Kroger has revealed the winners of its second annual Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator, a program to drive the success of new and emerging brands. The complete cohort consists of five brands that will join the grocer's supplier network to grow its selection of local and regional items.
The 2022 Accelerator winners are as follows:
• Coro Foods, a charcuterie company
• The Ugly Company, a brand upcycling “ugly” produce to make dried fruit snacks
• Hiatus, maker of a premium cheesecake
• J. Berry Nursery & Genetics, a team innovating the home plant category
• Zacca Hummus, traditional-style Mediterranean hummus producer
"We are thrilled to welcome this year's Go Fresh & Local cohort to our extraordinary portfolio of fresh local and regional suppliers," said Dan De La Rosa, group vice president of fresh merchandising, in a stement. "Go Fresh & Local was created to bring the best, most innovative, and freshest local and regional products from new and diverse small businesses to our customers across the U.S.… Their commitment to excellence and the unique blend of products they've created will help us expand our local footprint and deliver on our mission of being Fresh for Everyone."
Winners will receive mentorship opportunities from Gourmet Foods International and DPI Specialty Foods. Each winning company also receives product placement in-store and online, and coaching opportunities from Kroger. The program is part of the grocer's larger goal to invest $10 billion in diverse suppliers by 2030.
The finalists competed in a pitch competition; they were judged by an executive panel of Kroger leaders in addition to executives from PearlRock Partners and Our Brands. The winning brands will be stocked on Kroger shelves beginning in 2023.
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