Congratulations to Sarah Pinneo for winning the Love with Food Giveaway!
It’s time to discover great food for a great cause!
I recently had the chance to spend some time with Aihui Ong, CEO of Love with Food, a nascent food subscription service that launched in December 2011.
To say Aihui is a very driven woman is an understatement. Like many people, Aihui was looking for a life change and was committed to combine both of her biggest passions, food and technology. So, she started coding, creating a website to help food makers find alternative distribution and marketing channels to help consumers easily discover great gourmet food. With this website as a platform to connect food producers with consumers, she realized that she could also use this as a means to help underprivileged children. There are more than 16 million children in America that are at risk of hunger. That’s more than 1 in 5 children that need a helping hand in order to thrive.
And so, the true mission of Love with Food was born: for each box that is purchased, a meal is donated to food banks all across the country to help combat childhood hunger.
One box. One meal. It’s that simple.
As a member since its launch, I can honestly say Love with Food offers the easiest way to discover, taste and buy great gourmet food for a great cause. I have been able to taste unique gourmet foods via a monthly subscription service where I receive a box full of 8+ gourmet samples to my door every month for only $10/month (oh, there’s FREE shipping too)!
contents of a sampler box delivered to my door
It’s a fun way to bring consumers and food makers together regardless of their geographical region. It’s hassle-free. Consumers get to try new foods in the comfort of their own home and food makers get to promote and distribute their products to a nationwide audience! You’ll also get cool free online food discounts. And, don’t worry, there’s no need to print or collect coupons. And did I mention FREE SHIPPPING!
Sounds pretty cool, right?
Well, last weekend at the Blogher ’12 conference in New York City, I had chance to talk with Aihui and learn more about her company and her success story.
Love with Food CEO Aihui Ong at Blogher ’12
Here’s a little sneak peak:
How do you decide which companies to include in a particular food sampler box?
We pride ourselves in curating unique hard-to-find products and delivering them to your door. We help our members discover great gourmet food which they might otherwise not have been able to discover themselves. We want to break the geographical barrier/restrictions of traditional food sales process. Tasty products made and sold on the West coast should be easily accessible to consumers on the East coast too and vice versa. Just because these products can’t make it to the retail stores on the East coasts doesn’t mean consumers should be deprived of tasting them. Every month we have a theme, we made sure the products fit the theme and they have to be unique and tasty. So we’ll reject main stream big brands products which you can easily get at grocery store. We’ll also not feature products that we’ll not consume ourselves, e.g. products with high fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring are frowned upon.
How do you execute the cause-related angle of donating food to a child who would otherwise go hungry?
Food banks prefer money because they can turn $1 into 7-10 meals, whereas if we give a can of soup, it can only go to 1 person. We started by giving to Feeding America and Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry) and while working with local food banks, we realized local food banks get very little funding from big organizations like Feeding America and Share Our Strength. So we decided to give directly to local food banks too. I would say 70% goes to Share Our Strength and Feeding America to feed hungry children and the other 30% goes to local food banks nationwide. We get a lot of email from our members asking if we could give to their local food banks and WE DO. That’s how we’ve been handpicking which food banks should receive the donations. After all, Love With Food is powered by our community and the donation is from our community.
How many children have you fed through Love with Food and where are these children located?
As of today, we’ve donated more than 8,000 meals. This map shows where we’ve donated: https://lovewithfood.com/meals_donated
What’s your goal for this venture? Long term?
Our long term goal is to build a strong brand and make Love With Food a household name. When people think of buying/discovering great food, they’ll immediately think of Love With Food. We want to build a strong community where everyone plays a part, whether it’s being our brand ambassadors, sharing products they love, or simply being part of ending childhood hunger movement, we are all sharing some kind of LOVE. International expansion is definitely in the horizon. We’ve received many requests from Canada and we hope one day, we can ship there.
Want to support Love with Food and its mission?
We’re thrilled to offer one lucky reader a year-long subscription to Love with Food! And, If you don’t win the giveaway, don’t worry. There’s more foodie love to go around. For all My Judy the Foodie readers, Love with Food has created $2 off discount codes. Simply use the code ‘MYJUDYVIP’ – and you’ll receive $2 off any subscription plans.
So, what are you waiting for?
Giveaway Details:
One (1) lucky winner will receive a free year-long subscription to Love with Food!
How to Enter
Since Love with Food boxes make ideal gifts, to enter to win, simply leave a comment in the post letting telling me when you would gift a Love with Food subscription to someone special.
