Chowgirls Catering
Women-owned Minneapolis full-service catering company offering sustainable Classic, Concepts, Cordial, and By-the-Box event solutions for weddings, corporate, and social clients across the Twin Cities metro.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Chowgirls Catering does
Chowgirls Catering is a privately held, women-owned catering company founded in March 2004 by Heidi Andermack (CEO) and Amy Brown (CCO), headquartered in Northeast Minneapolis at 336 Hoover St NE. The company provides sustainable full-service catering for weddings, corporate events, social celebrations, and nonprofit functions across the Twin Cities metropolitan area, organized into four sub-brands: Classic (standard catering menus), Concepts (customized high-touch events with bespoke floral and tablescape design), Cordial (full bar service with certified cicerone expertise), and By-the-Box (self-serve online ordering for smaller gatherings with no minimum order). Pricing for full-service catering carries a $2,000 minimum with average wedding pricing of $140-$165+ per person depending on service style; By-the-Box has no minimum. Notable enterprise clients include Ovative Group (600-guest annual event), Guthrie Theater (concessions contract since 2023), General Mills, Tiffany's, Ameriprise Financial, Carlson Companies, NBC, Land O' Lakes, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
The business model is anchored on direct event sales led by Event Specialists who guide clients from inquiry through planning, supplemented by an e-commerce ordering platform and preferred-vendor placements at dozens of Twin Cities venues. Operations are built around sustainability and local sourcing — over 50% of ingredients are sourced from farms and purveyors in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa, with circular food practices (e.g., citrus rinds as vessels, oyster-shell dessert containers), natural plant-based food dyeing, comprehensive event waste sorting, and proprietary Snacktivities™ interactive food installations. The company produces an estimated 51-100 baseline employees that scale to roughly 200 during peak event seasons. Revenue streams include event fees, By-the-Box e-commerce sales, bar/beverage services, donations and sponsorships, and historical cookbook sales (2016, Arsenal Pulp Press).
Chowgirls has expanded through tuck-in acquisition (Joseph Catering, 2017) to secure venue contracts, survived a near-failure during a Super Bowl period through a financial team overhaul, and successfully pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic by co-founding Kitchen Coalition with Second Harvest Heartland to produce 9,000 meals per week while employing chefs. The 2020 rebrand dropped 'Killer' from the company name, and a 2022 brand refresh introduced the modular sub-brand structure. The company holds multiple awards including a 2026 international ACE Award for Sustainability in Catering, the ILEA-MSP Star Award, and 16 consecutive Minnesota Bride 'Best of Bride' awards.
Chowgirls Catering firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chowgirls Catering
- Legal name
- Chowgirls Catering
- Website
- https://chowgirls.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Women-owned Minneapolis full-service catering company offering sustainable Classic, Concepts, Cordial, and By-the-Box event solutions for weddings, corporate, and social clients across the Twin Cities metro.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chowgirls Catering industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320), Caterers (72232), Food Service Contractors (722310), Special Food Services (7223)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Bakery Products (2050)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA), Specialty & Dietary Catering (Halal, Kosher, Vegan, Allergen-Free, Medical) (THAHAKAK), Dessert & Bakery Catering (Cakes, Pastries, Candy) (HSACAGAI)
Keywords
Where Chowgirls Catering is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Chowgirls Catering business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Full-Service Catering: Customized catering services for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and celebrations. Services include plated dinners, family-style meals, buffets, cocktail parties, and bar services. Minimum order typically $2,000 for Classic, Concepts, and Cordial offerings.
- By-the-Box Online Ordering: Pre-designed grazing platters and catering items available for easy online ordering with no minimum order requirement, targeting smaller gatherings and spontaneous events.
- Donations and Sponsorships: Chowgirls donates food, services, and monetary sponsorships to align with their values (women's rights, BIPOC equity, LGBTQ+ communities, children's welfare, hunger relief, sustainability, arts and culture). Part of their community engagement strategy.
- Cookbook Sales: Published 'Chowgirls Killer Party Food: Righteous Bites and Cocktails for Every Season' in 2016, generating revenue through book sales and author appearances.
- Bar Catering (Cordial): Full bar catering services featuring local beer and spirits, organic wines, seasonal cocktails, spirit-free options, and certified cicerone services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Plated Wedding Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Style Wedding Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Buffet Wedding Service |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Minimum Order |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | By-the-Box Online Ordering |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Chowgirls Catering product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chowgirls Catering is a Minneapolis-based full-service catering company that designs, prepares, and serves customized food and beverage experiences for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and cultural institutions. The company organizes its offerings into four sub-brands: Classic (seasonal catering menus), Concepts (high-touch custom event design), Cordial (full bar and beverage catering), and By-the-Box (direct online ordering of grazing platters without minimums). Operations emphasize locally and regionally sourced ingredients (50%+ from MN/WI/IA farms), circular ingredient use, comprehensive composting and waste sorting, and proprietary interactive food experiences branded as Snacktivities.
