Soul Vegan

What Soul Vegan does

Soul Vegan, operated by Stable Foods (DBA Soul Vegan), is a Chicago-based vegan soul food company founded in 2007 that produces and distributes prepackaged grab-and-go meals, salads, wraps, and sides through retail, e-commerce, and catering channels. Its product portfolio includes salads (Kale Greens, Un-Real Chicken, Pasta, Carrot Supreme, Bean Curd), wraps (Jerk Tofu, Jerk Steak, Unreal Chicken), meals (Lasagna Lunch, Macaroni and Cheese Lunch, Bean Lunch, Live Plate Lunch), and sides (Side of Lasagna, Side of Macaroni and Cheese, Barbecue Delights, Eggplant Parmesan). The company differentiates on proprietary recipes—jerk sauces, soul food–influenced BBQ sauce, carrot juice–based dressings, and high-protein formulations (up to 40g protein per serving in Barbecue Delights)—and positions itself as The Plant-Based African brand.

The business generates revenue through three streams: direct retail sales at its Chicago storefront and e-commerce site (soulvegan.com), wholesale distribution to over 50 grocery and health food locations across the Greater Chicago metro area (including Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme, Pete's Fresh Market, Fruitful Yield, and Barnes & Noble), and full-service catering for events. Pricing is unit-based across all channels, with catering ranging from $13.99 box lunches to $375 holiday spreads for 18–20 guests, and retail pricing set per store. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional or venture funding, operated by CEO Ron King with a team of 11–50 employees, and has no public technology integrations, no mobile app, and no API platform.

The customer base is split between health-conscious consumers (notably within the African American community seeking vegan soul food alternatives), event catering customers seeking vegan menu options, and grocery retail partners stocking differentiated plant-based SKUs. Distribution is regional, centered on the Greater Chicago Land Area with extension into Northwest Indiana, and the company also maintains ancillary partnerships including a 2018 commitment to the Ghana-based Restoration Village Afro-Forestry Project with ARDA and Rid-All Green Partnership.

Name

Soul Vegan

Legal name

Soul Vegan

Website

https://soulvegan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Soul Vegan is a Chicago-based vegan soul food company (founded 2007) that produces prepackaged meals, salads, wraps, and sides, distributing through a storefront, e-commerce, full-service catering, and wholesale partnerships at 50+ Greater Chicago grocery and education locations under CEO Ron King.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vegan Prepared Foods

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant-Based & Vegan Fast Casual (THAFABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Meals (CRADADAF), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Vegan, Kosher, Halal, Allergy-Friendly) (HSACAGAH)

Keywords

• Vegan prepared foods
• Plant-based soul food
• Prepackaged meals
• Event catering
• Healthy grab-and-go

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: Direct sales to consumers at the physical storefront location and through e-commerce website orders
2. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale product sales to grocery stores and health food retailers including Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme, and specialty stores
3. Catering Services: Event catering services for parties and corporate events with menu options ranging from box lunches to full holiday meals
4. Prepackaged Food Sales: Sale of prepackaged vegan meals, salads, wraps, and sides through retail stores and direct online orders

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Soul Vegan produces and sells prepackaged vegan soul food, including grab-and-go salads, wraps, hot meals (lasagna, macaroni and cheese), and sides (Barbecue Delights, Eggplant Parmesan), using organic and plant-based ingredients such as organic soy cheese and seitan. The company distributes these items through its own Chicago storefront, an e-commerce shop, wholesale partnerships with regional grocery and health food chains (Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme, Fruitful Yield, Pete's Fresh Market), and full-service event catering.