Additional (Optional) Entries
To up your chances of winning, you can receive up to Five additional entries to win by doing the following (these are optional, not required):
1. Subscribe to My Judy the Foodie by RSS. Come back and let me know you’ve subscribed in an additional comment.
2. Become a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook. Come back and let me know you became a fan in an additional comment.
3. Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional comment.
4. Follow Love with Food on Pinterest. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional comment
4. Follow @myjudythefoodie on Twitter. Come back and let me know you’ve followed in an additional comment.
The Fine Print
Deadline: Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.
Winner: A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org and announced at the top of this post. The winner will also be notified via email and the My Judy the Foodie fan page on Facebook; if the winner does not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be selected.
My giveaways are listed on Contestgirl
Disclaimer: I was not compensated for writing this post. I was offered a free year-long subscription to LWF to give away to one lucky reader. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.
I would give this as a special gift at christmas time for my neighbor
I would gift a Love with Food box to anyone on their birthday 🙂 What a neat surprise to receive in the mail at the same time, contributing to a charity??? 🙂
I’d love to give this to my parents.
I follow My Judy The Foodie on facebook.
I would love to give this to my Mom as a housewarming present
i subscribe via google reader
i follow you on Pinterest- @denimorse
I follow Love With Food on Pinterest – @denimorse
This would make a great gift to my aunt & uncle, who live in a very small rural town and wouldn’t normally be able to find this type of stuff! Very cool.
I like you on Facebook (and in real life, of course!)
I follow @myjudythefoodie on Twitter as @MacaroniKidNYC
I would gift this to a special friend who I know could use a pick me up. Everyone has that one person in their lives that does so much for others, and never anything for themselves. I think it would be in good taste to keep with the “giving” mission of the founder.
By the way- I just found this blog and I already love it!
I would gift Love with Food to my daughter for Christmas! It would make a perfect gift for her
I follow your blog by email
My sister would love this, I would probably give this gift to her on her birthday
This would be an awesome gift for friends or family, any time of year!!!
To any family member who’s going through a hard time
I’m a fan on Facebook
I would give the Love with Food gift to my good friend Shanna for her birthday. She just loves to try new foods!!
Would make a great birthday gift for my mom.
My dad would love a yummy box!
Subscribed by email
Liked you on FB (drala625)
Following you on Pinterest (one2try)
Following Love with Food on Pinterest (one2try)
Following you on twitter @one2try
I follow you on facebook and pinterest
I subscribe to My Judy the Foodie by RSS
I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook
I would gift it to family who have to struggle each month.
I would gift a Love with Food subscription to my parents for their anniversary
I like My Judy The Foodie on FB: Ann Fantom
I’m an email subscriber
I’d give it to my husband for his birthday.
i like you on fb
I liked you on Facebook! 🙂 (Leah Dee)
leah@bellasconessions.com
Thanks for opportunity!
This would make a great birthday gift for a family member!
following on twitter.
@plumbpretty
I would give a Love with Food package to my son in college to make sure that not EVERYTHING he eats is junk food….
I would love to gift this to my husband on his birthday. He is hard to shop for, but we share a love for great food and cooking.
Baby Shower gift – how cool and unique
when they move into a new house.
twitter follow @xferriza2
It would be a great birthday gift for my sister.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I would “gift” it to my hubby as a thanks for being wonderful even when times aren’t all that great, would also be a late birthday/anniversary present for him.
I am a fan of My Judy The Foodie on facebook.
I am following you on Pinterest.
I am also following Love With Food on Pinterest.
This would be a great gift for a fellow food blogger! Someone who loves to try new snacks and take photos and write about it as much as me!
This would be a great Christmas gift for my mother-in-law. I can never figure out what to get her.
I ‘like’ My Judy the Foodie on facebook.
I would gift Love with Food to a friend on her birthday!
I Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest. I’m http://pinterest.com/ambergibson8/
I Follow Love With Food on Pinterest. I’m http://pinterest.com/ambergibson8/
I subscribe to your RSS feed with google reader
I am following My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest
I would give it to my niece
I like you on fb
It would be a great gift to say “thank you” to a family/friend!
I subscribed via RSS – Google Reader – livinglifeinmotion at gmail.com – Tarah M
I become a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (Tarah M.anning)
I Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest. (Tarah M.anning)
I Follow Love with Food on Pinterest (Tarah M.anning)
I think this would be a great birthday present!