Product overview
Chowgirls Catering operates as a multi-service catering company organized into four distinct sub-brands: Classic (standard catering menus), Concepts (customized high-touch events), Cordial (bar service), and By-the-Box (online ordering for small gatherings). Additional offerings include wedding catering in plated/family-style/buffet formats, corporate events, social celebrations, nonprofit events, and pastry/confectionery products. The company is women-owned and emphasizes sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients across all service lines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Classic: Core catering menu offerings with most popular selections for events.
- Concepts
- By-the-Box
- Cordial
Products and services
- Chowgirls Classic Core catering service featuring seasonal menus with most popular offerings for events ranging from boardroom lunches to large weddings. Minimum order typically $2,000.
- Chowgirls Concepts Customized menus and high-touch event design services for personalized celebrations with bespoke floral design, luxury tablescapes, interactive Snacktivities experiences, and themed installations.
- Chowgirls Cordial
Quantifiable outcome
- Waste reduction through $7,000 county grant for waste equipment and $2,000 annual savings from plastic wrap reduction
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Chowgirls Catering
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chowgirls Catering technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Chowgirls Catering partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Second Harvest HeartlandcoreDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, Chowgirls partnered with Second Harvest Heartland to launch Kitchen Coalition, an initiative to rescue food, employ chefs, and feed the community. Chowgirls provided kitchen space, staff, supplies, and expertise to prepare and package 9,000 meals per week for food-insecure neighbors. Kitchen Coalition provided stability for Chowgirls during the pandemic while addressing community hunger needs.
- Kitchen CoalitioncoreFounding member of Kitchen Coalition (originally Minnesota Central Kitchen), an initiative that rescued food from waste, employed chefs during the pandemic, and supported local farmers while feeding the community. This partnership exemplifies Chowgirls' commitment to sustainability and community service.
- LUUM CollectivecoreChowgirls co-hosts Cultivate, a two-day sustainable events summit with LUUM Collective. The partnership has run for four consecutive years, bringing together 120 invited guests to experience sustainable event practices through NA wine and vegan cheese pairings, seasonal sourcing exhibits, and expert discussions.
- Mercury MosaicsminorChowgirls sources 'misfire' tiles from Mercury Mosaics that cannot be sold commercially and uses them as serving surfaces for canapes at events, creating a striking visual presentation while supporting local artisans and sustainable practices.
- MAVEN StylingminorEvent styling partner for Cultivate summit. MAVEN created centerpieces composed entirely of invasive species, turning an ecological problem into unforgettable art that aligns with Chowgirls' sustainability values.
- Lara CornellminorEvent sponsor and collaborator who hand-dyes 100% cotton totes with food waste dyes for take-home bags at Chowgirls events, supporting sustainable gifting practices.
- Joseph CateringcoreChowgirls acquired Joseph Catering to secure a contract with Three Rivers Parks District after multiple failed application attempts. This acquisition helped expand Chowgirls' catering operations and venue partnerships.
- Eureka RecyclingminorChowgirls piloted a commercial composting program with Eureka Recycling starting in 2008, helping restaurants and businesses prevent waste as part of their sustainability commitment.
- Hennepin EnvironmentminorPartnership to help restaurants and businesses prevent waste as part of Chowgirls' early sustainability initiatives from 2008-2017.
- Guthrie TheatercoreWon the contract for Guthrie Concessions in 2023, providing food service operations for the renowned theater's events and performances.
- DeYoung Consulting ServicesminorConsulting partner who worked with Chowgirls' Juntos DEI committee to analyze and improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs through their doubled-down DEI efforts.
- Joanna Wentz (Accountant)minorCurrent accountant brought in with a new financial team after Chowgirls nearly went under during the Super Bowl period. Taught founders financial literacy and developed new accounting systems.
- East Side Neighborhood ServicesminorCommunity partner organization that Chowgirls supports through donations, volunteering, and partnerships for local community causes.
- Every MealminorCommunity partner supporting food-insecure families through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement programs.
- Jeremiah FoundationminorCommunity partner supported through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement initiatives.
- Menlo AcademyminorCommunity partner receiving Chowgirls' donations and sponsorship support.
- Northeast Minneapolis Farmers MarketminorLocal farmers market partner; co-founder Heidi Andermack served on the board of the Northeast Farmers Market helping the organization grow.
