ST. LOUIS, MO - Partnerships are what make the produce industry go round, especially when it’s as monumental as the one between Schnuck Markets and Foodshed.io. The Midwest grocer announced a new partnership with the logistics and marketing platform to buy more than $5 million of local produce and local goods in 2020 from farmers who live and work within the communities.
“Like Schnucks, these local farms have been feeding families and nourishing communities for many generations,” said Schnucks Vice President of Produce Mike Tipton. “Our continued support of local farms allows us to also provide the best quality and freshest produce to our customers who have supported us for more than 80 years.”
According to a press release, the new partnership will build on existing relationships with farmers while also establishing new ones—some of which have been operating for more than 100 years.
The partnership will also help make sure products from these farms meet the strict quality standards of Schnucks and its customers that are within a 250-mile radius.
“We are proud to be working with a family-owned and operated company like Schnucks to bring one of the most innovative platforms for local sourcing to the five states they serve,” said Dan Beckmann, CEO of Foodshed.io. “Being afforded the opportunity to establish a clean, safe, reliable, fresh, and local supply chain with these amazing family farms is an honor and a privilege.”
Foodshed.io participated in the St. Louis-based Yield Lab Incubator, as part of the burgeoning Ag Tech Innovation community. After starting in New York City, the supportive nature of the local community brought them to the St. Louis area.
"With the advent of COVID-19, it's more important than ever to support the local supply chain and local farms during these uncertain times,” Beckmann added. “Schnucks and Foodshed.io are committed to bringing the freshest seasonal produce from farms located no further than a five-hour drive from any one Schnucks store, ensuring customers are receiving the freshest local product possible.”
This massive deal supplying 112 Schnucks stores across five states in the Midwest is another step toward Foodshed's goal of creating a new food distribution system—especially after the pandemic's impact exposed the fragility of the current supply chain.
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