Introducing Love with Food {plus a 12-month gourmet food sampler giveaway}

 

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.

Giveaways

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.

Comments

  1. Marilyn Wons says:

    I would give this as a special gift at christmas time for my neighbor

  2. 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??? 🙂

  3. I’d love to give this to my parents.

  4. I follow My Judy The Foodie on facebook.

  5. I would love to give this to my Mom as a housewarming present

  6. i subscribe via google reader

  7. i follow you on Pinterest- @denimorse

  8. I follow Love With Food on Pinterest – @denimorse

  9. 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.

  10. I like you on Facebook (and in real life, of course!)

  11. I follow @myjudythefoodie on Twitter as @MacaroniKidNYC

  12. 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!

  13. barbara n says:

    I would gift Love with Food to my daughter for Christmas! It would make a perfect gift for her

  14. barbara n says:

    I follow your blog by email

  15. Michelle W says:

    My sister would love this, I would probably give this gift to her on her birthday

  16. This would be an awesome gift for friends or family, any time of year!!!

  17. To any family member who’s going through a hard time

  18. I’m a fan on Facebook

  19. I would give the Love with Food gift to my good friend Shanna for her birthday. She just loves to try new foods!!

  20. Shannon Baas says:

    Would make a great birthday gift for my mom.

  21. My dad would love a yummy box!

  22. Subscribed by email

  23. Liked you on FB (drala625)

  24. Following you on Pinterest (one2try)

  25. Following Love with Food on Pinterest (one2try)

  26. Following you on twitter @one2try

  27. I follow you on facebook and pinterest

  28. I subscribe to My Judy the Foodie by RSS

  29. I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook

  30. Danielle D says:

    I would gift it to family who have to struggle each month.

  31. Ann Fantom says:

    I would gift a Love with Food subscription to my parents for their anniversary

  32. Ann Fantom says:

    I like My Judy The Foodie on FB: Ann Fantom

  33. Ann Fantom says:

    I’m an email subscriber

  34. tam childers says:

    I’d give it to my husband for his birthday.

  35. tam childers says:

    i like you on fb

  36. I liked you on Facebook! 🙂 (Leah Dee)

    leah@bellasconessions.com

    Thanks for opportunity!

  37. Tina Jett says:

    This would make a great birthday gift for a family member!

  38. Tina Jett says:

    following on twitter.
    @plumbpretty

  39. I would give a Love with Food package to my son in college to make sure that not EVERYTHING he eats is junk food….

  40. 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.

  41. Stephanie V. says:

    Baby Shower gift – how cool and unique

  42. dani marie says:

    when they move into a new house.

  43. dani marie says:

    twitter follow @xferriza2

  44. It would be a great birthday gift for my sister.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

  45. 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.

  46. I am a fan of My Judy The Foodie on facebook.

  47. I am following you on Pinterest.

  48. I am also following Love With Food on Pinterest.

  49. 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!

  50. This would be a great Christmas gift for my mother-in-law. I can never figure out what to get her.

  51. I ‘like’ My Judy the Foodie on facebook.

  52. I would gift Love with Food to a friend on her birthday!

  53. I Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest. I’m http://pinterest.com/ambergibson8/

  54. I Follow Love With Food on Pinterest. I’m http://pinterest.com/ambergibson8/

  55. I subscribe to your RSS feed with google reader

  56. I am following My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest

  57. Linda Lansford says:

    I would give it to my niece

  58. Linda Lansford says:

    I like you on fb

  59. It would be a great gift to say “thank you” to a family/friend!

  60. I subscribed via RSS – Google Reader – livinglifeinmotion at gmail.com – Tarah M

  61. I become a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (Tarah M.anning)

  62. I Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest. (Tarah M.anning)

  63. I Follow Love with Food on Pinterest (Tarah M.anning)

  64. Melissa Witte says:

    I think this would be a great birthday present!

  65. Melissa Witte says:

    I follow Myjudythefoodie on FB.

  66. Melissa Witte says:

    I follow you on pinterest.

  67. Melissa Witte says:

    I follow love with food on pinterest.

