Schnuck Markets, the St. Louis-based family-owned grocer, has partnered with Benson Hill, a food tech company leveraging plant genetics, to roll out Veri brand cooking oil for use in prepared foods in over 100 stores across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
As part of the company’s initiative to source from local, sustainable suppliers, it will use Benson Hill’s Midwest-grown and produced soybean oil across many spaces.
“Benson Hill has developed an oil with industry-leading sustainability benefits and a heart-healthy nutritional profile that matches up perfectly with our commitment to nourish people’s lives,” said Geoff Wexler, VP of deli and prepared foods for Schnucks, in a statement. “As a family-owned grocer headquartered in St. Louis, we are excited to be working with another St. Louis company whose values align with our mission.”
Veri cooking oil derived from non-GMO soybean varietals uses less water and requires less land area than traditional canola or sunflower oil while also minimizing CO2e emissions. The company also emphasizes regenerative agricultural practices and traceability when working with farmers to grow soybeans.
“Buying trends at the retail level are increasingly shaped by Gen Z consumers who seek out food choices that align with their personal values, promote better health and can be sourced locally,” said Connie Diekman, dietitian and previous president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, in a statement. “When consumers can check all those boxes seamlessly and at multiple access points such as local grocery stores, everyone benefits. Better food choices then become possible at scale.”
Related: Ratio Institute Creates Sustainability Standard for Retailers; General Mills Invests in Regenerative Agriculture