14 FEATURED PROJECT
T
he objective of this project was to develop a partnership with Whole Foods Market to help provide quality food products while creating and sustaining jobs in Oklahoma.
Approach FAPC offered training programs and assisted entrepreneurial clients one-on-one to help expand the retail market of the companies and identify products that meet Whole Foods’ objective and vision. FAPC also helped clients meet Whole Foods’ food safety and traceability program requirements, including helping with reformulation in some cases to comply with Whole Foods’ ingredients restrictions. In helping these small startup Oklahoma companies create unique products to meet Whole Foods’ standards, FAPC also assisted with regulatory compliance, including labeling requirements, food safety and accountability. The education aspect of FAPC services is focused not only on the food processor but also the retail establishment. Companies do not always know what questions to ask and how to solve the issues that evolve when dealing with a large retail business, so FAPC serves as a resource for those companies. Benefits Getting a presence in Whole Foods helps companies establish their credibility and gives them a chance to build their brands statewide, regionally and even nationally. Whole Foods offers companies the chance to “test the waters” and resolve common issues that can arise as a growing food company, such as distribution, increasing product production, marketing, packaging and quality.
Ziegelmeier & Co. of Ada and Suan’s Foods of Oklahoma City are two examples of Made in Oklahoma companies that sought assistance from FAPC and starting selling their products at Whole Foods. Gaytha and Kelly Ziegelmeier of Ziegelmeier & Co. began their toasted pecan butter business in 2010 after attending FAPC’s Basic Training workshop. After receiving equipment and scaleup assistance from FAPC in 2011, the Ziegelmeiers began selling two variations of their products to the Whole Foods Market in Tulsa, Okla. Two years later, Whole Foods has six Ziegelmeier pecan butter products in 24 locations in four states. The Ziegelmeiers attribute their success to working with Whole Foods. “Without the opportunity and support from Whole Foods, our business would be non-existent,” Gaytha says. “Whole Foods has given us the unique gift of hanging in there with us while we have grown. Their high standards and expectations have made us grow into a strong and efficient company.” Suan Grant owns Suan’s Foods, which produces scotch bonnet-based condiments with Suan’s Scotch Bonnet Pepper Jelly