Immigrant Food

What Immigrant Food does

Immigrant Food (legal entity iFood Inc.) is a Washington, D.C.-based hospitality and consumer packaged goods company founded in 2019 by Téa Ivanovic and Peter Schechter. It operates four restaurant locations in the D.C. metro area — the White House (1701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW), Planet Word Museum (925 13th St. NW), Ballston in Arlington, VA (4245 Fairfax Dr.) and Union Market District — serving immigrant-inspired lunch, brunch, dinner and cocktail menus, plus catering and private events, under the 'gastroadvocacy' positioning that ties the dining experience to advocacy for immigrant communities. Twenty-five percent of profits from its consumer products are directed to immigrant causes, and five immigrant-services NGOs (APALRC, AsylumWorks, Ayuda, Amica and CARECEN) operate programming inside its spaces.

The company's core products and technology divide across three surfaces. On-site, it offers dine-in and event services built on standard restaurant infrastructure (Toast for payments and ordering, Resy and DoorDash for reservations and delivery, Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel for traffic and advertising analytics). In its direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop, it sells proprietary seasoning and sauce formulations (Banana Ketchup, Magic Salt Stuff, Limón and Pepper, Turkish-ish Blend), a limited-edition Immigrant Coffee Blend in collaboration with ForFive Coffee Roasters, branded apparel and gift sets, with nationwide shipping. For B2B distribution it uses the Faire wholesale marketplace to onboard retail partners stocking its branded products.

Revenue mechanics span four streams: casual-dining restaurant transactions, catering and private-event services, direct e-commerce unit-priced CPG sales (e.g., $12.99 per 12oz Banana Ketchup, $8.99 per 2oz seasoning jar, $16.00 per 12oz coffee bag), and wholesale revenue through Faire. The customer base is primarily individual D.C.-metro diners, families and event hosts (weddings, graduations, fundraisers, corporate functions), with a secondary, lower-revenue vertical in NGOs and advocacy organizations that use the spaces programmatically. Funding to date is limited to a 2024 equity crowdfunding round of ~$878,897; the company remains privately held with founder-led ownership and reports a core team size of 1-10.

Name

Immigrant Food

Legal name

iFood Inc.

Website

https://immigrantfood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Immigrant Food (iFood Inc.) operates four D.C.-metro casual-dining restaurants and a nationwide e-commerce shop selling sauces, seasonings, coffee and apparel, combining immigrant-inspired cuisine with advocacy partnerships and donating 25% of product profits to immigrant causes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Dining Restaurants

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

International & Ethnic Packaged Foods (CRADAAAG), Ethnic & International Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAJ)

Keywords

• Immigrant-inspired cuisine
• Casual dining restaurants
• Specialty seasoning blends
• Artisan sauce products
• Advocacy-driven restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dine-In and Takeout: Full-service restaurant operations at multiple D.C. metro locations offering lunch, brunch, dinner, dessert menus, and seasonal cocktails. Customers dine in or order for pickup/delivery through digital ordering platforms.
2. Catering and Private Events: Corporate catering, private events, and office catering services at White House, Ballston, and Planet Word locations. Event spaces available for large and smaller parties with immigrant-inspired dishes from around the world.
3. E-commerce Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer online shop selling sauces, seasonings, coffee, merchandise with nationwide shipping. Products include Banana Ketchup, seasoning blends, coffee, apparel, and kitchen items.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale product sales through Faire marketplace to retail partners, allowing other retailers to stock Immigrant Food branded products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Immigrant Food operates full-service casual restaurants serving immigrant-inspired lunch, brunch, dinner, dessert, and cocktail menus across four D.C. metro locations, complemented by catering and private event services. It also sells a direct-to-consumer line of proprietary sauces, seasoning blends, coffee, apparel, and accessories through its own e-commerce shop, with 25% of product profits donated to immigrant advocacy organizations.

