18 Chestnuts

18 Chestnuts was born from a place of personal struggle, healing, and transformation. Our founder, Ilona, launched the brand from her own kitchen after a debilitating health journey that left her unable to digest even the simplest of foods. Despite consulting with top GI doctors, undergoing countless tests, and trying a range of medications, relief never came. In that moment of despair, Ilona turned inward and took control of her healing journey by embracing the philosophy of food as medicine.
She enrolled in the Nutrition and Healthy Living program at Cornell University, where she studied under leading doctors and nutritionists who believed in the power of plants and the body's ability to heal through whole foods. There, she cultivated the knowledge that would become the foundation for 18 Chestnuts by embracing Food as Medicine philosophy that Cornell imparted on her. Today, 18 Chestnuts is a proudly women-owned company that continues to honor the principles of nourishment, wellness, and sustainability by creating ready to eat, blended soups. We release our soup flavors seasonally, celebrating nature's rhythm and peak harvest. Our chef-crafted, small-batch blended soups are inspired by the earth's bounty and created with intention—bringing together rich flavor, vibrant color, and optimal nutrition in every spoonful.
What started at one woman's kitchen table is now a nationwide brand found in over 1,000 stores across the country. We believe that healthy eating should be as indulgent and enjoyable as a retreat to Canyon Ranch Spa—nourishing your body while delighting your senses. Every jar of 18 Chestnuts soup is a love letter to healing and to the power of plants. Ilona continues to share beautiful, easy-to-make recipes that feature our soups, encouraging customers to use them not just as meals, but as foundational elements in a vibrant, healthful lifestyle. At 18 Chestnuts, we don't just make soup—we make wellness convenient, delicious, and artful.