and muscle biology) operates Newman Farm in Myrtle, Missouri, raising purebred Berkshire pigs traceable to 17th–18th century English bloodlines. Started with a handwritten letter in 2006; now a flagship heritage pork supplier. Sows raise piglets on-pasture in huts across the Ozarks.
- Larry and Madonna Sorell / Lazy Red Wattle RanchcoreLarry and Madonna Sorell founded the Red Wattle conservation network spanning 5 states and 18 Amish families. They traveled 18,000 miles to gather viable Red Wattle genetics. Their work upgraded the Red Wattle from Critical to Threatened status on the Livestock Conservancy's watch list. The relationship began in 2002 for turkey production and expanded to Red Wattle pork in 2004.
- Craig and Amy Good / Good FarmcoreGood Farm in Olsburg, Kansas raises Duroc (85-year-old lineage sourced from Sears & Roebucks), Gloucestershire Old Spot, and Tamworth pigs on Flint Hills pasture. Craig Good's herd traces back to original Sears females from the 1940s. As of 2024, operations transitioned to Dustin and Maria Torneden.
- Doug Metzger / Metzger FarmcoreDoug Metzger (1938–2023) was a founding partner who connected Heritage Foods to Paradise Locker Meats and helped launch the heritage pork program in 2001. Raised purebred Berkshire and Tamworth pigs on 1,500 acres in Seneca, Kansas. Genetics now managed by Robert Funk. Farm supported by Doug's daughter Marilyn and her family.
- 20/20 Cattle Co (Kentucky)minorKentucky-based cattle operation supplying Kentucky F1 Wagyu beef for Heritage Foods brisket and ground beef products.
- Tamarack Farm (Vermont)coreVermont farm supplying Heritage Foods' Tunis and Dorset Horn heritage lamb. Provides lamb cuts including rack, leg, loin chops, shanks, shoulder, neck, and offal.
- Shannon Creek FarmminorSupplier of heritage goat cuts for Heritage Foods' annual GOATOBER celebration. Provides goat rack, leg, shanks, shoulder, loin chops, ribs with belly, bones, and offal.
- Anne Saxelby Legacy FundminorHeritage Foods partners with dairies connected through the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, a non-profit supporting artisan cheese and heritage food culture. Cheese suppliers including FireFly Farms Cave Dweller Goat Cheese are sourced through these connections.
- Tempesta ArtisanscoreChicago-based artisan curemaster producing Heritage Foods' signature bacon, pancetta, finocchiona salami, nduja, Berkshire guanciale, mortadella, heritage porchetta, and smoked turkey breast. Aged Berkshire bellies for four months. A key artisan partner for charcuterie and prepared meat products.
- Broadbent's (est. 1909)coreKentucky institution since 1909 producing dry-cured country ham and applewood smoked bacon for Heritage Foods. Hams aged 18–24 months; offerings include Benton's Extra-Aged Ham (20–27 months) and Broadbent Heritage Dry Cured Country Ham.
- Volpi Foods (est. 1902)coreSt. Louis-based artisan producer since 1902 supplying Heritage Foods with heritage prosciutto (aged 18 months) and other charcuterie products.
- Smoking Goose (Denver)coreDenver-based artisan curing house producing Wagyu Big Red Salame (with porcini mushrooms, garlic, and black pepper) for Heritage Foods' charcuterie program.
- Pepe Giocoli (NYC)minorNew York City artisan sausage maker crafting Heritage Foods' Sweet Italian Sausage, Garlic and Broccoli Rabe Sausage, and Maple Breakfast Sausage using heritage breed pork. Inspired by Little Italy street festival traditions.
- Kenneth Johnson, Sharon Meyer, and Trent & Troy BakerminorAdditional heritage pig producers outside the Kansas City area. Kenneth Johnson started as a 4-H student; Trent and Troy Baker raise some of the nation's largest Berkshire pigs.
- Long Meadow Ranch (Napa Valley)minorNapa Valley farm producing hand-picked, unfiltered, stone-milled, cold-pressed organic extra virgin olive oil for Heritage Foods, as well as farmstead bacon and lamb shank tagine kit ingredients.
- Brunson Meat Co.minorProduces 35-day dry-aged porterhouse pork chops (Red Wattle) exclusively for Heritage Foods, sold under the $50 and under collection.
- Roberta's PizzaminorHeritage Foods partners with Roberta's Pizza for pizza kit offerings that can be topped with optional heritage meat toppings (prosciutto and other charcuterie).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Heritage Foods USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Heritage Foods USA social profiles
Digital presenceHeritage Foods USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heritage Foods USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Heritage Foods USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heritage Foods USA 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 Heritage Foods USA
What does Heritage Foods USA do?
Heritage Foods USA is an e-commerce platform that sells heritage breed meats directly to consumers and restaurants across the United States. The company sources exclusively from a closed network of partner farms raising 100% heritage breed livestock (Berkshire, Red Wattle, Duroc, Tamworth, Gloucestershire Old Spot, Akaushi Wagyu, Standardbred poultry), and ships pasture-raised, antibiotic-free beef, pork, lamb, goat, turkey, poultry, charcuterie, and artisan cheeses via its online storefront and B2B wholesale channel.
Is Heritage Foods USA a public or private company?
Heritage Foods USA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Heritage Foods USA founded?
Heritage Foods USA was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Heritage Foods USA based?
Heritage Foods USA is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Heritage Foods USA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Meat Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription / Meat-of-the-Month Clubs and gift Cards.
Does Heritage Foods USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heritage Foods USA.
What industry is Heritage Foods USA in?
Heritage Foods USA's product category is Specialty Meat Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAHAF, Specialty & Exotic Meats Retail (Game, Halal, Kosher), with a secondary code of AFANAEAK, Specialty & Regional Processed Meats (Ethnic/Traditional Sausages, Regional Cures). Its NAICS code is 44524 and its SIC code is 2013.