Cedar's Foods

What Cedar's Foods does

Cedar's Foods (legal name: Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc.) is a family-owned Mediterranean food production company founded in 1981 by the Hanna family in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. The company manufactures and distributes hummus, tzatziki, toum, dips, salads, salsa, pita chips, wraps, and labneh under the Cedar's brand, with product lines spanning Traditional Hommus, Organic Hommus (reformulated in 2026 to be seed-oil-free and free of guar gum and citric acid), and the premium Cedar's Reserve line. It reports annual production exceeding 145 million pounds from its headquarters in Haverhill/Ward Hill, MA, with a workforce of over 1,000 employees.

The business model is straightforward branded CPG: one-time consumer product sales across multiple product lines, distributed through nationwide grocery retail and a small DTC e-commerce flow built into the cedarsfoods.com store locator. Pricing is at standard consumer-food levels and not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are horizontal, spanning health-conscious consumers seeking clean-label, non-GMO, vegan-certified products and mainstream grocery shoppers buying for family meals, entertaining, and snacking. Marketing is content-led (180+ recipes on the website), supported by email/coupon capture, organic social, and the 'Cedar's with Heart' community initiative — philanthropy work that has donated over $2 million since 2020 through partners including the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs.

The go-to-market relies on national grocery distribution with a recent and deliberate push into clean-label and seed-oil-free positioning. Recent capital allocation is heavy: a $45 million Massachusetts facility expansion plus a $100 million new Massachusetts production facility (announced August 2024). Certifications include Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Vegan, gluten-free, and PETA's Eat Without Experiments pledge. Cedar's has remained entirely under Hanna-family ownership through its 40+ year history, with no venture capital, private equity, public listing, or M&A activity disclosed in available sources; leadership includes Charles Hanna as CEO and President and Christopher Gaudette as CFO.

Name

Cedar's Foods

Legal name

Cedar's Mediterranean Foods, Inc.

Website

https://cedarsfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cedar's Foods is a family-owned Mediterranean food manufacturer founded in 1981, producing hummus, dips, salads, and spreads distributed through U.S. grocery retailers and direct-to-consumer e-commerce, with over 1,000 employees and 145 million+ pounds of annual production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mediterranean Dips and Hummus

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Functional Packaged Foods (Gluten-Free, Keto, Organic, Medical/Allergen-Friendly) (CRADAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Freshly Made Grab-and-Go (Sandwiches, Wraps, Salads) (CRAHAKAA), Cold Prepared Foods & Meal Components (Sides, Proteins, Family Meals) (CRAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Mediterranean dips
• Hummus products
• Clean-label foods
• Mediterranean salads
• Plant-based spreads

Headquarters

HQ city

Haverhill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Products: Cedar's generates revenue through the sale of Mediterranean dips, spreads, hummus, tzatziki, salads, and related food products sold through grocery retail stores and direct-to-consumer online channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cedar's Foods manufactures and sells Mediterranean dips, spreads, hummus (hommus), tzatziki, salads, salsa, pita chips, wraps, and toum under family recipes established since 1981. The company produces over 145 million pounds of product annually from its Haverhill, Massachusetts headquarters, distributed through grocery retailers nationwide and direct-to-consumer online. Its portfolio spans Traditional Hommus, Organic Hommus (including the industry-first seed-oil-free reformulation), Topped Organic Hommus, Cedar's Reserve premium line, and supporting categories such as Tzatziki, Dips, Salads, Salsa, Pita Chips, Wraps, Labne, and Mediterranean Originals.