Product overview

Soul Vegan is a vegan soul food company offering prepackaged grab-and-go products and catering services. The product line includes salads (Kale Greens, Un-Real Chicken Salad, Pasta Salad, Carrot Supreme Salad, Bean Curd Salad), wraps (Jerk Tofu Wrap, Jerk Steak Wrap, Unreal Chicken Wrap), meals (Lasagna Lunch, Macaroni and Cheese Lunch, Bean Lunch, Live Plate Lunch), and sides (Side of Lasagna, Side of Macaroni and Cheese, Barbecue Delights, Eggplant Parmesan). Products are available at local grocery stores in the Greater Chicago Land Area and through catering services for events and parties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catering Services Full-service vegan soul food catering for parties, corporate events, and holiday gatherings, offering structured packages such as Holiday Special (serves 8-10 at $200 or 18-20 at $375), Classic Comfort Special (Small $190 / Large $320), and a la carte entrees, sides, rice and pasta, box lunches ($13.99 each, minimum 12), and 36oz soups ($19.99 each).
• Kale Greens Salad Fresh kale greens salad prepared as a vegan grab-and-go item and available through Soul Vegan's retail channels.
• Jerk Steak Wrap Seitan-based jerk steak with herbs and seasonings in a tomato tortilla wrap, sold as a vegan grab-and-go item.
• Jerk Tofu Wrap Organic tofu with jerk seasoning, spinach, green peppers, and onions in a spinach tortilla wrap; contains 17g of protein and is positioned as high in energy-promoted carbohydrates.
• Macaroni and Cheese Lunch Vegan macaroni with organic soy cheese, collard greens, and organic BBQ tofu; contains 11g of protein, low sodium, and is high in iron, potassium, and calcium.
• Lasagna Lunch Lasagna with organic soy cheese, collard greens, and BBQ seitan roast; contains 21g of protein per serving and is a good source of calcium, potassium, iron, and fiber.
• Live Plate Lunch A live/raw food lunch plate option sold as a vegan grab-and-go meal.
• Bean Lunch Bean-based vegan lunch meal sold as a grab-and-go entrée.
• Bean Curd Salad Bean curd salad sold as a vegan grab-and-go cold item.
• Un-Real Chicken Salad Salad featuring organic tofu lightly fried in soybean oil, shredded, and slathered in naturally sweetened organic soy butter; contains 8g of protein per serving and is rich in iron.
• Pasta Salad Zesty whole wheat fusilli pasta salad with olives and special seasonings providing B-vitamins, sold as a vegan grab-and-go item.
• Carrot Supreme Salad Creamy carrot salad made with freshly squeezed carrot juice, organic soy butter, fresh celery, and relish; rich in beta carotene and positioned for cognitive and vision support.
• Unreal Chicken Wrap Vegan chicken-style wrap sold as a grab-and-go entrée.
• Side of Lasagna Layers of all natural tomato sauce, organic soy cheese, and whole wheat pasta complemented by texturized vegetable protein; contains 14g of protein and is a good source of calcium and fiber.
• Side of Macaroni and Cheese Vegan macaroni and cheese made with Edenic brand locally produced organic soy milk; contains 9g of protein per serving with no cholesterol.
• Barbecue Delights Homemade seitan veggie rib tips slathered in soul-food-influenced BBQ sauce; contains 40g of protein per serving, equivalent to 6oz steak.
• Eggplant Parmesan Eggplant parmesan sold as a vegan grab-and-go side.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products available at 50+ retail locations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Restoration and Development Agency (ARDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Soul Vegan partners with ARDA on the Restoration Village Afro-Forestry Project in Ghana, West Africa. The project aims to plant 5,000 trees, improve food security, and create sustainable economic opportunities in rural Ghana. CEO Ron King sits on the planning committee to oversee the project.
• Rid-All Green PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Restoration Village Afro-Forestry Project, working with Soul Vegan and ARDA to develop sustainable agriculture and environmental regeneration initiatives in Ghana.
• Soul Vegan FoodscoreOthersSoul Vegan Foods is the parent brand and operational company producing the Soul Vegan product line of vegan soul food products.
• The Plant-Based AfricanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner that collaborated on the Restoration Village Afro-Forestry Project's initial stages, providing major funding support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Beyond Meat: Public plant-based protein company (BYND) selling burgers, sausages, and prepared meals through major U.S. retail and foodservice. Competes for the same shelf space and consumer occasions in the plant-based prepared food category, though at a vastly larger scale and broader positioning.
• Gardein: Plant-based prepared foods brand owned by Conagra Brands, offering meat analogues including chick'n, fish, and beef substitutes sold nationally in grocery. Competes directly for plant-based frozen and refrigerated entrée shelf space.
• Sweet Earth Foods: Nestlé-owned plant-based prepared meals and protein brand sold in grocery and foodservice. Competes in the same prepared vegan entrée category, particularly for chilled/frozen SKU placement in natural and conventional grocery.

Direct peers

• The Vegan Hood: Chicago-based Black-owned vegan soul food brand offering prepared meals and catering. The most direct peer to Soul Vegan given identical target demographic (health-conscious African American consumers seeking soul food alternatives), Chicago metro focus, and combined retail/catering model.
• Upton's Naturals: Chicago-based plant-based brand specializing in seitan and other vegan prepared foods sold through retail and foodservice channels. Highly comparable to Soul Vegan given shared Chicago origin, plant-based positioning, and use of seitan as a core protein — Soul Vegan's Barbecue Delights and Jerk Steak Wrap are also seitan-based.

Regional players

• Plant Power Fast Food: Vegan fast casual restaurant chain operating primarily on the U.S. West Coast (California, expanding to other states). Comparable as a plant-based fast casual concept with branded menu items, though focused on burgers rather than soul food.

Emerging players

• Native Foods Cafe: Plant-based fast casual restaurant chain with locations across the U.S., offering vegan versions of American comfort food. Closest comparable restaurant format to Soul Vegan's storefront, though operating at a larger footprint.
• Partake Foods: Black-founded, allergen-free plant-based snack brand (cookies, wafers) sold in major U.S. retail including Whole Foods, Target, and Sprouts. Comparable as a culturally authentic, mission-driven plant-based CPG brand with national retail distribution and Whole Foods presence — a potential template for Soul Vegan's growth path.
• Everything Legendary: Black-owned plant-based meat snack and jerky brand sold in major U.S. retail including Target, Kroger, and Whole Foods. Comparable cultural positioning (Black-owned, plant-based, protein-forward) and retail channel overlap with Soul Vegan.
• Simone's Kitchen: Vegan soul food brand offering prepared meals and catering, often featured at major music festivals and cultural events. Comparable in cultural positioning (vegan soul food, event catering) and target consumer, though with a more event-driven, less retail-anchored model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SoulVegan1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0uPX4MHUfg_fNV2bTVd9ZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SoulVeganLuv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/soul-vegan-foods
• Instagraminstagram.com/soulveganchicago/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Soul Vegan