With New Partner, Hawkers Plots Growth

Hawkers—a street food concept inspired by bold flavors found in Asia’s hawker stalls—has gained an investment from Savory Fund to enable a “major growth chapter.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Hawkers already has momentum in areas including Orlando, Fla., Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn., and says its next phase of expansion will double down on these high-performing markets.

“I’ve been watching Hawkers for years. The food, the energy, the following—it’s magnetic,” says Andrew K. Smith, co-founder and managing director of Savory Fund. “From my very first visit, I knew there was something special here. And over time, my conviction only deepened. The team, the guest loyalty, the cultural connection—it’s the kind of brand you don’t just scale, you rally behind. With momentum building and a rock-solid foundation in place, now is the time.”

Kaleb Harrell, CEO and co-founder of Hawkers, says, “We built Hawkers on heart, hustle, and a hunger to share everything that makes Asian street food special. Over the years, it’s become clear that this brand has the potential to be something bigger than we ever dreamt it could be—and finding the right partner is crucial to achieving that goal. Savory is that partner. This isn’t just about capital; it’s about expertise, energy, and alignment with a partner who loves the soul of this brand as much as we do.”

Savory Fund previously helped to scale brands such as Swig (which it sold its majority stake in in 2022), Mo’ Bettahs (which it sold to Blue Marlin Partners and Trive Capital last year) and Via 313 pizzeria.