Foodpreneur

Foodpreneur:

 Wendy Smith

About the Foodpreneur: 

Wendy Wheeler Smith, daughter of founder Patsy M. Smith,  joined SchoolHouse Kitchen in summer 2007 as president and manages the day-to-day business. Prior to joining SchoolHouse Kitchen, Wendy worked as a private investigator for The James Mintz Group; lived and worked in Spain; and spent eight years in the photography industry as a magazine editor and a director of a photography studio and production company. She holds a graduate degree from New York University and an undergraduate degree from Hamilton College. Having been brought up in a household where food, healthy eating and being adventurous were all encouraged, Wendy jumped at the chance to join the company in order to make it grow.

About the SchoolHouse Kitchen Biz: 

SchoolHouse Kitchen created all natural food which come from the recipes of founder Patsy Smith.  The company was created as a way of selling healthy, exciting food in order to raise profits for educational causes.

Founded:   

2004

Number of Employees: 

3

Clients: 

Dean & Deluca and other high end specialty food stores 

Marketing Strategies: 

Because we are a small company with a big mission, we want our food to do the talking for us.  We encourage schools to partner  with us to offer a healthy alternative for raising funds, and we get out into the stores as often as possible to meet our customers and help them to sell our product for us through its high quality and by conveying our mission message.

Wendy knew SchoolHouse Kitchen was a hit when:

Within the year that I have come on to work, we have won three national awards and received national press and media attention.

In the News: 

Oprah's O Magazine, Bon Appetit, Time Out New York, NPR, and various regional publications

Why is Wendy in the Food Business? 

Because we all need to eat, but we all also have choices.  Being able to help create and sell quality choices that also have a social responsibility aspect to them in a capitalistic model is really important; and I love to eat!

Words from the Wise (what you don't like about the biz): 

Well being at the "bottom of the food chain" as a new product on the market.  While most people in the small end can be personable and very pleasant a thick skin can be needed in dealing with larger companies.

Contacting SchoolHouse Kitchen: 

SchoolHouse Kitchen
The Old American Can Factory
232 Third Street, #C2A
Brooklyn, NY  11215
(718) 855- 4990
Website:  SchoolHouse Kitchen