LANDOVER, MD - Washington, DC-based grocery chain Giant Food is making a splash on the retail scene, announcing it has expanded its relationship with Union Kitchen, a food and beverage accelerator. With this extended partnership, the grocer is now able to offer several new locally made products to Giant shoppers through Giant’s delivery service, Giant Delivers.
“As the leading grocery retailer in the Washington, DC, market, we are eager to continue to work with an organization like Union Kitchen to expand our offerings and support their mission of helping to grow local startup food brands,” said Gregg Dorazio, Director of eCommerce for Giant Food. “At Giant, we’re committed to offering our shoppers more locally sourced options, and our relationship with Union Kitchen is a great example of the innovation these entrepreneurs bring to our community.”
The addition of three new Union Kitchen member brands, Walt’s Waffles, Spoil Me Rotten Dog Biscuits, and EAT Pizza, comes after the success of the first eight Giant added to its roster in May: 8 Myles, Mas Panadas, Compass Coffee, Revol Snax, Poppy's Stuffed Bagels, Snacklins, Tasty 6, and Veggie Confetti.
These three new Washington, DC-based brands will join a collective of original brands, contributing to 27 local Union Kitchen products available to Giant shoppers including a variety of breakfast items.
“We are thrilled to continue working closely with Giant Food to make ‘Made in DC’ products more widely available to customers,” said Elena Rosenblum, Senior Director at Union Kitchen. “By building a robust local food ecosystem through partnerships like this, we are able to create jobs, build community, and celebrate our diversity through a medium everyone loves, food!”
At a time when more people are looking for ways to snack healthier and support small businesses, Giant is doing its part to make this possible for more shoppers. According to the press release, all Union Kitchen products will be available through Giant Delivers, accessible on Giant’s recently integrated e-commerce shopping experience on the retailer’s new website and Giant Food mobile app. Giant Delivers serves over 330 zip codes across Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware.
Union Kitchen works with businesses to launch, manufacture, and distribute local products to retailers throughout Washington, DC. The businesses Union Kitchen has worked with have created over 1,000 jobs in the community, and over 50 percent of the businesses that Union Kitchen supports are women- and/or minority-owned.
With Giant Food making pivotal partnerships and executing strategic moves, the stage is set for more growth in the retailer’s future, and ANUK will report as it unfolds.
