# Andrew Benin

> Andrew Benin is the co-founder and CEO of Graza, the Brooklyn food company that launched in 2022 with Spanish olive oil in opaque squeeze bottles. After operating roles at consumer startups including Warby Parker, Casper, and Magic Spoon, time in Spain and a formative tasting at Gramercy Tavern led him to pursue an everyday, accessible olive-oil brand rather than another luxury import. He now leads Graza as it expands through national retail and into adjacent pantry categories.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Graza
- **Organizations:** Graza, Magic Spoon, Casper, Warby Parker, IKEA España, Farmidable, Gramercy Tavern
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in International Business and Management, Binghamton University School of Management
- **Known for:** Co-founded Graza and launched the brand nationally in 2022., Helped translate restaurant squeeze-bottle utility into recognizable retail packaging for olive oil., Secured Whole Foods as an early major retail partner roughly five months after launch.

## Career timeline

- **2010-2013** — Studied at Binghamton University School of Management and graduated in three years.
- **2010s** — Worked in operating roles connected to consumer companies including Warby Parker and Casper.
- **2019** — Visited Spain with his future wife and began seriously exploring Spanish olive oil.
- **2019-2020** — Staged at Gramercy Tavern and worked at Magic Spoon; he also spent time at New York City's Greenmarket.
- **2020** — Began building the company that became Graza and brought Allen Dushi on as co-founder.
- **2022** — Launched Graza with Sizzle and Drizzle; the brand entered Whole Foods roughly five months after launch.
- **2023** — Expanded retail distribution and became widely noted for a candid apology after holiday fulfillment failures.
- **2024** — Graza introduced aluminum refill cans and reported plans to surpass $48 million in annual gross sales.
- **2025** — Launched Frizzle, a higher-heat olive oil product, in Whole Foods Market stores nationwide.
- **2026** — Promoted Graza's move into olive-oil potato chips through a nationwide Target launch.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Graza and launched the brand nationally in 2022.
- Helped translate restaurant squeeze-bottle utility into recognizable retail packaging for olive oil.
- Secured Whole Foods as an early major retail partner roughly five months after launch.
- Expanded Graza across major retailers including Target, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Publix, and H-E-B/Central Market.
- Introduced recyclable, nitrogen-sealed aluminum refill cans for the brand's squeeze bottles.
- Led the multi-year development and 2025 launch of Frizzle for higher-heat cooking.
- Turned a holiday fulfillment failure into a widely discussed example of direct, accountable customer communication.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Shared the nationwide Target launch of Graza potato chips made with the company's single-origin extra-virgin olive oil.
- **2025-12** — Outlined a goal for Graza to become a top-two olive-oil company and to enter adjacent pantry categories.
- **2025-02** — Launched Frizzle in squeeze and spray formats at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide after several years of development.
- **2024-09** — Discussed Graza's packaging, retail expansion, and his public response to a competitor's squeeze-bottle product in a Bloomberg Businessweek profile.
- **2024-02** — Explained Graza's origins, the influence of Spanish family meals, and the development of the squeeze bottle in an On Hand interview.

## Links

- Website: https://www.graza.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-benin-96340225

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/andrew-benin
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-22