Getting Healthier One Spoonful at a Time

It’s always exciting to hear about one of our own taking his own childhood experiences and turning them into a thriving business that helps others. Bradley Gifford, founder of Spoonful, grew up in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a neighborhood classified as a food desert where healthy, affordable food was scarce. As a child, Gifford faced high blood pressure and obesity, often starting his day with sugary instant oatmeal. Motivated by his own health journey and a desire to address disparities in food access, Gifford launched Spoonful, a refrigerated overnight oats brand focused on providing nutritious, accessible breakfasts-especially for underserved communities.

Spoonful’s products are crafted to meet the needs of gluten-free eaters and the high percentage of lactose-intolerant African Americans and Native Americans, using ingredients like oat milk, gluten-free oats, pea protein, and probiotics. A major turning point for Spoonful was its selection as a finalist in Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, a program designed to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and strategic resources. In 2024, Spoonful received a $50,000 grant and entered a 12-week mentorship program, gaining guidance from industry leaders at companies like Walmart, Louis Vuitton, and Heineken. Gifford credits Black Ambition with not only providing crucial capital but also helping him refine Spoonful’s growth strategy, expand its network, and prepare for broader distribution. The initiative’s focus on community, learning, and breaking industry barriers accelerated Spoonful’s mission to make healthy breakfasts accessible and culturally relevant, while reinforcing Gifford’s commitment to representation and empowerment in the wellness space.