Mom started baking 'special cookies' to help daughter's allergies. Now they're worth $50 million
Denise Woodard said, 'We’re going to make a Girl Scout cookie one day.'
Every parent wants to give their child the best childhood possible, and that includes a sweet treat every once in a while. When Vivienne was 8 months old, Denise Woodard discovered her daughter had food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES). She was allergic to eggs, nuts, corn, sesame, and more. For years, Woodard tried to find safe alternatives for her daughter. Woodard founded Partake in 2016, and in 2017, she finally left her corporate job to devote herself to expanding food choices for people with allergies, TODAY revealed. Partake Foods shared a video on June 25, 2026, about how the brand came to life; it got 2,631 views, 136 likes, and 22 comments.
Nobody gets left out
Denise Woodard worked in food product sales but admitted she didn't know much about food allergies. She said, "I feel embarrassed by how much I trivialized it until I was living the journey myself." She realized the severity of the situation when she had to send her daughter out into the world, knowing that certain foods could be deadly. She knew she had to do something so her daughter wouldn't feel left out when she saw other children enjoying certain foods. After she left her job, she teamed up with Martha, Vivienne's grandmother, and a professional food product developer to create cookies that were free of the top nine allergens. But it was easier said than done. Woodard drained her 401K, and sold her engagement ring to fund her company. When Jay Z's Marcy Venture Partners invested in the company, she became the first Black woman to raise over $1 million for a packaged food company. According to Tracxn, Partake Foods has raised $51.2 million across eight funding rounds and ranks fourth among 426 active competitors.
The mission behind the name
Woodard chose to name her company "Partake" because she wanted everyone to be able to "take part without being set apart." In 2019, she told her employee, "We’re going to make a Girl Scout cookie one day." Now, Woodard's dreams are finally coming true. Girl Scout Sparkables, developed with Partake, will be available online for direct shipping starting January 12, 2027. Woodard explained the reason why Sparkables was invented: "We wanted something that kind of matched the ethos of Partake, where you don’t feel like you’re sacrificing, you don’t feel like you’re being othered. You get to fully participate and have something that’s delicious and looks as fun as the other options that are available for people without food allergies."
A big table for everyone
Woodard knows that people with allergies struggle to find safe foods, from snacks to breakfast and dinner. FPIES is often diagnosed when an infant is introduced to food items such as rice, barley, oats, and other similar foods. But FPIES triggers only gastrointestinal allergies. Since symptoms appear hours after the food is ingested, people often fail to link the symptom to the food. FPIES symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, lack of energy, and failure to thrive. A US study published in 2019 estimated that FPIES affects about 0.5% of children and 0.2% of adults. While it may look like a small number, Woodard wanted to "build a big enough table that people from all different walks of life, places, etc. feel welcomed and celebrated."
Partake is for everyone
Netizens were gushing over Vivienne and Partake in the comment section. @hartkathyann commented, "Kids and supposed grown-ups like me enjoy Partake!" @rachelgillmanrischall wrote, "Vivi is a dream spokes-kid."
You can follow Partake Foods (@partakefoods) on Instagram for more allergy-free food content.
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