Mantry is more than just food in a box

Reggie Milligan says he can offer you “Christmas once a month” — or at least an exciting surprise in your mailbox courtesy of his startup: Mantry.

“Subscribers will receive six different products from around the U.S., all American made,” said Milligan, a Mantry cofounder. The SoHo-based startup provides a handmade, wooden crate with six “artisan-sized” products to each of its subscribers every month.
Essentially, Mantry — a mashup of “man” and “pantry” — curates food from across the country so you don’t have to find it yourself.

“It’s also about getting guys interested in creating a great food resource — because we thought there was a bit of a void in the market for the 20-something, 30-something, 40-something guy to have a service that is geared toward him,” Milligan said of the company’s target market.
With a $75 per month subscriber fee, every crate offers a unique theme, recipes and information booklet.
“A theme might be ‘Bourbon Barbecue’ with six different products that are perfect for the backyard cookout or it might be ‘Tennessee,’ showcasing six different products from in and around Tennessee,” said Milligan.
With more than 200 makers nationwide and a growing subscriber base, Mantry is also helping spread the word about smaller food businesses.
“There are so many people who are making amazing things, whether it’s barbecue sauces or maple syrups that aren’t on shelves because bigger companies get the shelf space,” said Milligan, a former French Laundry apprentice who won a scholarship to culinary school as a teenager.

Along with Milligan (who sold a previous food startup called Social Feed), the team includes Kyle Zien and Tony Hancock. The Mantry team has a passion for food, but also an aim to serve as platform and resource for both male foodies and food makers.
“These people are really good at what they do,” Milligan said. “There are so many stories and great things — and other people want to discover that.”