Since its $13.7 billion acquisition by Amazon in 2017, Whole Foods has certainly been celebrated as a retail behemoth. And with its strong brand emphasis on organic, natural food, Whole Foods is a dream destination for manufacturers of all manner of food and beverage products. But how can new food innovators find a place on their elusive shop floor? Here are some top tips to help you navigate the path towards Whole Foods glory. 

Keep it Local

Because of their branding, and more precisely their emphasis on sustainability and health, Whole Foods prefers locally sourced produce and products. Whole Foods buyers use a system called RangeMe, which should be your first point of research. RangeMe connects Whole Foods with vendors across the world selling dry goods, dairy, supplements, meat, and all manner of food produce which could make it onto their shop floor. If your company sells a product that falls into one of their criteria, you could be accepted. You can learn more about this process here: https://www.rangeme.com/wholefoods

Quality Standards and Traceability Software 

Whole Foods prescribe very specific quality standards to ensure all their products are perfect when sold and consumed. Food should be fresh, wholesome and most often, organic. Whole Foods also places a very strong emphasis on food traceability; knowing exactly where all the constituent parts of any produce have come from. This way they can tell the full story of the product from “farm to fork”. So invest in blockchain traceability software that can track and manage the full lifecycle of products for you. This way you can meet the transparency and quality standards program that Whole Foods requires. Learn more about simple Traceability software solutions for your food and beverage business here.

Grow Your Business First

By the time you’re in a position to pitch to Whole Foods you’re more likely to succeed if your business is already a proven success. Have a strong brand, a strong social media presence and great website, and make sure your sales figures are solid. Then when you pitch to your local Whole Foods store, or a larger region, you’ll be more likely to get the result you want. Building a buzz at your local farmer’s market is another solid marketing tactic. 

Pitch at Your Local Store

When you’ve developed your product to reach its full potential, it’s time to approach the manager at your local Whole Foods, or ideally the region’s local Whole Foods buyer. It makes sense to study the store or stores you’ll be featured in beforehand. And express where you believe your product should be stocked and why it would sell if located there. 

If you’re committed and dedicated, your product will be snagging that top shelf at Whole Foods very soon!

As food manufacturing software, ERP, demand planning and traceability software continues to evolve and develop and becomes a central focus to the food and beverage industry, leading companies such as Cashmere Systems are spearheading the technology and its capabilities. Get in touch today to learn more!