Product overview

Cedar's Foods is a family-owned Mediterranean food company that produces a diverse portfolio of dips, spreads, and fresh foods. The core offering centers on hummus (hommus) in multiple product lines: Traditional Hommus (classic flavors like Original, Garlic, Roasted Red Pepper, and specialty varieties like Dark Chocolate and Everything), Organic Hommus (certified organic varieties reformulated in 2026 to remove seed oils and artificial additives), and Cedar's Reserve (premium seed-oil-free line). Supporting product categories include Tzatziki (yogurt-based sauces), Dips (Spinach Dip, Feta Dip, Artichoke varieties), Salads (Black Bean, Edamame, Chickpea, Mediterranean Lentil, Taboule), Salsa, Toum (garlic sauce), Labne, Pita Chips, Wraps, and Mediterranean Originals. The company operates from Haverhill, Massachusetts, and has grown to produce over 145 million pounds of product annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Traditional Hommus Line Core hummus line featuring multiple flavor varieties including Original, Garlic, Roasted Red Pepper, and specialty flavors like Dark Chocolate, Everything, and Zesty Lemon, sold to U.S. consumers through grocery retail and direct online channels.
• Organic Hommus Certified organic hummus line reformulated as the industry's first organic hummus that is seed-oil-free, free of guar gum and citric acid, across 8 oz, 10 oz Topped, and 16 oz organic SKUs, targeted at consumers seeking clean-label organic Mediterranean dips.
• Cedar's Reserve Hommus Premium hummus sub-line positioned as seed-oil-free, with formal seed-oil-free certification planned for Spring 2026, including varieties like Roasted Red Pepper, targeted at consumers seeking premium clean-label Mediterranean dips.
• Topped Organic Hommus Organic hummus varieties with toppings, including Mediterranean, Garlic, Jalapeño, Roasted Red Pepper, Balsamic Caramelized Onion, and Pesto flavors, reformulated in 2026 to be seed-oil-free.
• Tzatziki Traditional Greek yogurt-based cucumber sauce available in multiple flavors including Cucumber Dill, with Feta, and other varieties, sold to consumers for dipping and as a Mediterranean condiment.
• Toum Garlic sauce and whipped garlic spread available in various flavors, used by consumers as a Mediterranean condiment or dip with recipes such as Golden Roasted Cauliflower with Toum promoted on the Cedar's website.
• Mediterranean Dips Range of Mediterranean-style dip products including Spinach Dip, Artichoke Spinach Hommus, Bacon & Artichoke Hot Dip, and Feta Dip, sold to U.S. consumers through grocery retail.
• Mediterranean Salads Range of Mediterranean salads including Black Bean Salad, Edamame Salad, Mediterranean Lentil Salad, Chickpea Salad, and Taboule Salad, sold ready-to-eat to U.S. consumers.
• Mediterranean Salsa Mediterranean-style salsa products in Medium and Mild varieties, sold to consumers for snacking and pairing with dips.
• Pita Chips and Breadsticks Crispy pita bread chips for dipping with Cedar's dips and hummus, including Original Pita Chips and Gluten-Free Mediterranean Breadsticks.
• Mediterranean Wraps Ready-to-eat Mediterranean wrap products sold to consumers for convenient Mediterranean meals.
• Labne (Labneh) Strained yogurt spread used in Mediterranean cuisine, offered as a standalone product and featured in Cedar's recipe content.
• Mediterranean Originals (Stuffed Grape Leaves) Additional Mediterranean specialty products including Stuffed Grape Leaves, sold as part of the Mediterranean Originals line.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• YMCAcoreOthers · 1 January 2020Community nonprofit partner in Cedar's with Heart initiative, which has donated over $2 million and provided meals and assistance to more than 50,000 individuals.
• Boys & Girls ClubscoreOthers · 1 January 2020Community nonprofit partner in Cedar's with Heart initiative, which has donated over $2 million and provided meals and assistance to more than 50,000 individuals through partnerships with organizations including the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other local nonprofits.
• PETAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCedar's Foods signed onto PETA's 'Eat Without Experiments' program, which helps consumers identify food and beverage companies that do not test on animals. PETA Vice President Shalin Gala acknowledged Cedar's decision, stating the pledge gives the company a competitive edge with ethics-conscious consumers, as 74 percent of surveyed consumers seek greater transparency on animal testing issues. The program features a database categorizing companies by their animal testing policies.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mezzetta: Established U.S. Mediterranean/specialty foods brand with a broader portfolio spanning olives, peppers, pasta sauces, and hummus. Competes with Cedar's in Mediterranean grocery aisles but at a wider category scope.
• Amy's Kitchen: Large natural and organic frozen/ready-meals CPG with strong clean-label and vegan credentials. Comparable consumer (health-conscious, plant-based) and grocery distribution but a much broader product portfolio than Cedar's.
• Strauss Group: Israeli food conglomerate and 50% JV partner in Sabra. Operates a broad portfolio of dairy, dips, and Mediterranean products globally; relevant as the parent of Cedar's largest direct competitor and a broader incumbent in Mediterranean CPG.

Direct peers

• Wild Garden: Producer of Mediterranean dips, hummus, tabbouleh, and related shelf-stable and refrigerated products sold through grocery. Overlapping product portfolio and channel with Cedar's Mediterranean Originals and core dip lines.
• Tribe Mediterranean Foods: A leading U.S. hummus brand owned by B&G Foods, offering flavored hummus lines sold through mainstream grocery. Directly comparable product portfolio and retail distribution model to Cedar's.
• Obela: Backed by McCain Foods, Obela sells fresh Mediterranean dips including hummus through grocery retail in the U.S. Comparable product portfolio and refrigerated-dip retail positioning to Cedar's.
• Ithaca Hummus: Premium, clean-label hummus brand positioned on simple ingredients and craft production. Closely comparable to Cedar's Reserve line in target consumer, price point, and clean-label messaging.
• Hope Foods: A natural and organic hummus brand with clean-label positioning similar to Cedar's Organic and Reserve lines. Comparable target consumer (health-conscious, plant-based) and grocery retail channel.
• Sabra Dipping Company: The U.S. hummus category leader and the most direct competitor to Cedar's, jointly owned by PepsiCo and Strauss Group. Both companies sell refrigerated hummus and Mediterranean dips through grocery retail nationwide, competing head-to-head for shelf space and consumer trial.

Emerging players

• Primal Kitchen: Clean-label condiments and pantry brand owned by Kraft Heinz, with overlapping clean-label, non-GMO, and ingredient-quality positioning relevant to Cedar's Reserve and Organic lines. Emerging competitive overlap in the premium pantry set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cedarsfoods

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Cedar's Foods