101 Best Kentucky Food and Beverage Companies and Startups

May 12, 2022
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This article showcases our top picks for the best Kentucky based Food and Beverage companies. These startups and companies are taking a variety of approaches to innovating the Food and Beverage industry, but are all exceptional companies well worth a follow.

We tried to pick companies across the size spectrum from cutting edge startups to established brands.

We selected these startups and companies for exceptional performance in one of these categories:

  • Innovation
    • Innovative ideas
    • Innovative route to market
    • Innovative product
  • Growth
    • Exceptional growth
    • Exceptional growth strategy
  • Management
  • Societal impact

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Top Kentucky Food and Beverage Startups

Data sourced from Crunchbase and SemRush.

Nowadays

Nowadays

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Nowadays is a plant-based meat startup that develops plant-based chicken nuggets made up of just 7 ingredients.

KFC

KFC

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Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is a chicken restaurant chain popular for its original recipe that makes use of 11 secret herbs and spices.

KFC

Brown-Forman Corp.

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Brown-Forman is one of the American-owned spirits and wine companies.

KFC

Pro Mach Group

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Pro Mach is an automated packaging solutions provider serving manufacturers of all sizes and geographies in the industrial industries.

KFC

Martie

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Martie diverts perfectly good surplus pantry staples from going to landfills and delivers them directly to customers.

KFC

FreshFry

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The FreshFry Pod extends the life of your frying oil.

KFC

ZoomEssence

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ZoomEssence designs and produces custom powder flavors that burst with taste and aroma for leading food and beverage brands.

KFC

Thrive365

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Thrive365 is a nutritional meal scoring platform that focuses on diabetes, health coaching, and technology-driven preventative medicine.

KFC

Frozen Foods Partners

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Frozen Foods Partners is a consumer products company established in the production, distribution and marketing of frozen skillet meals.

KFC

Angel’s Envy Bourbon

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There’s bourbon. And then there’s divine inspiration painstakingly crafted into a spirit so sublime you’ll want to share it with the world.

KFC

Braxton Brewing

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Braxton Brewing operates a craft brewery and taprooms providing fresh handmade beer.

KFC

Yum!

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Yum! is a quick-service restaurant brand that primarily operates the likes of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.

KFC

EZ Chow

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Branded Digital Ordering SaaS Platform, focused on Point-of-Sale Integration for the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry

KFC

Sword Performance

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Sword Performance is a producer of hydration products to fight dehydration and fatigue.

KFC

Beyond Zero

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Beyond Zero is a corporation that has invented a machine that freezes most liquor into ice.

KFC

Rooibee Red Tea

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Rooibee Red Tea offers adventure seekers with information about accommodation, food, and traveling kits.

KFC

Cooper Tea

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Cooper Tea Company produces black teas and green teas specializes in iced brew tea, hot tea, tea pods and tea brewing machines.

KFC

Hollison Technologies

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Hollison Technologies provides solutions for ensuring and maintaining food safety and security.

KFC

Chef Space

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Chef Space helps entrepreneurs start their food business with location, workspace, equipment.

KFC

Revival

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Revival sells vintage spirits, tasting experiences, and provide unique member opportunities.

KFC

Commonwealth Brands

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Commonwealth Brands manufactures and distributes tobacco products for adult smokers.

KFC

Algood Food Company

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Algood Food Company is a packer of private label peanut butter, jellies, and preserves.

KFC

What Chefs Want!

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What Chefs Want is a wholesale food distributor delivering meats, gourmet food items, paper goods, dairy, and restaurant staple items.

KFC

Houchens Industries

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Houchens Industries owns and operates supermarkets.

KFC

Kona Ice

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Kona Ice serves shaved ice that attracts kids and adults alike with its colorful and eye-catching truck.

KFC

Baqua

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Baqua is bringing healthy drink options to consumers.

KFC

Bluegrass Ingredients

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Bluegrass helps leading brands and flavor houses concept, test and produce the custom flavors and formulations they need to stay ahead.

KFC

Blue Run Spirits

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Blue Run Spirits provides distinctive Kentucky bourbon for bold and distinctive whiskey drinkers.

KFC

HJI Supply Chain Solutions

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HJI Supply Chain Solutions is a third-party logistics firm.

