The Plant Cafe Organic

What The Plant Cafe Organic does

The Plant Cafe Organic is a privately held, founder-led restaurant and catering company headquartered in San Francisco that has operated a 100% organic, scratch-made cafe concept since 2005. As of the input, the company runs two operating F&B units: a flagship cafe and commissary in the Dogpatch neighborhood (2335 Third Street) which also houses the bakery and catering kitchen, and a franchise-operated location in SFO Terminal 2. A sub-brand, Artesano Peruvian Fusion, shares the Dogpatch commissary for healthy office catering. The menu spans contemporary California cuisine with Asian-inspired flavors — juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, burgers, grain bowls, and organic desserts — including the proprietary registered-trademark The Plant Burger™ (lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews, bulgur wheat). All ingredients are certified organic, sourced primarily from a network of 40+ Bay Area farms (Full Belly Farm, Riverdog Farm, Petaluma Poultry/Rosie brand, Veritable Vegetable) and aligned partners (Sprout Living, Happy Campers, High Wire Coffee, Five Mountains Tea, Impact Water, Boss Bikkie, Omni Bev, Meridian Made, SABE Beverages, Hooray Foods, Seafood Watch). The company sells a small assortment of complementary CPG items in-cafe (cookies, plant-based bacon, cold brew, tea, protein smoothies) via channel partner relationships.

The business generates revenue across four streams: (1) dine-in and takeout restaurant sales at company-operated units, (2) corporate and event catering (group packages $275–$545 plus $35+ delivery and 10% automatic staff gratuity), (3) a pandemic-era organic grocery program at Dogpatch, and (4) franchise operations (SFO Terminal 2 active; nationwide franchise expansion planned for Spring 2026 via Plant Franchises Corporation, with $250,000–$500,000 equity asks per franchisee). Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer dine-in/takeout/delivery at the cafes, event-driven community marketing (We Love Earth Festival, cocktail tastings, sustainable-restaurant conferences), and an outbound franchise development motion. Distribution runs through owned storefronts plus third-party platforms Toasttab (ordering/rewards), DoorDash, and EzCater, with a 5% SF mandate surcharge and menu-item pricing between $5.50 (sides) and $28 (Ginger-Lime Salmon).

The company's primary customer segments are health-conscious individual consumers and special-diet consumers (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, paleo), supported by three secondary segments: office/enterprise catering clients, event/party hosts using the private outdoor patio, and SFO Terminal 2 travelers. The company holds the distinction of being the first Platinum REAL Certified restaurant in the United States (2017) under the Eat Real / U.S. Healthful Foods Council program, was voted #1 Most Sustainable SF/Bay Area Restaurant by The Nature Conservancy (2013), and was recognized among the world's top 30 sustainable F&B companies by Real Leaders (2023). Co-Founders Matthew Guelke (CEO) and Mark Lewis continue to lead the business; ownership is private with no identified institutional or PE/VC backing in the input data.

Name

The Plant Cafe Organic

Legal name

The Plant Cafe Organic

Website

https://theplantcafe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Plant Cafe Organic is a privately held, founder-led San Francisco restaurant and catering company operating since 2005 that serves 100% organic, scratch-made California/Asian-inspired cuisine through two F&B units (Dogpatch cafe, SFO Terminal 2 franchise) and a corporate catering arm, targeting health-conscious and special-diet consumers in the Bay Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Restaurant and Catering Services

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Plant-Based & Vegan Fast Casual (THAFABAK)

Keywords

• Organic restaurant
• Healthy catering
• Plant-based food
• Sustainable dining
• Farm-to-table

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Dine-in and Takeout Restaurant Sales: Revenue from serving food and beverages at physical restaurant locations including Dogpatch, Marina, SFO Terminal, and previously 250 Montgomery and 101 California locations.
2. Catering Services: Corporate and event catering services offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Delivered by staff with 10% automatic gratuity or via Toast ordering platform. Delivery fees starting at $35.
3. Organic Grocery Sales: During COVID-19 pandemic, added organic grocery component at Dogpatch location offering frozen chicken, eggs, milk, produce, prepared meal kits, coffee, beer, and wine.
4. Franchise Operations: SFO Airport franchise operation and seeking franchise partners for nationwide expansion. Currently accepting applications for Spring 2026 franchise launch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Plant Cafe Organic operates a 100% organic restaurant and catering business serving contemporary California cuisine and Asian-inspired flavors including juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, burgers, grain bowls, and organic desserts. Offerings are distributed through company-owned cafes (Dogpatch, SFO Terminal 2), the Artesano Peruvian Fusion catering brand, third-party delivery platforms, and a franchise model targeting nationwide expansion.

Product overview

The Plant Cafe Organic operates as a restaurant and catering business, not a technology or software company. It does not offer a software product, platform, or SaaS offering. The company's core business is serving 100% organic prepared foods including salads, sandwiches, burgers, bowls, juices, smoothies, and catering services at its restaurant locations in San Francisco (Dogpatch and SFO Terminal 2).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Artesano Peruvian Fusion: Healthy office catering concept featuring modern Peruvian comfort food with Latin American options. Recognized as one of the Top 3 Latin Restaurants in San Francisco based on Google customer reviews.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Platinum REAL Certified restaurant in the nation (2017)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Full Belly FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic farm located in Capay Valley of northern California. Inspiration behind The Plant's Full Belly Salad. Part of 40+ farm partner network supplying local organic produce.
• Riverdog FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner450 acre certified organic, diversified family farm growing vegetables, fruits, nuts, and raising chickens and pigs. Uses compost, crop rotation, cover cropping, and hedgerow planting for healthy soil ecosystem.
• Veritable VegetablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen-owned and led organic produce distribution company based in San Francisco, California. Primary produce distribution partner for The Plant cafes.
• Eat RealcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram of U.S. Healthful Foods Council. Trusted nationally-recognized mark of excellence for food and foodservice operators committed to holistic nutrition and environmental stewardship. The Plant was first Platinum certified restaurant in the nation.
• Seafood Watch (Monterey Bay Aquarium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant partner of Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program helping consumers make better seafood choices to ensure healthier oceans. Supports sustainable seafood sourcing.
• Sprout LivingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of Epic Protein Powders used in The Plant's Super Smoothies line. USDA certified organic, certified vegan, non-GMO, grain-free, gluten-free protein products.
• Boss BikkieminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarin-based company producing vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, organic, non-GMO cookies. Available for purchase at Dogpatch cafe for takeout or delivery.
• Omni BevminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoman-owned Vietnamese cold brew coffee company. Bottled 100% locally in California from beans sourced from family farm in Da Lat, Vietnam. Available at Dogpatch cafe.
• Hooray FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSan Francisco-based startup producing plant-based bacon. 100% plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free, minimally processed using tapioca starch, rice flour, coconut oil. Featured in Vegan Deluxe Burger and Avocado BLT.
• Five Mountains Organic TeaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmall batch San Francisco-based company. Direct sources from Lin'Cang region of China's Yunnan province. First to create 100% home-compostable loose leaf tea packaging, certified organic and fair trade.
• High Wire CoffeeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Bay Area company donating burlap coffee bags to farmers, using coffee grounds as compost. Certified organic and uses compostable materials. Supplier of coffee for Golden Turmeric Latte.
• Impact WaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal San Francisco company providing 100% natural spring water in 100% recyclable boxed containers. Proceeds support water.org and charitywater.org on 50/50 basis.
• Meridian Made TeaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded by Winnie, inspired by health and traditional Chinese medicine. Brewed from high-grade superherbs with nothing artificial. Developed by licensed acupuncturist/herbalist Dr. Jordan Wheeler. Vegan, gluten-free, no added sugar.
• Happy Campers Gluten-Free BreadminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSDA Certified organic, 100% non-GMO bread using whole seed flours (millet, sorghum, quinoa, amaranth). Available as bread substitute for sandwiches at all locations.
• Petaluma Poultry / Rosie BrandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonoma County-based organic poultry farm. Rosie Brand was first chicken brand to be USDA Certified Organic. Free-range, organic, no hormones, no antibiotics, no steroids, non-GMO diet. Mission: 'People. Poultry. Planet.'
• SABE BeveragesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCocktail partner featured at tasting events. Winner at 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Supplies passion fruit margarita and cucumber ginger margarita for events.
• Plant Franchises CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranchise development company representing The Plant for nationwide scaling. Currently seeking franchise partners for Spring 2026 launch.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theplantcafe
• Xx.com/theplantcafe

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 The Plant Cafe Organic