Three Years on the Inc. 5000: Scaling Genuine Foods & Staying True to Our Purpose
For the third year in a row, Genuine Foods has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies. This recognition is more than a milestone, it’s proof that growth and purpose can go hand-in-hand.
When we first made the list, we were proud. Now, three years in, the feeling is different. The pride is still there, but so is a deeper understanding of what it takes to grow quickly without losing sight of why you started in the first place.
Lesson 1: Growth Tests Your Values
It’s easy to stay true to your mission when you’re small. The real test comes when you’re adding accounts in new states, hiring hundreds of team members, and building systems to keep everything running smoothly.
We’ve learned to slow down enough to ask: Does this decision align with our mission? Our purpose is clear: serving real food, creating genuine hospitality, and making a positive impact in every community we serve.
When we’ve moved too fast and strayed from that, we’ve course-corrected. The lesson? Grow with partners, clients, and team members who share your vision.
Lesson 2: People Are the Real Growth Engine
Our business is not about contracts or cafeterias—it’s about people. From chefs in the kitchen to front-of-house teams welcoming guests, everything starts and ends with them.
That’s why we invest in tools, training, and trust. While new technologies like AI can make us more efficient, nothing replaces human connection. At its heart, a great meal is about how you feel afterward, and that feeling is created by people.
Lesson 3: Adaptability Beats Perfection
In a high-growth environment, you rarely have the luxury of perfect information or endless planning time. We’ve learned to make thoughtful but decisive moves, adapt when conditions change, and see every challenge as a chance to improve.
Not everything works. But if you never try, you’ll never know where your next breakthrough will come from.
Lesson 4: Growth and Impact Go Hand-in-Hand
Some think you have to choose between strong financial results and doing good. Our experience shows the opposite.
The more we’ve focused on scratch-made, nourishing meals and meaningful community partnerships, the stronger our growth has been. And when we grow, we reinvest in our people and innovations—creating a cycle where doing good drives success, and success fuels more good.
Looking Ahead
Making the Inc. 5000 list three years in a row tells us our approach is working—but it also raises the bar. We’re not just competing with other companies; we’re competing with our own potential.
To our team, clients, and partners—thank you for making this possible. The best part? We’re just getting started.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Inc. 5000 list?
The Inc. 5000 recognizes the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, based on revenue growth over a three-year period.
How do you maintain your values during rapid growth?
By being intentional about partnerships, slowing down to evaluate decisions, and putting mission alignment ahead of short-term wins.
Why does Genuine Foods focus so heavily on people?
Because hospitality is human. Technology can help us operate smarter, but it’s our team members who create the experiences that keep guests coming back.