I follow Myjudythefoodie on FB.
I follow you on pinterest.
I follow love with food on pinterest.
I would give Love with Food to a special friend which in turn gives to all
This would make a great Christmas gift.
Wow! I would give it to my mom, who loves good food but hates cooking!
I am a Facebook fan.
I am a Twitter follower @Julias__Child.
I would gift this to my wonderful husband and kids, since my cooking skills lack… a lot
I know a couple people that would love this as a Christmas gift.
I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook.
I am following My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest.
pinterest.com/ladykristianna
I am following Love with Food on Pinterest.
pinterest.com/ladykristianna
I am following @myjudythefoodie on Twitter.
@ladykristianna
I would gift this to my mom on Mother’s Day, she would love it!!
I am a fan of your Facebook Page My Judy the Foodie, Cody Anderson
I follow myjudythefoodie on Twitter @codyligon
This would make a great gift for someone that was in need of it…a low income family or an elderly neighbor
I would give to my Husband! He does all the cooking and the dishes and I know he would love to have this as a Surprise!!!!!
Following My Judy the Foodie on Pintrest!
Cheryl Reinhardt
Following Love with Food on Pinterest
Cheryl Reinhardt
Following @myjudythefoodie on twitter
@missyreinhardt
I’d gift it to my mom.
I am following Love with Food on Pinterest
I would give the love with Food sampler to my husband – then we could both enjoy!
a great birthday gift for mom
To my mother for her birthday
This would be perfect for my mother-in-law or father-in-law for their birthdays.
I think it would make a great wedding gift.
I would give it to ,my brother for my birthday.
I would send this to my mother because she has gone through so much.
I would gift to my parents, they would love this
I have a large family and am always looking for new gift ideas. This would make a great birthday gift or “going away to college” gift 🙂
gift a Love with Food subscription to mother
Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest: bleushmon
I subscribe to your rss via email:
keys … 90005 …. (at) gmail … dotcom
I would gift a Love with Food subscription to my mom’s birthday. Thanks for the opportunity.
I subscribed to My Judy the Foodie by RSS on google reader.
I wouldn’t need a specific time to give it. I would give it to my husband just because I love him !!
Follow My Judie the foodie on pinterest
Follow Love with food on pinterest
Follow @myjudiethefoodie on twitter.
Become a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (username susanking111)
Following Love with Food on Pinterest. (http://pinterest.com/susanking111/)
Following on twitter. ( https://twitter.com/SusanKing111)
I would give it to my sister who is celebrating her 40th birthday. These are our first birthdays without our Mom and it would be a lovely extra treat.
THis would be a great Christmas gift for my mom.
I would gift one to my dad for his birthday. He diets wayyyy too much.
I Would Gift It As A Gift To My Mother Just Because I Love Her!
LIked On Facebook
Following On Twitter @darleney88
I would gift one to my mom on her birthday.
I’d send one to my parents at Christmastime.
It would be great for my sister on her birthday.
I would gifted this for my mother for her birthday.
I’d give it to my mom because these kinds of things she’d never discover on her own.
This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for my Mom or sister.
marcia.goss@gmail.com
I subscribe to your feed in Google Reader.
marcia.goss@gmail.com
I like you on Facebook. (Marcia Goss)
marcia.goss@gmail.com
I follow you on Twitter @mgoss123.
marcia.goss@gmail.com
I would gift this to my wife-she would love it!
I would gift Love With Food to my best friend for her birthday.
chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow you on Pinterest. chrisdeglen http://pinterest.com/chrisdeglen/
chrisdeglen@gmail.com
I follow Love With Food on Pinterest. chrisdeglen http://pinterest.com/chrisdeglen/
chrisdeglen@gmail.com
I would gift to my parents for christmas.
My son would love this because he enjoys trying new foods. It’d make a great Christmas present for him. Thanks.
Mother’s Day.
This would be a perfect gift for my mother- it’s on my gift ideas for her birthday or Mother’s Day.
I like My Judy the Foodie on Facebook.
my brother;s birthday as he is a major foodie
i would gift this to my sister for christmas
I would probably gift my parents.
I think it would be a great gift for newlyweds!
I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (BrianandJ S)
Following you on twitter @happeegirl
It would make a nice Christmas gift for our neighbor
I follow @myjudythefoodie via twitter as @darkmysticnight
Would make a great birthday day present!
