What World Foods does

World Foods is a family-owned specialty grocery market founded and operated by John and Mirna Attar, immigrants from Lebanon, with two Portland, Oregon retail storefronts at 830 NW Everett Street (Pearl District) and 9845 SW Barbur Blvd, each open 13 to 14 hours daily. The stores offer international and specialty groceries sourced from over 50 countries, Pacific Northwest-sourced natural meats, exotic and seasonal produce, a curated international and local beer and wine selection, and a chef-run Mediterranean deli led by Mirna Attar drawing on recipes from the family's Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine restaurant. Adjacent revenue comes from full-service catering for events, accepted through a Square-based online ordering storefront.

Revenue mechanics are predominantly traditional retail grocery (in-store purchases across grocery, meat, produce, dairy, beer and wine) supplemented by deli/prepared-food transactions and catering fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed beyond select seasonal produce items. Go-to-market is community-led, anchored by the recurring First Thursdays in-store event program, an Instagram presence, and an email newsletter, with no paid acquisition infrastructure disclosed. The company has no outside investors, no parent organization, and operates exclusively within the Portland metro; cross-promotion between the two markets, the catering arm, and Ya Hala restaurant creates a three-touchpoint household food ecosystem under single-family ownership.

Technology footprint is minimal and consumer-facing only: a Squarespace marketing site, a third-party Square catering storefront, and standard social channels. There are no AI/ML systems, proprietary data assets, custom e-commerce platform, mobile app, or disclosed ERP/inventory technology. Operationally, the business depends on founder-led curation, supplier relationships with regional farmers and international distributors, and in-person service rather than technology-driven scale advantages.

Name

World Foods

Legal name

World Foods

Website

https://worldfoodsportland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Family-owned Portland specialty market operating two retail storefronts and an affiliated Lebanese restaurant, selling international groceries from 50+ countries, a chef-run Mediterranean deli, curated beer and wine, and event catering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Grocery

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Meat Retailers (445240), Fish and Seafood Retailers (445250), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Imported & Regional Specialty Food Stores (CRAHAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty & Exotic Meats Retail (Game, Halal, Kosher) (CRAHAHAF), Seafood Markets & Fishmongers (CRAHAHAC), Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly) (CRAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Specialty grocery
• International foods
• Mediterranean deli
• Event catering
• Artisan cheese dairy

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: Revenue from selling specialty and international grocery products across multiple categories including produce, meat, seafood, cheese, dairy, beer, and wine. Operates as a traditional retail grocery model with in-store purchases.
2. Deli & Prepared Foods: Chef-run Mediterranean deli selling fresh prepared foods including pita, hummus, and slow-braised lamb. Fresh daily preparation with home-kitchen care approach.
3. Catering Services: Full-service catering for gatherings and events, operated by Chef Mirna Attar. Online ordering through Square site at world-foods-catering.square.site.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

World Foods is a family-owned specialty market operating two retail storefronts in Portland, Oregon (World Foods Everett on NW Everett Street and World Foods Barbur on SW Barbur Blvd). It sells international and specialty grocery items sourced from over 50 countries across categories including produce, meat and seafood, cheese and dairy, and beer and wine, alongside a chef-run Mediterranean deli and a catering service operated by Chef Mirna Attar.

Product overview

World Foods is a family-owned specialty market offering a diverse, high-quality grocery and deli selection. The company operates two retail locations (World Foods Everett and World Foods Barbur) in Portland, Oregon, featuring products from over 50 countries. The business includes a Mediterranean deli operated by Chef Mirna Attar from Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine, offering fresh-made dishes like pita, hummus, and slow-braised lamb. Additional offerings include quality meat and seafood, fresh and exotic produce, specialty cheese and dairy, and a curated beer and wine selection. The company also owns Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine restaurant and provides online catering ordering through a third-party platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• World Foods Everett Store Physical retail location in Portland's NW Everett Street neighborhood selling international and specialty grocery items sourced from over 50 countries, including produce, meat and seafood, cheese and dairy, and beer and wine, for individual household shoppers.
• World Foods Barbur Store Second retail specialty grocery location on SW Barbur Blvd in Portland, offering the same curated international and specialty grocery assortment and Mediterranean deli service as the Everett store to shoppers in southwest Portland.
• Mediterranean Deli and Catering In-store chef-prepared Mediterranean and Lebanese deli foods plus a catering service for events and gatherings, run by Chef Mirna Attar of Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine and orderable online through world-foods-catering.square.site.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pacific Northwest Farmers and VendorscoreOthersWorld Foods partners with the best farmers and vendors in the Pacific Northwest to provide quality, natural meats with no added hormones or antibiotics. These suppliers provide a tasty variety of pre-seasoned, ready-to-cook meats including flavorful kabobs.
• Local and International Brewers, Makers, and Distributors (Beer & Wine)coreOthersPassionate stewards work closely with local and international brewers, makers, and distributors to curate a diverse beer and wine selection. Ever drink an amazing bottle while abroad? They'll do their best to bring it home to customers.
• Ya Hala Lebanese CuisinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Foods Mediterranean deli is run by Chef Mirna Attar from Ya Hala Lebanese Cuisine. The deli uses favorite recipes to create dishes for gatherings, featuring fresh pita, creamy hummus, and slow-braised leg of lamb. Both businesses are family-owned by John and Mirna Attar.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Trader Joe's: National specialty/private-label grocer with strong Portland footprint; competes on price-curated international and gourmet items across overlapping categories.
• Whole Foods Market: National premium natural/specialty grocer with a Portland presence; overlaps on international and natural-product assortment but at significantly larger scale and broader assortment.

Direct peers

• New Seasons Market: Portland-based specialty/natural grocer with a curated local assortment and multiple locations; competes head-to-head with World Foods for the same Portland household grocery basket and prepared-food occasions.
• Market of Choice: Oregon specialty grocer emphasizing local, natural, and international products; comparable assortment positioning and overlapping Portland/Oregon trade areas.
• Capers Kitchen & Catering: Portland specialty grocer with deli and catering services; directly competes for the same household specialty-grocery-plus-prepared-food basket.
• Zupan's Markets: Portland upscale neighborhood grocer with curated specialty assortment and prepared foods; competes for the same Pearl District-adjacent premium shopper.
• Providore Fine Foods: Portland curated specialty food retailer offering gourmet, imported, and locally-sourced provisions; highly comparable to World Foods' specialty assortment and prepared-food positioning.
• Mediterranean Exploration Company (formerly Tabor Bread): Portland Mediterranean-focused prepared food and grocery concept with an in-house chef; directly comparable to World Foods' Mediterranean deli and catering offering.

Regional players

• A Mediterranean Cafe & Catering: Portland-area Mediterranean deli and full-service catering operator; comparable deli/catering model and target customers for event-driven occasions.
• Sheridan Fruit Company: Historic Portland specialty grocer focused on imported and hard-to-find international products; closely comparable niche positioning in the local ethnic/specialty market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/yahalapdx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-foods

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 World Foods