One of the great things about partnerships is that it always grows. KeHE Distributors is continuing to expand its partnership network by adding five new brands to its 2021 class of CAREtrade® partners.
“While the program has enabled these brands to reach more retailers and sales than before, that is only a fraction of their success. The program ultimately enables multiple parts of the food marketplace work towards a common goal of doing good,” Scott Silverman, Vice President of Business Development and CAREtrade Committee Leader shared. “Through CAREtrade, we connected brands to other partners to drive their mission of serving their communities and those in need.”
The program, founded in 2017 by passionate employees, identifies and promotes brands that advance a higher purpose than commercial success. CAREtrade aligns with KeHE’s core mission and dedication, to SERVE to make lives better®.
As identified in KeHE’s 2021 Trends to Watch, consumers are leaning into purposeful purchases with Fair Trade certification and claims growing five percent over the last year. Through the support of the program, as noted in the press release, past CAREtrade suppliers have grown their KeHE sales by 25 percent.
“For us, CAREtrade joins the power of capitalism and community to fight these plagues [like human trafficking or violent crimes] … These companies are doing the hard work, and you can support them by simply purchasing their great products—items you use daily,” Robert Bradley, President and Co-Founder of Ramona Family Naturals and a KeHE customer, shared.
Small Axe Peppers, one of five new CAREtrade partners, connects community gardens with ethically conscious customers through its hot sauce. The company donates seeds to over 100 community gardens across America, including gardens run by KeHE Cares partners, each with a unique social mission that reflects the surrounding neighborhood.
KeHE’s new CAREtrade partners for 2021 include:
For more information on these companies as well as their missions, click here.
The five CAREtrade partners will join Beyond Good, Naya Natural Foods, Project 7, Rumi, and Equal Exchange; these brands were inducted in the 2020 class and will continue in the program for a second year. Bhakti, This Bar Saves Lives, NuttZo, World Centric, and The Soulfull Project, the 2019 class, graduated from the program after two successful years in CAREtrade.
Deli Market News will continue to bring you the latest updates and partnership developments from the industry, so keep checking back for more.