I follow My Judie the Foodie on Pinterest
I follow My Judiy the Foodie on FB
I follow My Judiy the Foodie on twitter
I would give a gift of love for anniversaries, birthday’s or house warming parties.
This would be perfect for my daughter in college.
I follow you on pinterest
puppet chandler
Love with Food pinterest follower
puppet chandler
To be given when someone’s child had a health scare and was in the hospital for a bit.
I’d give this to my Mom who is housebound
Like you on FB Susan Smith
follow you via Pinterest susan12151962
follow Love with Food via Pinterest susan12151962
I’d love for my mother-in-law to get this.
i would give it to my mom for Christmas
I would love to gift this to my parents. Thry eould enjoy it and they are so hard to shop for.
i sub. by rss
i like you on facebook
i follow you on pinterest
i follow love with food on pinterest
i follow you on twitter @velvetelvis40
My mother in law would love to get one of these. Thanks!
I think this wold be a great Anniversary , birthday or Christmas present. It would be especially good for friends and relatives that are difficult to get somethng special for.
I would love to give it to my dad for his birthday.
I would give to family and friends at Christmas!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
I’d love to gift this to my boyfriend.
I’d love to send this to my family that just moved!
RSS Subscriber
FB fan as Sonya Neal
Twitter follower as dewer421
Love With Food Pinterest follower as sanity4sonya
My Judy the Foodie Pinterest follower as sanity4sonya
I think it would make a good birthday present
subscribed by rss
following you on twitter (07violet)
This would be an amazing birthday gift
FB fan- Kristy Marie
i would gift it to my mom
To my wonderful daugher!!
cgentry1952@yahoo.com
I’d put this in my husband’s name! He’d love it, we are both big foodies!
I follow love with food on pinterest under Melanie Dauterive
I’d give this to my parents for Christmas
follow my judy on pinterest – Marianna B.
follow love with food on pinterest – Marianna B.
follow my judy on twitter – @mannabsn
This would make a perfect housewarming gift
Any day that ends with “Y”!
I would give it to my husband for his birthday.
liked My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (Amy D E N I E S)
following Shari Brooks on pinterest
following judy the foodie on twitter @mooncityminx
following lovewithfood on pinterest (rainbowsoverme)
It would make a wonderful gift to give my mother.
This would make a great holiday gift.
lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com
I would gift this to my eldery nieghbor .
I would give it too someone recovering from illness or if they had a new baby!
Would be a great Christmas gift
Liked My Judy the Foodie on Facebook as Laur Uda
lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com
Following @myjudythefoodie on Twitter as Uda_tweets
lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com
I have a sister getting married in November. I think it would make an interesting gift.
I subscribed to your RSS feed.
I already follow you on Pinterest (Ash Johns – twotil)
I already follow Love with Food on Pinterest (Ash Johns – twotil)
I already follow you on twitter (@twotil)
This Sampler would be great for a disabled or shut in person.
My son was recently mugged in NYC. I would send it to him as a hug from his worried mom (ME!).
I would share this as a wedding or shower gift with my recently engaged brother and his foodie loving fiance.
I am a FB fan!
I am an email subscriber!
I follow Judy the Foodie on Pinterest
I now follow Love with Food on Pinterest…>Thanks!
i would give this gift this to my uncle who loves trying new things
following on twitter
@adventureseaker
This would be a perfect Christmas gift! 🙂 Thank you.
I follow you on Pinterest. 🙂 (sottovocerocks)
I follow Love With Food on Pinterest. 🙂 (sottovocerocks)
I became your fan on Facebook. 🙂 (Jaque Richards)
i would love to send one to a friend who just got diagnosed with cancer
id gift one to my daughter in college
rss google feed subscriber kathypease@gmail.com
like you on facebook kathy pease
follow you on pinterest kathy pease
I would gift it to my best friend who lives across the country – because we both love food and laugh about it all the time. She’s a foodie and would appreciate it!
This would be a great gift for my dad
I like you on facebook
I follow on twitter
I would gift it for christmas.
I would give it as a birthday gift!
I follow My Judy The Foodie on Facebook. (Annemarie Zito)
I follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest.
Annemarie Zito (annemariez56)
I follow Love with Food on Pinterest.
Annemarie Zito (annemariez56)
I follow @myjudythefoodie on Twitter. (annemariez3)
A lovely gift for anybody on your list!!
This would be a perfect gift for the holidays or a special birthday.
Right after the new year, when eating right is fresh on the mind!
For a birthday!
I subscribed by email.
I would give it to my daughter for her birthday.