  68. sandra kornemann says:

    I would give Love with Food to a special friend which in turn gives to all

  69. This would make a great Christmas gift.

  70. Wow! I would give it to my mom, who loves good food but hates cooking!

  71. I am a Facebook fan.

  72. I am a Twitter follower @Julias__Child.

  73. I would gift this to my wonderful husband and kids, since my cooking skills lack… a lot

  74. I know a couple people that would love this as a Christmas gift.

  75. I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook.

  76. I am following My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest.
    pinterest.com/ladykristianna

  77. I am following Love with Food on Pinterest.
    pinterest.com/ladykristianna

  78. I am following @myjudythefoodie on Twitter.
    @ladykristianna

  79. Cody Anderson says:

    I would gift this to my mom on Mother’s Day, she would love it!!

  80. Cody Anderson says:

    I am a fan of your Facebook Page My Judy the Foodie, Cody Anderson

  81. Cody Anderson says:

    I follow myjudythefoodie on Twitter @codyligon

  82. This would make a great gift for someone that was in need of it…a low income family or an elderly neighbor

  83. Cheryl Reinhardt says:

    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!!!!!

  84. Cheryl Reinhardt says:

    Following My Judy the Foodie on Pintrest!
    Cheryl Reinhardt

  85. Cheryl Reinhardt says:

    Following Love with Food on Pinterest
    Cheryl Reinhardt

  86. Cheryl Reinhardt says:

    Following @myjudythefoodie on twitter
    @missyreinhardt

  87. I’d gift it to my mom.

  88. I am following Love with Food on Pinterest

  89. Elizabeth Johnson says:

    I would give the love with Food sampler to my husband – then we could both enjoy!

  90. Christine says:

    a great birthday gift for mom

  91. Jeni Lutz says:

    To my mother for her birthday

  92. Tari Lawson says:

    This would be perfect for my mother-in-law or father-in-law for their birthdays.

  93. Melissa P. says:

    I think it would make a great wedding gift.

  94. I would give it to ,my brother for my birthday.

  95. I would send this to my mother because she has gone through so much.

  96. I would gift to my parents, they would love this

  97. 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 🙂

  98. kyl neusch says:

    gift a Love with Food subscription to mother

  99. kyl neusch says:

    Follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest: bleushmon

  100. I subscribe to your rss via email:

    keys … 90005 …. (at) gmail … dotcom

  101. Susan King says:

    I would gift a Love with Food subscription to my mom’s birthday. Thanks for the opportunity.

  102. Susan King says:

    I subscribed to My Judy the Foodie by RSS on google reader.

  103. ELIZABETH C. says:

    I wouldn’t need a specific time to give it. I would give it to my husband just because I love him !!

  104. ELIZABETH C. says:

    Follow My Judie the foodie on pinterest

  105. ELIZABETH C. says:

    Follow Love with food on pinterest

  106. ELIZABETH C. says:

    Follow @myjudiethefoodie on twitter.

  107. Susan King says:

    Become a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (username susanking111)

  108. Susan King says:

    Following Love with Food on Pinterest. (http://pinterest.com/susanking111/)

  109. Susan King says:

    Following on twitter. ( https://twitter.com/SusanKing111)

  110. 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.

  111. tracy davis says:

    THis would be a great Christmas gift for my mom.

  112. I would gift one to my dad for his birthday. He diets wayyyy too much.

  113. Darlene Ysaguirre says:

    I Would Gift It As A Gift To My Mother Just Because I Love Her!

  114. Darlene Ysaguirre says:

    LIked On Facebook

  115. Darlene Ysaguirre says:

    Following On Twitter @darleney88

  116. I would gift one to my mom on her birthday.

  117. I’d send one to my parents at Christmastime.

  118. It would be great for my sister on her birthday.

  119. Stephanie Adkins says:

    I would gifted this for my mother for her birthday.

