AUSTIN, TEXAS — Whole Foods Market has selected startups to participate in the Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP), an initiative that launched last year offering mentorship and education, as well as potential financial support, to up-and-coming consumer brands.
Ten food and beverage companies will join the Early Growth cohort. Following the 12-week curriculum, each participant’s products will be considered for placement on shelves of local or regional Whole Foods market stores. Additionally, the participants will be eligible to receive a $25,000 equity investment from a fund managed by the Austin Community Foundation, with proceeds benefiting Whole Foods Market’s private operating foundations. Whole Foods said it received more than 1,000 new applications. Early Growth brands include Kinship Milk Tea, Ruby Jean’s Juicery, Tiny Sprouts Food, Gringuita Cookies, Jaju Pierogi, La Rossi Pizza, Lazy Food Co., Seed to Surf, Diaspora Co. and Bam.
Ten existing local and emerging Whole Foods suppliers were nominated by merchants and buyers for a newly added On the Verge cohort. The selected participants have demonstrated strong growth potential and are considered innovative “in trends, flavors, community engagement or sustainability,” according to Whole Foods Market. The cohort includes fitppl, Better Chew, Little Sesame, Fila Manila, Misha’s Kind Foods, 12 Tides, Nana Joes Granola, The Pizza Cupcake, Nguyen Coffee Supply and Bright Endeavors.
“We are thrilled to welcome 10 exceptional local producers from all over the country into our second LEAP: Early Growth cohort,” said Alyssa Vescio, senior vice president of merchandising for Whole Foods Market, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. “On top of that, we’ve expanded LEAP to support our existing supplier community through the On the Verge track, which will help brands explore the next stage of their growth potential, providing mentorship from both Whole Foods Market team members, as well as industry peers and experts.
“LEAP has been one of the most rewarding ways to support the local and emerging brands that bring incredible products and innovation not only to Whole Foods Market stores, but to our broader communities. These are truly the brands to watch.”Enjoying this content? Learn about more disruptive startups on the Food Entrepreneur page.
