Foxtrot, Dom’s Kitchen Close, Food Makers Scramble

Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market announced the immediate closure of all stores, Tuesday.

“After much consideration and evaluation, we regret to announce that Foxtrot and Dom’s Kitchen & Market will be closing their doors starting on April 23, 2024.  The closure affects 2 Dom’s stores and 33 Foxtrots across Chicago, Austin, Dallas, DC areas. We explored many avenues to continue the business but found no viable option despite good faith and exhaustive efforts," the companies said in a statement.

The move comes just months after the retailers merged under the Outfox Hospitality entity as part of an effort to allow the two hybrid market-cafe concepts to leverage the strengths of both.

The news came as a surprise to emerging food makers whose brands have been sourced by the retailers, reports Forbes.

“I was at Foxtrot in Dallas this last weekend. And I was supposed to leave for Austin this weekend to demo at their stores,” said Kristin Charbo, founder and CEO of Glonuts, which had been carried in Foxtrot stores for the past two years. 

Small and emerging brands comprised 40 percent of SKUs on shelf at Foxtrot, according to the report. The retailer hosted an “Up and Comers” program designed to amplify small, diverse businesses, with winners earning shelf space. Brands including Omsom, Ujjo Hot Sauce, Balkin Bites, Momo Shack, Mama Teav’s, 12 Tides Snacks, Mumgry Nut Butter, and Lexington Bakes are past winners.

“I credit Foxtrot with putting us on the map and being the reason why I even have a brand,” said Lex Evan of Lexington Bakes. “They are the store that catapulted our brand to relevancy. It later led to [California-based retail store] Erewhon bringing us to their stores.”

Amy Kessler, founder and CEO of Carolyn’s Crisps said that 65 percent of her company’s distribution was via Foxtrot stores and that the closure “has wiped out our distribution in Chicago. My brand was represented in many Chicago neighborhoods with Foxtrot. I keep asking myself how we are going to maintain visibility in Chicago without having a consistent presence all over the city.” Full Story