Little Spoon
A U.S. direct-to-consumer and retail baby-food company offering fresh, organic-oriented meals, snacks, and infant nutrition products.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Little Spoon, Inc. is a New York-based food company serving infants, toddlers, and children. It was launched in 2017 by Ben Lewis, Angela Vranich, Michelle Muller, and Lisa Barnett as a direct-to-consumer alternative to conventional shelf-stable baby food. The founders identified an opportunity to modernize a category that had traditionally been dominated by packaged products with long shelf lives and limited variety. Lewis and Vranich brought food-industry experience, while Barnett had worked in venture capital and saw potential for a more contemporary baby-food business. Muller focused on customer experience during the company’s early development. The brand’s initial offering, Babyblends, consisted of fresh baby-food portions delivered to households through a subscription model. The company emphasized convenience for parents, ingredient transparency, and food positioned as fresh and minimally processed. In 2020, Little Spoon expanded beyond infant purees with Plates, a line of ready-to-heat meals for toddlers and children. It subsequently added Biteables, ready-to-eat foods designed for toddlers and children developing baby-led-weaning and self-feeding habits. The broader portfolio has grown to more than 100 products across infant, baby, toddler, and children’s categories. Little Spoon’s value proposition combines home delivery, age-oriented product development, and claims relating to organic ingredients and cleaner labels. Many products are described as USDA Certified Organic and Clean Label Project certified, although certification and formulation vary by product. The company has also placed particular emphasis on food-safety transparency. In September 2024, it announced safety standards aligned with European Union requirements and publicly disclosed limits for contaminants including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It also publishes batch-level testing information for certain products. For its infant formula, the company states that it uses third-party testing for contaminants and specific safety indicators, including sulfate-reducing clostridia. The business initially operated primarily through its own online channel. Its expansion was supported by venture financing, including a $7 million round in 2019, a $22 million round in 2020, a $44 million Series B round in 2021, and additional funding in 2023 reportedly led by Valor Equity Partners at an approximately $300 million valuation. These financings supported product development, supply-chain investment, marketing, and growth in the family-food category. In October 2025, Little Spoon expanded into physical retail through a partnership with Target, placing 23 products in more than 1,800 Target stores in the United States. Inc. reported that Target characterized the rollout as the retailer’s largest food-and-beverage launch to that point. This move broadened Little Spoon’s reach beyond subscription customers while retaining its direct-to-consumer business. By late 2025, the company reportedly employed 109 people, with roughly half working remotely. In March 2026, Little Spoon launched an organic infant formula through its website and introduced Spoon Fed, an educational platform featuring contributions from healthcare professionals. The formula is described as USDA Organic, EU Organic, Clean Label Project Certified, and Certified Pesticide Free. It uses whole milk from organic grass-fed cows in New Zealand and is manufactured in the United States at an FDA-registered facility. The company states that the formula contains no corn syrup, palm oil, maltodextrin, or genetically modified ingredients, and includes prebiotic FOS, nucleotides, DHA, and ARA. Little Spoon’s current identity therefore spans fresh infant food, children’s meals and snacks, safety-oriented product information, and direct-to-consumer infant nutrition.
