
Whole Foods Market has unveiled the participants for its 2024 Local and Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP) Early Growth track. Launched in 2022, LEAP underscores Whole Foods Market’s dedication to building meaningful partnerships with local and emerging brands through tailored educational programming and personalized mentorship. Participants in this track may also be eligible for a $25,000 equity investment from a donor-advised fund managed by the Austin Community Foundation, with proceeds supporting the Whole Foods Market Foundation’s initiatives through Whole Cities, Whole Kids, and Whole Planet.
“Our Local and Emerging Brands team is thrilled to have selected a diverse range of founders and products for this year’s Early Growth program,” said Alyssa Vescio, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at Whole Foods Market. “This program allows us to connect with passionate new brands, broaden our product selection, support small businesses, and strengthen our ties to local communities. We eagerly anticipate the growth and success these 10 brands will achieve through our mentorship.”
The 2024 Early Growth cohort features 10 innovative brands that are not yet available in Whole Foods Market stores: Aahana’s, Bowlcut, Date Better Snacks, Edenesque, Freezcake, Geem, Maté Party, Sam + Leo, Sibeiho, and Tuyyo Foods. These brands will undergo a 12-week curriculum, after which their products will be considered for placement on Whole Foods Market shelves in their respective cities or regional areas. This year saw a significant increase in applications, with over 1,600 reviewed—a 60% rise from 2023.
For more details on LEAP, interested brands can visit the Information for Potential Suppliers page on the Whole Foods Market website.
About Whole Foods Market
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Whole Foods Market is a leading retailer of natural and organic foods and the first certified organic national grocer in the U.S. As part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, Whole Foods Market operates over 530 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. For more information, visit Whole Foods Market Media.