About
Woodland
Gourmet™
Over 30 Years of Delivering
Fascinating Food Experiences.
Trusted Inspiration for Food Lovers Everywhere
Founded in 1989, Woodland Gourmet™ began with a single shipment of Chanterelle Mushrooms and has since grown into a leader in the specialty foods industry. Over the past three decades, we have grown to over 300 employees and 550,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities in Waukegan, Illinois, crafting unique culinary solutions that inspire food lovers everywhere.
Our History
Our commitment to sourcing uncommon ingredients has driven us to travel the world, from the quinoa fields of the Andes Mountains to the lush red rice paddies of Bhutan, always searching for the next remarkable ingredient. Today, we proudly offer over 1,500 unique ingredients, continuously pushing the limits of culinary innovation and ethically sourcing ancient foods that have sustained civilizations for millennia.
As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to the same values of quality, operational excellence, and customer-centric innovation but with an even greater focus on crafting bespoke culinary solutions that meet the evolving needs of our diverse customers.
Our Mission & Values
Our mission is to be a trusted source of inspiration for food lovers everywhere.
Our vision is to cultivate authentic, culinary-forward solutions and experiences for those in the food industry and their patrons.
We uphold core values of adventure, collaboration, approachability, epicurean excellence, and authenticity. These principles guide us as we bring Planet’s Pantry® to our customers, enhancing and enriching their culinary experiences.
Our Commitment to Quality
At Woodland Gourmet™, our state-of-the-art facilities in Northern Illinois ensure the highest standards of food safety and quality. Each site is BRCGS Grade AA and HACCP certified, featuring advanced QA labs and stringent processes for allergen control and ingredient consistency. Our dedication to quality spans from meticulous ingredient inspection to comprehensive traceability, underpinning our reputation for exceeding customer exceptions.
Our Brands
Woodland Gourmet™ offers three distinct brands tailored to meet the diverse needs of key food channels. Our flagship, the Woodland Gourmet brand, provides unique gourmet products for home chefs and food enthusiasts in retail and club stores. Woodland Ingredients™ caters to the needs of our industrial and food processing clients, with a focus on quality and traceability. D’allesandro® brings diverse and exceptional ingredients to chefs and restaurants, serving the foodservice industry and its customers. Together, these brands capture our commitment to quality, diversity, and culinary excellence.
Certifications, Memberships & Associations
Woodland Gourmet™ is proudly certified by BRCGS, the leading global product safety and quality program recognized as the gold standard by many manufacturers in Europe and North America. We are a supplier of certified kosher and gluten-free ingredients, as well as a diverse and growing line of USDA-certified organic ingredients.
Collaborate With Our Experts
Our highly skilled professionals leverage unrivaled category variety and depth, global insights, and extensive capabilities to accelerate the success of food producers, distributors, and culinary professionals.