From Storefronts to Store Shelves, Cortex SQ1 Alumni Thriving in Local Food Retail

Three alumni from Cortex's Square One entrepreneurship training are making their marks in big ways—earning placements in the latest cohort of the Schnucks Springboard Accelerator.

Mama Pacha Sabor, Fufu N’ Sauce, and TeaVoila are among a select group of emerging brands now featured in 15 St. Louis-area Schnucks stores as part of a four-week pilot (through May 12, 2026). The participating store locations include in Missouri: Arsenal, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Cross Keys, Des Peres, Dorsett, Hampton Village, Maplewood, Overland, Richardson, Richmond Center and Woods Mill; and in Illinois: Edwardsville, Godfrey and Granite City. According to the program, products are evaluated based on customer demand and sales performance, with the potential to earn a permanent place on store shelves. It’s a major opportunity—and a powerful validation of the food innovation coming out of SQ1.

This milestone reflects something bigger: a growing ecosystem of food entrepreneurs in St. Louis who are building sustainable businesses across retail, restaurants, and beyond. Dozens of founders who have participated in SQ1’s Ignite and Bootcamp programs over the years are continuing to thrive—bringing new flavors, cultures, and ideas to the region’s food landscape.

Through tailored curriculum, mentorship, and hands-on support, Cortex's Square One has helped entrepreneurs navigate everything from product development and branding to distribution and scaling. That impact continues to expand. With recent grant funding from Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program and the St. Louis County Port Authority, Cortex's Square One is poised to deepen its investment in local founders—providing the tools, training, and community needed to grow businesses and strengthen the regional economy.

As these entrepreneurs gain traction, community support plays a critical role. Whether you’re shopping in-store, visiting a market, or ordering online, choosing local products helps fuel this momentum.

Here are food entrepreneurs who are SQ1 alumni you can support throughout the St. Louis region:

In Stores and Markets:
Bread & Bake (Dorothy Guillen) – Kirkwood & University City Farmers Markets
Curuchi’s Cream (Luis Felipe) – Los Inca Peruvian Restaurant, Rockwell Beer
Fufu N’ Sauce (Adjo Honsou) – Schnucks Springboard Accelerator locations
Katie’s Cultured Kitchen (Katie Belakhoua) – Lake St. Louis Farmer's Market
Mama Pacha Sabor (Leslie Hernandez) – Schnucks Springboard Accelerator locations
Nari (Shradha Challa) – Tower Grove Farmers Market, United Provisions, STL City Greens, Local Harvest
Puddin Puddin (Ismael Wayne) – Straub's, Fresh Thyme Market
TeaVoila (Souzan Gerami) – Schnucks Springboard Accelerator locations
Nacho Average Lemonade (Rita Wright-Jones) – Soulard Farmers Market
Zohra's Moroccan Bits N' Bites (Zohra Zaimi) – Tower Grove Farmers Market

Storefronts:
Amaizing Arepa Bar (Mayra & Maria Pacheco) – Downtown
BoCo Boba (Lily Clark) – Grand Center
Fufu N’ Sauce (Adjo Honsou) – North St. Louis County
Havana's Cuisine (Tamara Landeiro) – Central West End
Sabor Chapin Food Truck – Mid St. Louis County

Online Ordering Only:
Delicious Delights (Detra Norwood)
Gluten Free Hustle (Charissa Martin)
Simple Life Healthier You (Flossie Njama)
Tommy Wong Select (Mellaire Thomas)

Catering:
Angel's Fruits & Food (Yaneth Garcia)
Caked by Cherish (TaCherish Johnson)
Capuli Cakes (Fanny Anchiluri)
Faiza's Swahili Kitchen (Faiza Muhambi)
Food Fairy Magic (Chef Marca Nicole)

Food Business Support:
Habuyta (Orly Peters)

From grocery aisles to neighborhood kitchens, Square One alumni are shaping the future of food in St. Louis. Supporting them isn’t just a purchase—it’s an investment in local innovation.

Need to test your business idea or receive additional resources for your existing business? Applications for 2026 summer sessions of SQ1 Ignite and Bootcamp are open! Learn more here.