  120. I’d give it to my mom because these kinds of things she’d never discover on her own.

  121. Marcia Goss says:

    This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for my Mom or sister.
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

  122. Marcia Goss says:

    I subscribe to your feed in Google Reader.
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

  123. Marcia Goss says:

    I like you on Facebook. (Marcia Goss)
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

  124. Marcia Goss says:

    I follow you on Twitter @mgoss123.
    marcia.goss@gmail.com

  125. I would gift this to my wife-she would love it!

  126. I would gift Love With Food to my best friend for her birthday.
    chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com

  127. I follow you on Pinterest. chrisdeglen http://pinterest.com/chrisdeglen/

    chrisdeglen@gmail.com

  128. I follow Love With Food on Pinterest. chrisdeglen http://pinterest.com/chrisdeglen/

    chrisdeglen@gmail.com

  129. jennifer cecil says:

    I would gift to my parents for christmas.

  130. My son would love this because he enjoys trying new foods. It’d make a great Christmas present for him. Thanks.

  131. Theron Willis says:

    Mother’s Day.

  132. This would be a perfect gift for my mother- it’s on my gift ideas for her birthday or Mother’s Day.

  133. I like My Judy the Foodie on Facebook.

  134. my brother;s birthday as he is a major foodie

  135. i would gift this to my sister for christmas

  136. Denise B. says:

    I would probably gift my parents.

  137. I think it would be a great gift for newlyweds!

  138. I am a fan of My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (BrianandJ S)

  139. Following you on twitter @happeegirl

  140. Carolyn Daley says:

    It would make a nice Christmas gift for our neighbor

  141. Carolyn Daley says:

    I follow @myjudythefoodie via twitter as @darkmysticnight

  142. Would make a great birthday day present!

  143. I follow My Judie the Foodie on Pinterest

  144. I follow My Judiy the Foodie on FB

  145. I follow My Judiy the Foodie on twitter

  146. I would give a gift of love for anniversaries, birthday’s or house warming parties.

  147. paige chandler says:

    This would be perfect for my daughter in college.

  148. paige chandler says:

    I follow you on pinterest
    puppet chandler

  149. paige chandler says:

    Love with Food pinterest follower
    puppet chandler

  150. Ed Nemmers says:

    To be given when someone’s child had a health scare and was in the hospital for a bit.

  151. Susan Smith says:

    I’d give this to my Mom who is housebound

  152. Susan Smith says:

    Like you on FB Susan Smith

  153. Susan Smith says:

    follow you via Pinterest susan12151962

  154. Susan Smith says:

    follow Love with Food via Pinterest susan12151962

  155. Mary Calabrese says:

    I’d love for my mother-in-law to get this.

  156. judy gardner says:

    i would give it to my mom for Christmas

  157. Ginger b. says:

    I would love to gift this to my parents. Thry eould enjoy it and they are so hard to shop for.

  158. judy gardner says:

    i sub. by rss

  159. judy gardner says:

    i like you on facebook

  160. judy gardner says:

    i follow you on pinterest

  161. judy gardner says:

    i follow love with food on pinterest

  162. judy gardner says:

    i follow you on twitter @velvetelvis40

  163. Jennifer J says:

    My mother in law would love to get one of these. Thanks!

  164. Lucy Schwartz says:

    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.

  165. natalia ryjova says:

    I would love to give it to my dad for his birthday.

  166. Paula Tavernie says:

    I would give to family and friends at Christmas!
    ptavernie at yahoo dot com

  167. I’d love to gift this to my boyfriend.

  168. I’d love to send this to my family that just moved!

  169. RSS Subscriber

  170. FB fan as Sonya Neal

  171. Twitter follower as dewer421

  172. Love With Food Pinterest follower as sanity4sonya

  173. My Judy the Foodie Pinterest follower as sanity4sonya

  174. I think it would make a good birthday present

  175. subscribed by rss

  176. following you on twitter (07violet)

  177. This would be an amazing birthday gift

  178. FB fan- Kristy Marie

  179. joseph gersch jr says:

    i would gift it to my mom

  180. carol gentry says:

    To my wonderful daugher!!

    cgentry1952@yahoo.com

  181. I’d put this in my husband’s name! He’d love it, we are both big foodies!

  182. I follow love with food on pinterest under Melanie Dauterive

  183. I’d give this to my parents for Christmas

  184. follow my judy on pinterest – Marianna B.