Product overview

Immigrant Food is a restaurant group and food company operating four locations in the Washington D.C. metro area (Ballston, Planet Word Museum, White House, and Union Market District), with an e-commerce shop selling consumer packaged goods. The product portfolio centers on immigrant-inspired restaurant dining and catering services, complemented by a line of CPG products including sauces (Banana Ketchup), seasonings (Magic Salt Stuff, Limón and Pepper, Turkish-ish Blend), coffee (Immigrant Coffee Blend in collaboration with ForFive Coffee Roasters), and branded merchandise (apparel, accessories, and kitchen items). Products are sold individually and as curated sets (The Bright & Bold Duo, The Full Flavor Trio, The Cook's Companion Set). The company also operates advocacy initiatives through The Think Table (editorial content) and an Engagement Menu (community action guide). A core differentiator is the company's 'gastroadvocacy' mission, with 25% of profits from product sales supporting immigrant causes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Immigrant Food Shop: E-commerce platform selling sauces, seasonings, coffee, and merchandise with nationwide shipping. Products include Banana Ketchup, Bright & Bold Duo seasoning sets, Immigrant Coffee Blend, and branded merchandise.

Products and services

• Banana Ketchup Filipino-inspired sauce made with roasted bananas, tomato ketchup, sweet chili sauce, cider vinegar, fish sauce, and anchovies; sold in 12oz bottles through the e-commerce shop with 25% of profits supporting immigrant causes.
• Magic Salt Stuff Seasoning Signature all-purpose seasoning blend with kosher salt, garlic powder, cayenne powder, dried parsley, and ground coriander; sold in 2oz jars and used on breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and as a meat/veggie rub.
• Limón and Pepper Seasoning Citrus-forward seasoning blend with black pepper, granulated lemon peel, kosher salt, citric acid, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, MSG, and granulated white sugar; sold in 2oz jars for grilled meats, fish, vegetables, eggs, avocado toast, and cocktail rims.
• Turkish-ish Blend Seasoning Aromatic Mediterranean-inspired spice blend with dried oregano, Maldon sea salt, tomato flakes, crushed red pepper, dried minced garlic, granulated orange peel, dried basil, thyme, marjoram, dried minced onion, and nutritional yeast flakes; sold in 2oz jars, gluten-free, no MSG.
• The Bright & Bold Duo Seasoning Set Seasoning gift set containing Limón & Pepper and Turkish-ish Blend in 2oz jars; vegan and gluten-free, designed for proteins, vegetables, and recommended for use with Immigrant Food's chicken wings.
• The Full Flavor Trio Seasoning Set Three-seasoning bundle with Magic Salt Stuff (foundation), Limón & Pepper (citrus lift), and Turkish-ish Blend (herbaceous depth); covers salt, acidity, and aromatic complexity for home cooking.
• The Cook's Companion Set Gift set bundling three 2oz seasoning jars (Limón & Pepper, Turkish-ish Blend, Magic Salt Stuff) with the 'Immigrants Make America Great' Kitchen Apron; offered as a discounted package from a $66.97 to $53.57 price.
• Immigrant Coffee Blend Limited-edition light-medium roast coffee collaboration with ForFive Coffee Roasters; 12oz whole-bean bag blending Ethiopian and El Salvador beans to reflect D.C.'s immigrant communities; bright, fruit-forward with chocolatey depth.
• Immigrant Food Restaurant Dining Service Full-service casual restaurant service across four D.C. metro locations (White House, Planet Word, Ballston, Union Market) offering immigrant-inspired Lunch, Brunch, Dinner, Dessert, Happy Hour, and Seasonal Cocktails menus; reservations via Resy and DoorDash.
• Catering & Private Events Service Catering and private event hosting featuring immigrant-inspired dishes at White House, Ballston, and Planet Word Museum locations; includes corporate catering, office catering, offsite catering, and event-space hosting for weddings, fundraisers, and graduations.
• Branded Dad Hats Unisex dad hats in washed cotton with embroidered Immigrant Food logo and 'Immigrants Make America Great' messaging; one size fits all with adjustable strap, sold at $35.
• Branded Tote Bag Natural colored 15" x 16" heavy canvas tote with 'Immigrants Make America Great Again, And Again' messaging, reinforced handles, machine washable; 25% of profits support immigrant causes; priced at $25.
• Branded T-Shirts and Sweatshirts 100% cotton branded t-shirts and sweatshirts (men's classic fit, women's cropped fit, unisex relaxed fit) screen-printed with 'American food is immigrant food' and 'Immigrants Make America Great' messaging; available in sizes XS through 3XL, priced at $35 for t-shirts.
• Kitchen Apron 100% heavy cotton canvas unisex kitchen apron in natural color with 'Immigrants Make America Great Again, And Again' messaging; adjustable neck and waist, machine washable; one size, priced at $40.