KFC

Laurel Grocery Company

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Laurel Grocery Company is a wholesale company providing groceries, meat, produce, and general merchandise.

KFC

Bardstown Bourbon Company

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Bardstown Bourbon Company is producing whiskey, bourbon, and rye for its own brands as well as for its Collaborative Distilling partners.

KFC

Takeout Taxi

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Since 1987, Takeout Taxi has been providing a wide variety of timely breakfast, lunch and dinner solutions.

KFC

DDW The Color House

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DDW is a supplier of natural colors to the food and beverage industry.

KFC

Poplar Level Player’s Plaza

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Poplar Level Player’s Plaza is a sports bar and restaurant.

KFC

Fazoli’s

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Grab your fork and dig into some of our favorite things!

KFC

Phocus

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Phocus is an e-commerce based firm dealing in online sales of caffeinated sparkling water Infused with natural tea, caffeine & L-theanine.

KFC

Novo Capital, LLC

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Private Investment Company. Hospitality, Restaurant Concepts, Technology.

KFC

Inspired Go

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chef inspired salads, bowls, and more – delivered to your home

KFC

Doc Popcorn

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Doc Popcorn is a food and beverages company that offers snack products and gift items.

KFC

Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions

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Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions is a restaurant providing supply chain management services.

KFC

SuperFat

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SuperFat is a food company that specializes in making gluten-free, ketogenic, real, nutritious cookies, butter and chocolates.

KFC

Organic Meadow

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Organic Meadow is a leading organic dairy company which sells organic milk and milk products,

KFC

Dinovite

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Dinovite manufactures and sells natural pet products online.

KFC

Fin Gourmet

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FIn Gourmet is a producer of wild-caught Asian Carp products.

KFC

United States of Espresso

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United States of Espresso is a pioneering coffee consumer and franchise.

KFC

The Lost Explorer Mezcal Company

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The Lost Explorer Mezcal is a handcrafted spirit made in Oaxaca.

KFC

Castellini Company

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Castellini is a distributor of fresh produce in the US with locations in Wilder, KY, and Conley, GA for foodservice operations & wholesale.

KFC

Four Roses Bourbon

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Four Roses Bourbon is handcrafts distinct and 10 extraordinary bourbon recipes.

KFC

Willow Ridge Plastics

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Willow Ridge Plastics, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of oxo-biodegradable additives, with over 27 years of experience.

KFC

Good Foods Co-op

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Good Food Co-op is locally owned and operated natural products market and cafe based in the USA.

KFC

Snappy Tomato Pizza Co.

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Snappy Tomato Pizza Co. is a restaurant offering pizzas, hoagies, and salads.

KFC

Cal-Organic Farms

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Cal-Organic Farms is a food and beverage company, that also a pioneer farm with strong roots in organic produce.

KFC

LOCA Foods

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Loca Foods is the first plant-based cheesy sauce that’s both devilishly delicious and shockingly healthy.

KFC

Grindmaster-Cecilware

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Grindmaster-Cecilware is a manufacturer of hot, cold and frozen beverage dispensing equipment, including coffee machines.

KFC

Hilco

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Hilco is a food & beverages company that specializes in manufacturer of candy filled novelties for seasonal and everyday distribution.

KFC

Mesa Foods

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Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, is a leading manufacturer of private label flour and corn tortillas, flatbreads, tacos shells, taco kits

KFC

Woodford Reserve

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Woodford Reserve is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of handcrafted whiskeys.

KFC

C.C. Clark, Inc.

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C.C. Clark, Inc. provides excellent customer service while representing the best beverage products available.

KFC

Wendy’s of Bowling Green, Inc.

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Wendy’s of Bowling Green is a hospitality company providing restaurant services.

KFC

Flavorman

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Flavorman is specializes in the technical side of beverage development.

KFC

Parallel Products

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Parallel Products is a renewables & environment company that offers beverage recycling services.

KFC

PrestigeHaus

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PrestigeHaus functions to create products that are timeless and distinctive.

KFC

Club Chef, LLC

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Club Chef is a food production company offering fruits and vegetables.

KFC

Louisville Water Company

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Louisville Water Company has provided high-quality drinking water to the communities we serve.