History
Little Spoon was established in 2017 by Ben Lewis, Angela Vranich, Michelle Muller, and Lisa Barnett. The founders believed that infant and children’s food could be modernized through fresher products, more convenient ordering, and a stronger emphasis on ingredient and safety information. Lewis and Vranich had backgrounds in the food industry. Barnett had previously worked in venture capital and identified an opportunity to update a category traditionally associated with shelf-stable jars, pouches, and highly standardized flavors. Muller contributed to the company’s early customer-experience activities. Vranich developed the Little Spoon name and led early product development, branding, and packaging. Lewis concentrated on operations, supply chain, growth, and fundraising. Barnett served as an early marketing and executive leader, working on brand development, fundraising, and growth. The company launched with Babyblends, a direct-to-consumer line of fresh baby food delivered to families through a subscription-oriented model. Its online-first approach was designed to make recurring purchases easier for parents while allowing the company to control product presentation and customer communications. In 2020, Little Spoon broadened its addressable market with Plates, a line of ready-to-heat meals for toddlers and children. This marked a shift from a business focused mainly on infant purees to a wider family-food platform. The company later introduced Biteables, ready-to-eat products associated with toddler self-feeding and baby-led-weaning occasions. Over time, the portfolio expanded to more than 100 products spanning infant, baby, toddler, and children’s needs. Growth was supported by multiple private financing rounds. Little Spoon raised $7 million in February 2019 in a round led by Vaultier7. In December 2020, it raised $22 million led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Starbucks and other investors. A $44 million Series B round followed in July 2021, again led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Kairos HQ. In February 2023, the company raised additional funding led by Valor Equity Partners at a reported valuation of approximately $300 million. The available reference material does not identify a public listing, parent company, or controlling owner. Food safety and transparency became increasingly prominent in the company’s public positioning. In September 2024, Little Spoon announced standards designed to align with European Union safety expectations and published limits for contaminants such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury. It also made batch-level testing information available for certain products. For infant formula, the company reports using third-party testing for contaminants and safety indicators, including sulfate-reducing clostridia, a spore-forming bacterium relevant to food safety. The company’s distribution strategy changed significantly in October 2025, when it introduced 23 products across more than 1,800 Target stores in the United States. The retail partnership expanded Little Spoon’s reach beyond its online subscription base. Inc. reported that Target described the rollout as its largest food-and-beverage launch at the time. By late 2025, Little Spoon reportedly had 109 employees, approximately half of whom worked remotely. In March 2026, Little Spoon entered the infant-formula market with an organic formula sold directly through its website. The product is described as USDA Organic, EU Organic, Clean Label Project Certified, and Certified Pesticide Free. It uses whole milk sourced from organic grass-fed cows in New Zealand and is manufactured in the United States at an FDA-registered facility. The company states that the formula excludes corn syrup, palm oil, maltodextrin, and genetically modified ingredients, while including prebiotic FOS, nucleotides, DHA, and ARA. The launch was accompanied by Spoon Fed, an educational content platform featuring healthcare professionals. Little Spoon has received external recognition including inclusion in Time’s Best Inventions of 2018, a No. 91 ranking on Inc.’s 2022 list of fastest-growing companies, and inclusion in Fast Company’s Brands That Matter in 2022. It was also included in Inc.’s Best Workplaces lists in 2023 and 2025 and its Best in Business list in 2025. The company remains an active private brand combining direct delivery, retail distribution, fresh children’s meals, snack products, and infant nutrition.
- 2026
Organic infant formula launch
[1]Little Spoon launches an organic infant formula and the Spoon Fed educational platform.
- 2025
Nationwide Target rollout
[1]Twenty-three products enter more than 1,800 Target locations in the United States.
- 2024
Enhanced contaminant standards
[1]The company announces European Union-aligned safety standards and publishes limits for selected contaminants.
- 2021
Series B financing
[1]Little Spoon announces a $44 million Series B led by Valor Equity Partners.
- 2020
Plates launches
[1]Little Spoon introduces ready-to-heat meals for toddlers and children.
- 2019
First major disclosed funding round
[1]The company secures $7 million in funding led by Vaultier7.
- 2018
Named to Time’s Best Inventions
[1]Little Spoon is included in Time’s Best Inventions of 2018.
- 2017
Little Spoon is launched
[1]Ben Lewis, Angela Vranich, Michelle Muller, and Lisa Barnett launch Little Spoon as a direct-to-consumer infant-food company.
Products and positioning
Premium, convenience-led children’s nutrition brand focused on fresh and organic-oriented food, direct delivery, transparent testing, and modern alternatives to conventional baby food.
Fresh infant food · 2017
Babyblends
Babyblends is Little Spoon’s original product line and the foundation of its direct-to-consumer model. The line consists of fresh baby-food portions designed for infants and delivered to households through recurring online orders. It helped establish the company’s differentiation from conventional shelf-stable baby food by emphasizing freshness, convenience, and age-oriented feeding options.
Toddler and children’s meals · 2020
Plates
Plates is a line of ready-to-heat meals introduced in 2020 for toddlers and children. The range expanded Little Spoon beyond infant purees and positioned the company as a broader children’s-meal provider. Products are designed to reduce preparation time for parents while offering portioned meals appropriate to the brand’s target age groups.
Ready-to-eat toddler food
Biteables
Biteables is a ready-to-eat line aimed at toddlers and children developing self-feeding habits. The range is associated with baby-led-weaning occasions and gives the company an offering between pureed infant food and conventional children’s meals. It forms part of Little Spoon’s expanded portfolio of more than 100 products.
