by Vivian Henoch
Mother of two, M.P.H. (Master of Public Health in Human Nutrition), Stacy Goldberg launched Savorfull in 2012 with the assistance of Detroit-based nonprofit Bizdom, which has provided entrepreneurial mentorship and resources to help get Savorfull off the ground. Founded by Dan Gilbert, founder and chairman of Quicken Loans, Bizdom has helped promote Goldberg’s vision to help those who have dietary restrictions, as well as those who simply want to make healthier choices in the foods they eat. Savorfull is a monthly online membership-based service which delivers a box of sample products, recipes and tips on nutrition featuring tasty foods, free from gluten, peanuts, dairy products and artificial ingredients.
On what inspired you to get started with Savorfull
Savorfull was a concept that grew out of my expertise in nutrition consulting, working with numerous clients with specific dietary allergies. I’ve identified a real need in the marketplace to identify better choices for those with food allergies than the products we generally see on the grocery shelves today. I consider myself a curator – searching the globe for tasty, nutrient-rich foods that are gluten and/or wheat free, dairy-free and peanut-free.
Call it the cumulative effects of our environment, our food industry, our genetics, our means of medical diagnosis . . . in the U.S. and around the world, food allergies have reached epidemic proportions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 15 million people in the U.S, -including an estimated 6 million or 8% of children under age 18 – have food allergies, accounting for over 300,000 visits to doctors in offices and ERs around the country. As many as 50 million have food intolerances, most commonly dairy and wheat. Although reasons for food allergies are poorly understood, the prevalence of food intolerances and associated illnesses such as celiac disease and asthma appear to be on the rise. There is no cure for food allergies. Prevention and vigilance – taking care to read food labels – are currently the only means to manage symptoms.
On making your mark in Jewish Detroit
I grew up in Oak Park and West Bloomfield, in the “heart of Jewish Detroit.” I guess “giving back” to the community has always been ingrained in me. As a young professional, I’ve taken on numerous committee roles with the Detroit Jewish Federation, serving in various capacities in the Women’s Department, Shalom Family (an outreach program for Detroit newcomers) and most currently on the Jewish Working Women’s Council. Additionally, I serve on the Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit Board, University of Michigan School of Public Health Alumni Association Board of Governors and the Danialle Karmanos Work It Out Volunteer Team. I am also a past committee member but still active with the Alzheimer’s Association and Karmanos Partners.
On what makes Detroit a great place to live, work and play
Many people have said it, but it bears repeating: in Detroit we have an amazing Jewish community – where people enjoy close ties as well as the benefits of vast resources. Businesswise, I’m particularly proud to say I’ve grown exponentially from my first start-up companies (A Weigh of Life and What’s in Your Cart?) powered in part by the growing movement to revitalize our city. I feel so fortunate to be a part of Dan Gilbert’s dream to reinvent Detroit. Looking beyond the success of Savorfull, I feel that I am working to create something bigger than myself, I’m helping to rebuild a city where people will naturally want to come to live, work, play and explore. Just look at the array of new restaurants, galleries and businesses opening right and left downtown and in our neighborhoods – Corktown, Greektown, Midtown, Mexican Village, Riverwalk, Eastern Market – and you see that Detroit is a place to shine – offering something for every discerning palate, every culture.
On what you tell people considering moving back to Detroit or into the city for the first time
I would say that people moving into the city now are moving to the future. We are at a critical point. The city needs young people with talent and the resources to stimulate our economy, create change and make Detroit an entrepreneurial hub. We are clearly on our way, but we need spirited, electric and committed individuals to be a part of the dynamic of reinventing our city.
On what’s next for Detroit, in your opinion
I see Michigan as part of a surge in food-based businesses, a trend that’s taking root and gaining momentum here in Detroit, in particular. Detroit has become a new magnet for food entrepreneurs. In Michigan, food processing and manufacturing is nearly a $15-billion dollar industry, employing almost 41,000 residents. I am on a mission to make Detroit a healthier place to live. I believe that if we all take the initiative to help combat the rates of obesity, diabetes and other illness related to food and diet, we can improve the overall health and wellness of the region.
Favorites
Favorite restaurants: Wow, that’s a hard question to ask a nutritionist! I love the Hudson Café, Seva Detroit, Bacco Ristorante and Cacao Tree Café.
Favorite buildings in the Detroit skyline: The Madison Theatre Building and Fisher Building
Favorite Weeknight Family Dinner Menu: I love doing Breakfast-for-Dinner. My kids love it when I set up an “omelette station” with lots of fresh veggies, healthy pancakes and seasonal fresh fruit.
Currently reading: Traction, Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman (given to me by a friend and mentor)
