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Leslie Woodard, founder of Edenesque, is a trailblazer in plant-based dairy alternatives. As a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, holistic nutritionist, and advocate for clean, nutritious food, Woodard has poured her heart and soul into building Edenesque, a brand of chef-crafted, plant-based dairy products.
“For me, it all goes back to having a purpose in life, which is nurturing people,” she says. “I wanted to create an experience where people felt nurtured and realized that eating nutritious, healthy food can be delicious. That was my ethos as a chef—showing that food can support your well-being while still being enjoyable.”
Edenesque creates delicious plant-based dairy products like pistachio milk and unsweetened and barista blend oak milk. It is a mission-driven brand that uplifts communities, celebrates sustainability, and delivers high-quality, indulgent products crafted with care and purpose.
A Journey Rooted in Purpose
Despite facing childhood trauma and health issues, Woodard overcame adversity, crediting her grandmother as the guiding force behind her future successes. “I think everything surprised me about how it’s all so interconnected, even from some of the struggles and challenges I had as a child,” she says.
“I was abused and struggled with anorexia and self-esteem — all of those things. But really, it was the love and nurturing from my grandmother and church community that influenced me. I just wanted to find space. I knew in my heart that I wanted to nurture other people, which was how I showed my love for the community. I know that was always linked through food, as early as I can remember.”
As Woodard furthered her educational career, she deepened her understanding of how food, culture, and systemic inequities intersect. “I went to Le Cordon Bleu and extensively trained at the Culinary Institute of America,” she says.
“I also earned other degrees and certifications. Through that journey, I understood how much diet impacts health outcomes in communities of color. I wanted to unpack this more comprehensively. For example, when looking at Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and African Americans, I saw how these groups are disproportionately affected by nutrition-deficient diseases.”
Woodard’s curiosity about why those demographics were being more severely affected led her to discover a new self-discovery.
“I realized it wasn’t just about food deserts or the common, surface-level explanations often given. I felt the issue was far more dynamic,” she explains. “That led me to study holistic nutrition to get a broader understanding, and later, I pursued studies at Columbia University. My sociology thesis focused on what happened in the Shinnecock Nation, a Native American community in Long Island, New York. I wanted to explore the issue’s complexities because it’s so much more layered than the mainstream conversations suggest today.”
Building Edenesque From the Ground Up
After working as an executive chef at Columbia University and creating customized juice cleanses for clients, a big trend in the early 2010s, Woodard began selling her products at the Long Island City flea market.
“I worked closely with individuals on their health journeys, crafting customized, locally sourced cold-pressed juice cleanses. As part of the cleanse, I included an almond milk at the end of each day to provide nourishment and balance.”
When Woodard transitioned to selling at outdoor markets, she could only sell her nut milks, as another cold-pressed juice vendor was already present.
“I soon realized not only how much I enjoyed making them but also that there was a significant gap in the marketplace—consumers were searching for plant-based milk that was not only great tasting but also high in quality and nutrition. This realization became the foundation for Edenesque,” she says about the brand she founded in 2014.
The road to building Edenesque was anything but easy. Woodard spent years kickstarting the business, working tirelessly to create her plant-based milks and keep her company afloat. She often balanced multiple roles, including working as a private chef, to support her dream. “I didn’t have the network or resources,” she shares. “It was me alone, trying to raise money and bootstrap the business.”
Her dedication extended beyond the business’s financial challenges to producing her milks. For years, Woodard handcrafted Edenesque’s products in her own facility in Kingston, New York, a meticulous and labor-intensive process.
“I was manufacturing the milk myself. I was there in the facility, doing everything from making the milk to bottling it. It was a slow, painstaking process, but I wanted to ensure our offer was the best,” says Woodard, who says she later closed the self-manufacturing facility in July 2023.
Woodard’s relentless hard work cannot be understated; she even hand-grated spices over the blenders and used real vanilla beans for flavoring. “Each batch was like a work of art, and you could taste the nuances in the different flavors. We checked all the boxes—quality, craftsmanship, and taste—and it was wonderful.”