Infant formula · 2026
Organic infant formula
Little Spoon’s organic infant formula launched in March 2026 through the company’s website. The company describes it as USDA Organic, EU Organic, Clean Label Project Certified, and Certified Pesticide Free. It uses whole milk from organic grass-fed cows in New Zealand and is manufactured in the United States at an FDA-registered facility. Little Spoon states that the product contains prebiotic FOS, nucleotides, DHA, and ARA and excludes corn syrup, palm oil, maltodextrin, and genetically modified ingredients.
Marketing campaigns
- 2026Spoon Fed
United States
Little Spoon introduced Spoon Fed alongside its infant-formula launch as an educational content platform featuring contributions from healthcare professionals.
Outcome. The initiative extended the brand beyond product sales into parent education and infant-nutrition information.
- 2022Brands That Matter recognition
United States
Little Spoon was included in Fast Company’s Brands That Matter recognition, reflecting attention to its contemporary approach to children’s food and family-oriented branding.
Outcome. The recognition strengthened the brand’s profile in the U.S. consumer and startup market.
Brand decisions
2026
Enter the infant-formula categoryProduct launchBackground
After building a portfolio across infant, toddler, and children’s foods, Little Spoon expanded into infant nutrition.
Action taken
The company launched an organic infant formula through its website and introduced Spoon Fed as an accompanying educational platform.
Aftermath
The launch extended Little Spoon’s product range into a highly regulated category and reinforced its emphasis on organic certification, testing, and ingredient disclosure.
2025
Expand from direct-to-consumer distribution into Target storesStrategyBackground
Little Spoon had primarily used a direct-to-consumer model and sought broader physical availability for its products.
Action taken
The company launched 23 products in more than 1,800 Target locations across the United States.
Aftermath
The partnership significantly expanded retail reach while leaving the company’s online channel in place. Target described the rollout as its largest food-and-beverage launch at the time, according to Inc.
2024
Adopt publicly disclosed contaminant limitsStrategyBackground
Concerns about heavy metals and other contaminants are significant in infant and children’s food, where parents seek more information about testing and safety controls.
Action taken
Little Spoon announced European Union-aligned safety standards, disclosed limits for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, and published batch-level testing data for certain products.
Aftermath
The policy became a central part of the company’s transparency and food-safety positioning.
2020
Expand from infant food into children’s mealsProduct launchBackground
Little Spoon began as a fresh infant-food brand but sought to serve families for a longer period as children grew.
Action taken
The company launched Plates, a line of ready-to-heat meals for toddlers and children.
Aftermath
The move broadened Little Spoon’s product scope and supported its development into a multi-stage children’s food brand.
Recent events
- 2026
Little Spoon launches organic infant formula and Spoon Fed[1]
Product launch
The company introduced organic infant formula through its website and launched Spoon Fed, an educational platform with healthcare-professional contributions.
- 2025
Little Spoon launches products at Target[1]
Product launch · M&A
Little Spoon placed 23 products in more than 1,800 Target locations nationwide, expanding from its primarily direct-to-consumer model into major retail.
- 2024
Little Spoon adopts publicly disclosed contaminant standards[1]
Regulation · Other
The company announced safety standards aligned with European Union requirements and disclosed limits for contaminants including heavy metals.
- 2023
Little Spoon expands its children’s product portfolio[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The company added Biteables and expanded its portfolio to more than 100 products across infant, baby, toddler, and children’s categories.
- 2023
Little Spoon raises additional funding at approximately $300 million valuation[1]
Other
Little Spoon obtained additional funding led by Valor Equity Partners at a reported valuation of approximately $300 million.
- 2021
Little Spoon announces $44 million Series B[1]
Other
A Series B round led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Kairos HQ, funded continued growth and product expansion.
- 2020
Little Spoon raises $22 million[1]
Other
The company raised a round led by Valor Equity Partners, with participation from Starbucks and other investors.
- 2020
Little Spoon introduces Plates[1]
Product launch
The brand expanded from infant food into ready-to-heat meals for toddlers and children.
- 2019
Little Spoon raises $7 million in early funding[1]
Other
Little Spoon secured a funding round led by Vaultier7 to support its direct-to-consumer baby-food business.
Sources1 sources
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