Grocery Run Asheville with Whole Foods & Earth Fare

Grocery Run is a national event series connecting relevant retailers to emerging brands. Join us to meet buyers, sample, and network!

About this Event


Asheville, we’re back—and stronger than ever!

Join us for a special Startup CPG Grocery Run at the as we celebrate Asheville’s resilience one year after Hurricane Helene. This isn’t just a meetup—it’s a chance to connect with local brands, retailers, and distributors, and uplift our incredible community.

About Grocery Run
Grocery Run is Startup CPG’s national tour bringing founders and retail buyers together for panels, networking, and sampling. Next stop: Asheville with Earth Fare & Whole Foods Market!

Founders, come get your questions answered:

• How do you get on shelves at Earth Fare and Whole Foods?
• What can you do to stay there?
• How do these buyers find and select new brands?

Plus, enjoy samples, meet fellow founders, and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how French Broad Chocolate crafts their treats.

Let’s celebrate Asheville’s strength and thriving food scene—we’ll see you there!

Come meet our panel of Buyers:

• Jaden McTaggart - Earth Fare, VP of Center Store
• Dustin Kennedy - Whole Foods Market, Sr. forager local & emerging brands southeast
• More soon!

Brands Sampling:

• Sarilla: Better-for-you alcohol-free beverages

More coming soon!

Want an opportunity to sample at the event?

(Opportunities are limited, but as always, all brands are encouraged to bring samples in their backpack to share).

About

French Broad Chocolate, located in Asheville, NC, is a beloved bean-to-bar chocolate company known for its commitment to ethical sourcing, craftsmanship, and rich, flavorful chocolates. Founded by Dan and Jael Rattigan, the company began as a small chocolate lounge and has since grown into a full-fledged chocolate factory, where they carefully roast, grind, and refine cacao beans to create exceptional confections. Visitors can tour the factory to see the chocolate-making process firsthand, enjoy handcrafted truffles, bars, and desserts, or relax in the cozy Chocolate Lounge with a cup of their decadent drinking chocolate. French Broad Chocolate is deeply connected to the Asheville community, prioritizing sustainability and transparent relationships with cacao farmers, making it a must-visit for chocolate lovers.

About Startup CPG

Startup CPG is the biggest community in the world for emerging brands. We have 25k+ Slack members, produce the #1 podcast in CPG, host 100+ events per year, and are the #1 education hub for brands trying to improve our CPG ecosystem. It’s free — join today!

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