  185. follow love with food on pinterest – Marianna B.

  186. follow my judy on twitter – @mannabsn

  187. Inez Cegelis says:

    This would make a perfect housewarming gift

  188. Any day that ends with “Y”!

  189. I would give it to my husband for his birthday.

  190. liked My Judy the Foodie on Facebook (Amy D E N I E S)

  191. following Shari Brooks on pinterest

  192. following judy the foodie on twitter @mooncityminx

  193. following lovewithfood on pinterest (rainbowsoverme)

  194. Linda Pardee says:

    It would make a wonderful gift to give my mother.

  195. This would make a great holiday gift.

    lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com

  196. Peggy Rydzewski says:

    I would gift this to my eldery nieghbor .

  197. Melissa VandenBerg says:

    I would give it too someone recovering from illness or if they had a new baby!

  198. Caitlin McClure says:

    Would be a great Christmas gift

  199. Liked My Judy the Foodie on Facebook as Laur Uda

    lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com

  200. Following @myjudythefoodie on Twitter as Uda_tweets

    lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com

  201. Ash Johnson says:

    I have a sister getting married in November. I think it would make an interesting gift.

  202. Ash Johnson says:

    I subscribed to your RSS feed.

  203. Ash Johnson says:

    I already follow you on Pinterest (Ash Johns – twotil)

  204. Ash Johnson says:

    I already follow Love with Food on Pinterest (Ash Johns – twotil)

  205. Ash Johnson says:

    I already follow you on twitter (@twotil)

  206. Ann Council says:

    This Sampler would be great for a disabled or shut in person.

  207. Cynthia Smith says:

    My son was recently mugged in NYC. I would send it to him as a hug from his worried mom (ME!).

  208. mom2dagny says:

    I would share this as a wedding or shower gift with my recently engaged brother and his foodie loving fiance.

  209. mom2dagny says:

    I am a FB fan!

  210. mom2dagny says:

    I am an email subscriber!

  211. mom2dagny says:

    I follow Judy the Foodie on Pinterest

  212. mom2dagny says:

    I now follow Love with Food on Pinterest…>Thanks!

  213. Julia Oletskaya says:

    i would give this gift this to my uncle who loves trying new things

  214. Julia Oletskaya says:

    following on twitter

    @adventureseaker

  215. This would be a perfect Christmas gift! 🙂 Thank you.

  216. I follow you on Pinterest. 🙂 (sottovocerocks)

  217. I follow Love With Food on Pinterest. 🙂 (sottovocerocks)

  218. I became your fan on Facebook. 🙂 (Jaque Richards)

  219. susan smoaks says:

    i would love to send one to a friend who just got diagnosed with cancer

  220. kathy pease says:

    id gift one to my daughter in college

  221. kathy pease says:

    rss google feed subscriber kathypease@gmail.com

  222. kathy pease says:

    like you on facebook kathy pease

  223. kathy pease says:

    follow you on pinterest kathy pease

  224. Stephanie says:

    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!

  225. This would be a great gift for my dad

  226. I like you on facebook

  227. I follow on twitter

  228. Brenda Elsner says:

    I would gift it for christmas.

  229. Annemarie Z. says:

    I would give it as a birthday gift!

  230. Annemarie Z. says:

    I follow My Judy The Foodie on Facebook. (Annemarie Zito)

  231. Annemarie Z. says:

    I follow My Judy the Foodie on Pinterest.
    Annemarie Zito (annemariez56)

  232. Annemarie Z. says:

    I follow Love with Food on Pinterest.
    Annemarie Zito (annemariez56)

  233. Annemarie Z. says:

    I follow @myjudythefoodie on Twitter. (annemariez3)

  234. A lovely gift for anybody on your list!!

  235. This would be a perfect gift for the holidays or a special birthday.

  236. heather c says:

    Right after the new year, when eating right is fresh on the mind!

  237. For a birthday!

  238. I subscribed by email.

  239. I would give it to my daughter for her birthday.

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