ST. LOUIS — Ten diverse-owned businesses across the country were accepted into a business accelerator program by Schnucks.
As part of Schnucks Springboard accelerator program, each company will receive business development classes at Schnucks’ headquarters in St. Louis, networking opportunities, $5,000 in funding, an in-store product trial at select stores if they meet food and safety requirements, according to a press release.
Below is a list of businesses:
- Bella’s Pet Products
- D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food
- Hugo Coffee Roasters
- Mickey’s Popcorn
- MOTASTE
- Phathead BBQ Sauce
- Pop Pop Hurray
- Sandwich Goat Seasonings
- Show Me the World
- YÜJ Granola
They were chosen out of an application process in partnership with Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council based on stability, incremental sales opportunity, strategic vision and corporate responsibility.
“Using our resources and relationships, we honor our responsibility to strive for equity for not only our teammates and customers but also for our many diverse-owned suppliers,” said Adrian Moore, Schnucks senior director of Merchandising Enablement & Supplier Diversity.
“We look forward to working with the proprietors of these companies and to providing the inside knowledge and tools that can help them take their products and sales to the next level.”
Schnucks launched “Unity Is Power,” a comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion plan in 2020 to increase support for organizations that promote racial equity such as the Urban League, according to the press release.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis presented Schnucks with the Civic Leadership Award last year for its efforts. The local grocery chain also was named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek.