Chowgirls Catering

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.

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

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

• Full-service catering
• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Sustainable event catering
• Bar catering services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Cookbook Sales: Published 'Chowgirls Killer Party Food: Righteous Bites and Cocktails for Every Season' in 2016, generating revenue through book sales and author appearances.
5. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers12 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Harvest HeartlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020During 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 CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding 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 CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChowgirls 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 MosaicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChowgirls 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 StylingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent 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 CornellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent 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 CateringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChowgirls 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 RecyclingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChowgirls piloted a commercial composting program with Eureka Recycling starting in 2008, helping restaurants and businesses prevent waste as part of their sustainability commitment.
• Hennepin EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to help restaurants and businesses prevent waste as part of Chowgirls' early sustainability initiatives from 2008-2017.
• Guthrie TheatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWon the contract for Guthrie Concessions in 2023, providing food service operations for the renowned theater's events and performances.
• DeYoung Consulting ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsulting 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)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCurrent 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 ServicesminorOthersCommunity partner organization that Chowgirls supports through donations, volunteering, and partnerships for local community causes.
• Every MealminorOthersCommunity partner supporting food-insecure families through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement programs.
• Jeremiah FoundationminorOthersCommunity partner supported through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement initiatives.
• Menlo AcademyminorOthersCommunity partner receiving Chowgirls' donations and sponsorship support.
• Northeast Minneapolis Farmers MarketminorOthersLocal farmers market partner; co-founder Heidi Andermack served on the board of the Northeast Farmers Market helping the organization grow.
• Nourish 282minorOthersCommunity partner organization in Chowgirls' network of local partnerships supporting community food access.
• Open Arms of MinnesotaminorOthersCommunity partner providing meals to people with serious illnesses; Chowgirls supports through donations and community engagement.
• PerspectivesminorOthersCommunity partner organization in Chowgirls' supported network.
• Simpson HousingminorOthersCommunity partner supported through Chowgirls' donations and community engagement.
• True Food Chef CouncilminorOthersChowgirls partner in the True Food Chef Council supporting sustainable food practices and local sourcing.
• Enticing EntertainmentminorOthersEntertainment 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 GoodminorOthersDonated 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 CandlesminorOthersEvent sponsor providing beeswax candles for take-home gift bags at Chowgirls events.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/chowgirls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chowgirls-catering
• Instagraminstagram.com/chowgirlscatering/?hl=en
• Xx.com/chowgirls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Chowgirls Catering