Top Trending Food Startups in Chicago

In January, several emerging startups have taken off in the food space in Chicago. Leading the charge is Stretch island, the top trending startup, with a search volume of 2.9K and an impressive +60% growth rate.

TOP COMPANIES - UPDATED JAN 2026
6 Results

1. Stretch island

Exploding Growth
Exploding Growth

Stretch Island is a small island with a land area of 1.2179 square kilometers (300.95 acres) located in the United States. It has a population of 162 people as of the 2010 census, making it a sparsely populated area.…

Startup Details
Location
Jan 1976
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+60%
2 years Growth
2.9K/mo
Search Volume
businessfood-beveragefoodretailcpg
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
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2. Sprout living

Exploding Growth
Exploding Growth

A company that provides pure and potent plant-based protein powders and functional foods. Their products are made from raw, vegan, organic, and kosher superfoods sourced globally, differentiating them by their…

Startup Details
Location
Jan 2010
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+38%
2 years Growth
2.4K/mo
Search Volume
nutritionsupplementsfitnessfoodfood-beverage
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
Start 7-Day Free Trial

3. Tovala

Exploding Growth
Exploding Growth

Company that offers a smart oven and meal delivery service designed for convenience and healthy eating. The Tovala Smart Oven works with pre-prepared meal kits delivered to customers, using a combination of steam,…

Startup Details
Location
Jan 2015
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+95%
2 years Growth
60.5K/mo
Search Volume
businesstechnologyfood-beverageretailfoodautomation
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
Start 7-Day Free Trial

4. Simple mills

Regular Growth
Regular Growth

A company founded in 2012 that focuses on providing clean, nutritious foods aimed at promoting full-body, inside-out happiness. Simple Mills differentiates itself by offering simple, delicious, real foods that make…

Startup Details
Location
Jul 2013
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+20%
2 years Growth
22.2K/mo
Search Volume
businesshealthfood-beveragefoodnutritioncpg
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
Start 7-Day Free Trial

5. Jaggery

Exploding Growth
Exploding Growth

Traditional, unrefined sugar made from sugarcane or palm sap, commonly used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and some parts of Africa. Known for its distinct, rich flavor, jaggery is often used in cooking and baking and…

Startup Details
Location
Nov 2013
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+16%
2 years Growth
301K/mo
Search Volume
healthfood-beverageindustrynutritionfoodmanufacturing
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
Start 7-Day Free Trial

6. fairlife

Regular Growth
Regular Growth

Chicago-based dairy company known for producing great-tasting, nutrition-rich, and value-added dairy products. The company focuses on providing high-quality milk and other dairy products that are designed to nourish…

Startup Details
Location
Jan 2013
Founded Date
Data & Forecast
+18%
2 years Growth
135K/mo
Search Volume
businessfood-beverageretailfoodbeverages
Growth
Peaked
Regular
Exploding
Volatility
High
Medium
Low
Speed
Slow
Medium
Exponential
Seasonality
High
Medium
Low
Members Only
Start 7-Day Free Trial
Showing 1-6 of 6 Results

About Food in Chicago

Interest in Food startups in Chicago continues to surge this January. Leading the charge is Stretch island, founded in Jan 1976, with 2.9K monthly searches and an impressive +60% growth. Runner-up Sprout living, launched in Jan 2010, also shows strong engagement with 2.4K people searching for it each month. Tovala rounds out the top three. Established in Jan 2015, they’ve built steady momentum, seeing 60.5K monthly searches and +95% growth. Together, these rising brands highlight how Chicago’s Food startups are becoming increasingly attractive to both consumers and investors.

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