• Letter Ice Tray Food-grade silicone ice cube tray with four oversized (2" x 1.5") letter cubes; dishwasher safe; available in Blue, Coral, and Clear; 25% of profits support immigrant causes; $22 per tray and free with $75 purchase.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• APALRC (Asian Pacific American Law Review Center)coreOthersOne of the oldest and largest NGOs working with low-income Asian immigrants in the DMV area, providing legal assistance via hotlines and traveling to communities. Works in multiple languages and provides culturally appropriate legal services including domestic violence assistance under Violence Against Women Act. Immigrant Food provides downtown space for workshops and services.
• AsylumWorkscoreOthersFounded a few years ago to address asylum seekers' urgent needs. Provides trauma-experienced social services, employment assistance, and community support to help asylum seekers regain control of their lives. Immigrant Food's newest NGO partner.
• AyudacoreOthersEstablished in 1973, one of Washington D.C.'s oldest NGOs providing legal, social and language access services to immigrants from all over the world. Works with victims of crime including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, and consumer fraud. Helps low-income immigrants from 100+ countries obtain visas, work authorization and legal status.
• Amica (formerly CAIR Coalition)coreOthersThe only organization in the DC metro area with a legal services program focused exclusively on assisting the more than 2,000 immigrant men, women, and children detained in Maryland and Virginia jails and juvenile facilities. Provides Know Your Rights presentations, individual consultations, and legal representation before immigration court, Board of Immigration Appeals, and 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
• CARECENcoreOthersFounded by brave Central Americans in the 1980s-1990s to help refugees fleeing civil wars in Central America. With a staff of 15, provides legal services, life-skills and civic education for thousands of Latino immigrants annually including financial literacy, language, housing, and citizenship classes.
• ForFive Coffee RoastersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee collaboration creating the Washington D.C. Immigrant Blend. Beans sourced from Ethiopia and El Salvador - two of the world's great coffee regions and two of Washington, D.C.'s largest immigrant communities. Sold through Immigrant Food's e-commerce shop as a limited-edition product.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diaspora Co. Direct-to-consumer spice and food brand with explicit mission to support small farmers and celebrate immigrant culinary heritage. Comparable as a mission-driven, immigrant-heritage branded CPG with e-commerce focus.
• CAVA Group: D.C.-area Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant chain with a growing CPG line of dips, spreads, and dressings sold in grocery. Highly comparable as a regional ethnic-cuisine concept that scaled into a national CPG brand.
• José Andrés Group: Restaurant group founded by Spanish immigrant José Andrés operating multiple casual and full-service concepts with a strong immigrant-advocacy and disaster-relief mission (World Central Kitchen). Directly comparable on immigrant-cuisine identity and social-mission branding.
• Busboys and Poets: D.C.-based restaurant, bookstore, and event space with explicit social-justice mission and cultural programming. Comparable on the Washington D.C. location, social-mission identity, and event-hosting model.
• Tatte Bakery & Café: Boston-origin mission-driven bakery and café with multiple locations, premium positioning, and global culinary influences in its menu. Comparable as a values-led, multi-location casual concept with branded CPG.
• Sweetgreen: D.C.-born mission-driven restaurant chain serving healthy, globally-inspired bowls with a strong values-based brand and nationwide footprint. Most directly comparable peer given shared D.C. origin, mission-driven positioning, and multi-location casual dining model.

Others

• World Central Kitchen: Non-profit food organization founded by José Andrés that uses food as emergency response and immigrant/community support. Comparable as an ecosystem participant in the immigrant-food advocacy narrative but not a direct commercial competitor.

Emerging players

• Spicewalla: CPG spice and seasoning brand founded by a Michelin-starred restaurant operator, selling restaurant-grade blends direct-to-consumer. Comparable as a restaurant-originated seasoning brand with D2C e-commerce.
• Goldbelly: Online marketplace that ships iconic regional and ethnic foods from restaurants and food makers nationwide. Comparable as a distribution channel for immigrant/heritage branded food products reaching consumers beyond a single metro.
• Burlap & Barrel: Single-origin spice company that sources directly from small farms globally and sells branded seasonings and blends. Comparable as a mission-driven, storytelling-forward CPG seasoning brand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/immigrantfood
• Xx.com/immigrantfooddc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Immigrant Food