KFC

The People’s Platter

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The People’s Platter is an e-commerce store that offers deluxe mini flat graze, chocolate dessert cones, and baked brie dip.

KFC

De’Aruhuä Indigenous Chocolate

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Indigenous chocolate nutrition starts deep in the forest on the tree. Wild grown, organic cacao, cupuaçu, fruits, teas and medicinal plants.

KFC

Winchell’s Donut House Inc

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Winchell’s Donut House is an operator of food outlets that sells donuts, cinnamon rolls, muffins, bagels, etc.

KFC

Tequila Herradura

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Tequila Herradura, a Mexican company that produces the Casa Herradura tequila brand.

KFC

The Comfy Cow

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The Comfy Cow provides one-of-a-kind handcrafted ice cream & believe in real authentic flavor.

KFC

Brown Foodservice

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Brown Foodservice is delivering food.

KFC

Masterson’s Food & Drink, Inc.

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Masterson’s Food & Drink is a restaurant providing catering services.

KFC

River City Distributing, Inc.

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River City Distributing is a consumer goods company that offers wine and spirits products.

KFC

New Riff Distilling

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New Riff Distilling is a spirit and beverage manufacturing company.

KFC

Lockbox

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Lockbox is a restaurant that offers fine dining, culinary expertise and hospitality services.

KFC

Frozen De’Lites

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Frozen De’Lites is a food and drinks service provider company.

KFC

The Bourbon Review

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The Bourbon Review is a publishing company that provides news in the food and beverages industries.

KFC

Winston Industries

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Winston Industries is a food & beverages company that provides holding cabinets and thermalizer ovens.

KFC

Pizza Today

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Pizza Today is a publication for pizzeria owners and operators.

KFC

Boxney

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Boxney is a Disney subscription box service delivering authentic snacks and goodies directly from Disney World to you!

KFC

Grindmaster

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Grindmaster manufactures professional beverage dispensing equipment.

KFC

Blendex Company

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Blendex Company is a dry food blender and packager.

KFC

Pub by Novo

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Pub by Novo is a sports bar re-imagined.

KFC

Bulleit Distilling

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Bulleit Distilling is a beverage company that produces a wide variety of whisky, wine and spirits to its customers.

KFC

Lil Evee’s Sauces

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A unique kentucky born sauce company.

KFC

Molecular Health Technologies

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Molecular Health Technologies is a dietary supplement supplier.

KFC

Barr Farms

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Barr Farms provides meats and certified organic vegetables.

KFC

Bourbon Raw

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Bourbon Raw Bar and Restaurant is the best Restaurant in Louisville located in 446 S. Fourth St. Louisville, KY 40202. USA.

KFC

Winston Foodservice

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Winston Foodservice manufactures commercial foodservice equipment for restaurants, health care facilities, and schools.

KFC

Rudy Green’s Doggy Cuisine

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Rudy Green’s Doggy Cuisine provides home cooking for dogs.

KFC

OraMD

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The Mouth Doctor – The All Natural Toothpaste and Mouthwash

KFC

ILLUMINATEA

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ILLUMINATEA is a producer of premium matcha spread.

KFC

Hemp Foods America

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We are developing the first organic domestic supply of hemp for the $500 million annual US market for Hemp Foods.

KFC

Novohub.co

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Novohub.co offers user interface between customers and their favorite local restaurants.

KFC

Paradise‰ã¢ – Signature Sauces, Signature Services

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Paradise is a food production company specializing in sauces.

KFC

Petthrive

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Petthrive provides food for dogs to support joint, bone and metabolic health.

KFC

The Ooh! Box

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TheOohBox. The most exclusive wine and gourmet tasting club in South Africa.For life’s little pleasures.

KFC

Master Provisions

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Master Provisions is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides direct assistance to people in need.

KFC

B&B Systems

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B&B Systems provides custom-designed items in large and small quantities in the food industries.

KFC

Caralis Rotisserie Chicken

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#CharcoalChicken in Louisville Ky

KFC

Wallace Station

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Wallace Station Deli is a popular restaurant.

KFC

Rafferty’s

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Rafferty’s serves burgers, steaks, and American staples.

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