# Nicole Centeno

> Nicole Centeno is the New York founder and co-CEO of Splendid Spoon, a ready-made plant-forward food company she began in 2013 after studying biology, training as a chef and working in media strategy. She started with a single soup, cooked in a borrowed Greenpoint pizza kitchen and delivered on lunch breaks, then steered the business from local wholesale into national direct-to-consumer subscriptions. Centeno is also the author of The Soup Cleanse Cookbook. In January 2026, Splendid Spoon acquired Mosaic Foods with backing from Gather Ventures, combining the brands' product development, manufacturing and distribution capabilities.

- **Role:** Founder, Co-CEO and Board Director, Splendid Spoon
- **Organizations:** Splendid Spoon, Mosaic Foods, Condé Nast, Columbia University
- **Education:** Biology; studied biochemistry and diet therapies, Boston College, Culinary training, French Culinary Institute (now International Culinary Center)
- **Known for:** Founded Splendid Spoon in 2013 and expanded it from one local soup account into a national direct-to-consumer food company., Raised a $12 million Series B led by Nicoya in 2022, with participation from Danone Manifesto Ventures, Torch Capital, Alexis Ohanian and others., Authored The Soup Cleanse Cookbook, published by Rodale Books in 2016.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2012** — Worked as a research biologist and later in digital media strategy, including at Condé Nast titles WIRED and The New Yorker; trained at culinary school while working full time.
- **2012** — Developed the idea for Splendid Spoon while working at Condé Nast and preparing to become a parent.
- **2013** — Launched Splendid Spoon with vegan soups cooked in a borrowed Greenpoint pizza kitchen; sold at Brooklyn Flea, Smorgasburg and through FreshDirect.
- **2015** — Shifted the business from a wholesale emphasis to online ordering and national direct-to-consumer delivery.
- **2016** — Published The Soup Cleanse Cookbook with Rodale Books.
- **2017** — Splendid Spoon added smoothies to its range.
- **2018** — Elise Densborn, previously a customer and angel investor, joined Splendid Spoon.
- **2019** — Splendid Spoon introduced grain bowls.
- **2020** — Densborn became co-CEO; the company added wellness shots and noodle bowls and paused a planned Series B process during the pandemic.
- **2022** — Splendid Spoon closed a $12 million Series B led by Nicoya.
- **2026** — Splendid Spoon acquired Mosaic Foods alongside an undisclosed Gather Ventures investment, combining branding and product development with in-house commercialization and manufacturing.

## Achievements

- Founded Splendid Spoon in 2013 and expanded it from one local soup account into a national direct-to-consumer food company.
- Raised a $12 million Series B led by Nicoya in 2022, with participation from Danone Manifesto Ventures, Torch Capital, Alexis Ohanian and others.
- Authored The Soup Cleanse Cookbook, published by Rodale Books in 2016.
- Built a product range that expanded from soups into smoothies, grain bowls, noodle bowls and shots.
- Led Splendid Spoon into its 2026 acquisition of Mosaic Foods; the combined brands reported more than $190 million in cumulative direct-to-consumer revenue.

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Splendid Spoon highlighted Centeno bringing her daughter to the combined Splendid Spoon and Mosaic Foods workplace as an example of making women visible in food manufacturing leadership.
- **2026-02** — Centeno published an essay about women whose work shaped her approach to food science and food systems.
- **2026-01** — Splendid Spoon acquired Mosaic Foods alongside an undisclosed investment from Gather Ventures; the companies said their combined direct-to-consumer revenue exceeded $190 million.

## Links

- Website: https://splendidspoon.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolecenteno
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niccent/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/nicole-centeno
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27