She continues, “It was a really simple process in the beginning. When self-manufacturing, I used industrial Vitamix blenders, reverse osmosis water, and the best almonds, which were always soaked beforehand. It was truly an artisanal operation. At the time, the almond milk was about 30% almonds, and we put incredible care into each batch. We even hand-grated spices over the blenders and used real vanilla beans for flavoring. Each batch was like a work of art, and you could taste the nuances in the different flavors. We checked all the boxes–quality, craftsmanship, and taste–and it was wonderful.”
Woodward dedicated nearly a decade to developing Edenesque before the company reached a point where scaling production became necessary. Transitioning to a co-manufacturer was a pivotal moment with its own obstacles.
“One of my priorities was finding a co-manufacturer that could replicate a similar process to what we had before, ensuring the ingredients and any components, like the oat concentrate, are as fresh and high quality as possible. I’ve accomplished that by sourcing the highest-quality ingredients and working with companies with similar values.”
Woodard returned to work to afford the shift while managing the business. “We had no income during the transition, so I had to go back to work to afford it,” she says. It would be September 2023 when she could work the business full-time and later officially reintroduce Edenesque to the market in October 2024.
Edenesque: A Mission-Driven Brand
Edenesque has a Food Insecurity Initiative, a multifaceted program that provides for residents in Columbia County (New York) suffering from food insecurity. “While I can’t always source directly from the farmer down the street anymore, I wanted to ensure we’re still supporting farmers in meaningful ways. That’s why we created a food insecurity initiative—a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to reducing food insecurity in New York State,” she shares. “We’re starting in Columbia County with some of our partners.”
This initiative addresses food insecurity from multiple angles. “Some people might need bridge capital to cover rent after a health setback,” Woodard explains. “While others may lack access to fresh food. To address that, we’ve partnered with organizations to provide funding so they can purchase from Black farmers, helping both the farmers and the communities they serve. This regenerative, holistic approach allows us to tackle food insecurity in a way that creates a lasting impact.”
This comprehensive initiative underscores Woodard’s commitment to fostering community well-being and addressing systemic challenges through thoughtful, actionable solutions.
“For me, the county represents my purpose. When I reflect on why I’m here and what kind of impact I want to leave in this world, even if it’s a small one, I want to make sure I’ve contributed to making it a better place. One of the key elements of our company has always been our open hiring process. We partnered with an organization that works with individuals with disabilities, and at one point, 90% of our team was made up of people with disabilities or members of marginalized communities.”
Woodard recounts a story about the first employee she hired after moving into her manufacturing space. “He was part of the Kingston reentry program, which helps individuals transitioning back into society,” she says.
“They told me they had someone I should meet, and he came in for an interview. He had just been released after serving 25 years, and he asked for a chance. I said yes, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. He played a vital role in setting up the company and has since reunited with his family in Syracuse. It was rewarding to see how giving him that opportunity positively impacted his life and mine.”
Her resilience and adaptability became defining traits, enabling her to navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. “There has to be some stick-to-itiveness to it,” she reflects. “You must believe in something, follow your gut, and trust your ideas, even when circumstances tell a different story.”
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A Legacy in the Making
Edenesque embodies Woodard’s values and vision, with her success defined by more than just profit. “Success means having a measurable impact on food insecurity, being sustainable, and building something lasting,” she explained.
She continues, “Edenesque is about returning to a pure, nourishing way of eating—fresh, whole, and unprocessed, like an Eden-like state. My ethos has always been to source locally, eat seasonally, and avoid preservatives and refined sugars. It’s more than a brand; it’s a philosophy of mindful nourishment that supports both individual health and the well-being of our communities and the environment.”
Woodard’s journey with Edenesque reflects resilience, innovation, and purpose, turning challenges into a transformative brand.
“I look back at moments like when I was working with a family in Greenwich. They gave me the space to work on my business and supported me during COVID-19 when things were really tough. I had to shut down because of the pandemic, especially considering the vulnerable employees we worked with. At that point, I thought I might lose everything. But they believed in me and gave me some capital to keep going,” she says looking back.
“It’s moments like those—right when I was ready to give up—that a miracle would show up, reminding me that I was on the right path. Honestly, even being here today, having people want to interview me about my journey, feels surreal. It’s a blessing and such an honor.”
Edenesque is currently available at all Whole Foods locations in New York and Connecticut and for nationwide shipping. Visit the website for locations, to shop directly, and to learn about wholesale partnership opportunities. Follow Leslie Woodard and Edenesque’s journey on Instagram and Linkedin.
