Kroger Set to Expand Gotham Greens to 1k+ Stores
The Kroger Co.
Kroger, America's leading grocer, has teamed up with Gotham Greens, a leading innovator in indoor farming, to bring a wider range of customers fresh produce grown in greenhouses and plant-based foods.
Customers of Kroger can now find the produce of Gotham Greens in over 300 stores, with the goal of reaching almost 1,000 stores by the end of 2023. This move reinforces Kroger's dedication to providing fresh food to all. In addition to the produce, Gotham Greens' plant-based dips, sauces, and dressings will be available in nearly 2,000 Kroger locations nationwide with the expansion.
"We're proud to expand our collaboration with Gotham Greens as we work together to bring fresh, local, high-quality, and longer-lasting produce to our customers in an environmentally sustainable way," said Dan De La Rosa, Kroger's group vice president of fresh merchandising. "Gotham Greens' state-of-the-art, climate-controlled greenhouses reduce the number of days the products spend between harvest and our store shelves while removing unpredictable weather challenges and improving product quality and shelf life. These factors ultimately reduce food waste, both in stores and in consumers' homes."
Kroger is dedicated to reducing its impact on the environment by decreasing food waste and aims to achieve zero food waste in landfills across the company by 2025. Kroger has used retail best practices since 2017 to keep its products fresh longer and reduce waste. Gotham Greens' methods of farming are good for the environment, which fits with Kroger's goal of creating a sustainable food system.
Gotham Greens can grow, harvest, and deliver non-GMO, pesticide-free salad greens and herbs all year round, thanks to its innovative farming practices. The company's hydroponic growing systems in greenhouses powered by sunlight use up to 95% less water and 97% less land than traditional field farming methods.
"Kroger and Gotham Greens share a commitment to building a more resilient and equitable food system, putting people and our planet at the forefront of everything we do," said Viraj Puri, Co-Founder and CEO of Gotham Greens. "With increasing climate and supply chain-related issues facing our food system, it's more important than ever to bring innovative farming solutions that grow high-quality produce while using fewer precious natural resources. Gotham Greens is growing fast, and we look forward to bringing our brand to new markets in the coming months."
By the summer of 2023, Gotham Greens will operate 13 greenhouses with a total area of over 40 acres (1.8 million square feet) in nine states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Rhode Island.
Gotham Greens has been a supplier to Kroger since 2020, starting with its King Soopers Division. As the company opens more greenhouses across the country, its highly regarded line of salad greens and herbs grown in greenhouses will continue to be sold in King Soopers, Ralphs, Dillons, Frys, QFC, Fred Meyer, and some Kroger Division stores. Gotham Greens sells more than just greens and herbs. They also sell a variety of plant-based dips, cooking sauces, and dressings that are full of plants, minimally processed, and made with the best ingredients, such as herbs that Gotham Greens grows sustainably.
Source: PRNewswire