- Nourish 282minorCommunity partner organization in Chowgirls' network of local partnerships supporting community food access.
- Open Arms of MinnesotaminorCommunity partner providing meals to people with serious illnesses; Chowgirls supports through donations and community engagement.
- PerspectivesminorCommunity partner organization in Chowgirls' supported network.
- Simpson HousingminorCommunity partner supported through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement.
- True Food Chef CouncilminorChowgirls partner in the True Food Chef Council supporting sustainable food practices and local sourcing.
- Enticing EntertainmentminorEntertainment vendor hired for the Ovative Group Winter Olympics-themed event to provide actors who played sports commentators introducing guests as they entered the party.
- Down For GoodminorDonated fabric to Chowgirls that was transformed into napkins for the Art of the After Party event. When napkins reach end of lifecycle, they can be composted as they're made from 100% cotton.
- Slow Burn CandlesminorEvent sponsor providing beeswax candles for take-home gift bags at Chowgirls events.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chowgirls Catering competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Affairs to Remember: Atlanta-based full-service caterer specializing in corporate events, weddings, and social gatherings with in-house event design. Directly analogous business model and customer mix to Chowgirls.
- Catering by Michaels: New York-based upscale event caterer serving weddings, corporate, and social events. Comparable tier (per-person premium pricing), service styles, and target customer segments to Chowgirls.
- Abigail Kirsch: Long-standing NYC upscale event caterer for weddings, corporate functions, and cultural venues. Directly comparable to Chowgirls' Concepts-style high-touch customization and venue-preferred-list strategy.
- Constellation Culinary: Premier event and venue caterer operating upscale weddings, corporate events, and cultural-institution concessions. Closest comparable to Chowgirls' premium positioning, sub-brand architecture, and venue-anchored services.
- Lancer Catering: Arizona-based upscale event caterer with full-service weddings, corporate, and social offerings. Comparable service-style tier, per-person pricing, and venue-preferred-list distribution model.
- Blackstone Caterers: NYC-based premium wedding and corporate event caterer with multiple service styles (plated, family-style, buffet). Same service-style taxonomy as Chowgirls with comparable per-person pricing.
- Braman's Catering & Event Planning: Midwest-based (Wisconsin) full-service caterer with strong wedding and corporate-event business. Strongest geographical and operational analog to Chowgirls, including local sourcing emphasis.
- Sterling Catering & Events: Bay Area upscale wedding and corporate caterer with bar service and event-design capabilities. Closely analogous to Chowgirls' Cordial bar sub-brand and Concepts design offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Fooda: Workplace food-service platform and broader corporate catering provider. Shares the corporate-event buyer with Chowgirls but operates a fundamentally different (marketplace/platform) business model.
Others
- Kitchen Coalition (Second Harvest Heartland): Community-feeding initiative co-founded by Chowgirls during COVID-19. Not a competitor but a strategic ecosystem partner; relevant as an indicator of operational scale and community positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chowgirls Catering social profiles
Digital presenceChowgirls Catering financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chowgirls Catering leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Chowgirls Catering funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chowgirls Catering 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 Chowgirls Catering
What does Chowgirls Catering do?
Chowgirls Catering is a Minneapolis-based full-service catering company that designs, prepares, and serves customized food and beverage experiences for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and cultural institutions. The company organizes its offerings into four sub-brands: Classic (seasonal catering menus), Concepts (high-touch custom event design), Cordial (full bar and beverage catering), and By-the-Box (direct online ordering of grazing platters without minimums). Operations emphasize locally and regionally sourced ingredients (50%+ from MN/WI/IA farms), circular ingredient use, comprehensive composting and waste sorting, and proprietary interactive food experiences branded as Snacktivities.
Is Chowgirls Catering a public or private company?
Chowgirls Catering is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chowgirls Catering founded?
Chowgirls Catering was founded in 2004. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Chowgirls Catering based?
Chowgirls Catering is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chowgirls Catering make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Full-Service Catering is the primary driver. The others are by-the-Box Online Ordering, donations and Sponsorships, cookbook Sales and bar Catering (Cordial).
Who are Chowgirls Catering's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Affairs to Remember, Catering by Michaels, Abigail Kirsch, Constellation Culinary, Lancer Catering, Blackstone Caterers, Braman's Catering & Event Planning and Sterling Catering & Events. Fooda is listed as a broad incumbent. Kitchen Coalition (Second Harvest Heartland) is listed as an others.
Does Chowgirls Catering have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chowgirls Catering.
What industry is Chowgirls Catering in?
Chowgirls Catering's product category is Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAIAB, Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties), with a secondary code of HSACAGAA, Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise). Its NAICS code is 722320 and its SIC code is 2090.