Austin, TX (May 18, 2022) – Whole Foods Market announced 30 awards presented to suppliers in the Unites States, UK, and Canada as part of the company’s tenth-annual Supplier of the Year Awards for 2021. Awards recognize suppliers that exemplify the company’s mission and Core Values, and are presented in categories such as Outstanding Innovation, Environmental Stewardship, Purpose Driven Empowerment, and the company’s top category, Supplier of the Year.
Among the recipients were Rhode Island based The Backyard Food Company who was named Supplier of the Year for the North Atlantic region of Whole Foods Market which encompasses Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Hartford, CT. “We are humbled to receive such a prestigious award,” Said Louby Sukkar, cofounder of The Backyard Food Company. “We worked very hard to exceed expectations and stay ahead of demand in 2021 with so many disruptions in the supply chain.” Cofounder Matt McClelland added, “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity that Whole Foods Market has provided to show that a local startup like The Backyard Food Company belongs on the shelf with the big name brands.”
“We’re incredibly proud to showcase the exceptional achievements of our suppliers who work so hard to serve our customers and support our mission,” said Sonya Gafsi Oblisk, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Whole Foods Market. “Our suppliers are essential to our business. On this tenth anniversary of the awards program, we are particularly grateful for the partnership and dedication of this extraordinary group who continues to raise the industry bar for quality, innovation, and social responsibility.”
Whole Foods Market leaders, category experts and merchants select winners across all departments and product categories including Exclusive Brands, Produce, Specialty, Seafood, Meat, Grocery, Bakery, Prepared Foods and Whole Body. Additionally, each of Whole Foods Market’s 11 regions award their own Supplier of the Year, selected by Whole Foods Market’s dedicated team of Local Foragers.
“I was thrilled to see each of the regional winners for the 2021 Supplier of the Year Awards,” said Will Betts, Vice President of Local Merchandising at Whole Foods Market. “It was a year of great growth for the local program in our communities and stores, and it set the stage for some of the incredibly important work that our local program will be doing."
About The Backyard Food Company: The Backyard Food Company is a Rhode Island Based specialty food manufacturer. Founded in 2014 after a cancer diagnosis lead to backyard gardens and an interest in home preserving, The Backyard Food Company has grown to 21 products in over 800 stores on the East Coast. The Backyard Food Company is an eight-time Rhode Island Monthly – Best of Rhode Island winner for “Best Locally Made Food Product” and a 2021 winner of the Good Food Foundation – Good Food Award for Candied Jalapeños.
About Whole Foods Market: For more than 40 years, Whole Foods Market has been the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer. As the first certified organic national grocer, Whole Foods Market has more than 500 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. To learn more about Whole Foods Market, please visit https://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/.