Welcome to Lunch Box, a monthly newsletter keeping you up-to-date on the latest news and trends in the food & beverage commercial real estate world.

If you’re not already a subscriber, come aboard!

The Lunch Box Origin Story

Hey, I’m Erik Stiebel, creator of Lunch Box.

Like any good origin story, it started during a pandemic. Kidding! Not really…

During the craziness of Covid, I noticed a lot of VC money was going to food companies, especially plant-based options.

Like - I’m assuming - any young entrepreneur, I created a list of all of the food companies receiving money and called them. I was fortunate enough to pick up my first food client this way, a company in San Leandro, CA.

During the process of securing my client a new headquarters for their food operations and offices, I noticed how unique the requirements were for a food company (versus, say, a traditional office user like a law firm) and how I could help streamline the process for food clients by understanding how the intricacies of each food company’s requirement fit into its real estate plan. And, besides, everybody loves a good niche!

Since then, I’ve helped several other food companies find new space and am in the process of helping a few more as I write this (May 2023). A newsletter just seemed like a natural extension of all of the work I was already doing.

Plus, as they say, sometimes one “writes to think,” and preparing Lunch Box every month is already sharpening my understanding of the nuances of the F&B industry, not just on the West Coast where I am based, but more of a global understanding of the industry. While it may not always kill at a cocktail party, it has helped me better assist my clients in the South Bay and throughout the U.S. I hope you find value in it, too.

F&B Companies I’ve Recently Helped

Prepare to Feast

Puns aside, here’s that subscribe button one more time. You’ll also be able to check out some past issues at this link.

It's always great to hear from my readers. If you have any questions, requests, or tips on what to focus on, don't hesitate to let me know. I always respond to my emails and texts and love the feedback.

Lastly, if you’d like help with your real estate needs, my contact info is below. Reach out, and I’ll get right back to you.  

Thanks for checking out Lunch Box!

Erik Stiebel
Founder and Vice President
Commercial Real Estate Advisors
424.241.4795
[email protected]
CA DRE License #02080746