by Dean Kallas, Grocery Category Manager
Consolidation in the food industry has been a common occurrence for years, but in the past decade there has been an uptick in the number of acquisitions, especially of the natural and organic brands that we carry in our stores. As their growth slows down over time, many bigger food companies are attracted to the sizable growth that some of these much smaller brands can offer. There has also been a consumer preference shift towards more healthy foods with fewer ingredients, which makes purchasing these businesses more attractive. I believe that well-established brands can learn much from their smaller competitors, and these smaller companies can glean many good ideas and practices from their predecessors.
It is in this context and spirit that I recognize some of the great independent companies that we have the pleasure of working with at Willy Street Co-op! I will only highlight some of these brands, since there were many more than I imagined. My list is not meant to be exhaustive.
Alaffia
This company is based in Olympia, Washington and makes body care products from sustainable, certified Fair Trade, indigenous West African ingredients such as Shea butter. Their Social Enterprise Model is pretty amazing and worth exploring.
Bob’s Red Mill
Bob’s is an employee-owned company in Milwaukie, Oregon. They produce a wide array of grains, baking mixes, and flours.
Crofter's Organic
A family-owned Canadian business that has been making organic fruit spreads since 1990.
GoMacro
A rural Wisconsin, family-owned company that makes organic plant-based protein bars.
Hodo Foods
Hodo creates plant-based foods in Oakland, California. They use organic beans and plant ingredients in all of their products.
Host Defense
They have been in business since 1980. They sustainably cultivate mushrooms on their farm that they use to make their supplements. They are a family-owned operation.
Miyoko's Creamery
Founded by Chef Miyoko Schinner. They churn out vegan cheese and butter.
Nutrigold
They have been making whole food-based supplements since 2010. This family-owned-and-operated company is located in Utah.
Potter's Crackers
A Madison, Wisconsin-based and locally owned business that creates delicious organic crackers.
Sambazon
Their products are made from sustainably harvested acai berries that grow in the Amazon Rainforest. They exist to support family farmers and protect the biodiversity of the Amazon.
Siete Family Foods
Siete is the product of a family health emergency. The Garza family created these grain-free foods to help their loved ones.
Sofrito Foods (Fillo’s Sofrita Beans)
This company was formed by the Caballero brothers who were recreating dishes from their youth to make their products.
Tierra Farm
Tierra Farm is an awesome company located outside of Albany, New York. They sell certified organic fruits and nuts.
Tribe 9
The have several brands under its umbrella: Ona, Yumbutter, Taste Republic, and RP’s Pasta. They are located in Madison, Wisconsin.
W.S. Badger
This company is a family-owned and operated crafter of quality body care products in New Hampshire. They support sustainable growing practices through their work and are a Certified B Corporation.
White Earth
White Earth harvests their organic wild rice by hand on non-motorized canoes to preserve the environment and ensure the quality of their rice.