Market of Choice MOJO Program Provides Local Makers with a Recipe for Success
2024年5月8日 - 1:11AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Oregon entrepreneurs flourish with Market of
Choice’s support and guidance
Independent, family-owned grocer Market of Choice celebrates the
seventh anniversary of its MOJO program this month, a cornerstone
initiative that has nurtured thousands of partnerships with Oregon
food and beverage makers. Since its inception in 2017, the MOJO
program has provided a launchpad for local entrepreneurs to
jumpstart their ventures, helping them bring quality products to
market.
It is not unusual for makers in the incubation and early stages
of their business to face challenges navigating distribution
complexities, steep slotting fees, scaling production, and managing
growth. The Market of Choice MOJO program helps provide a path to
market for Oregon makers, offering much-needed guidance,
development support, distribution solutions, and promotion. Often
as one of the first retailers to provide market-entry shelf space
to these makers, Market of Choice’s partnership and support gives
makers time to generate revenue, build brand awareness, and
increase production capacity needed to expand distribution
regionally and nationally.
“We are deeply committed to supporting local makers and
fostering the growth of Oregon's vibrant food community,” says John
Boyle, chief merchandising and marketing officer for Market of
Choice. “Our MOJO program not only provides a platform for makers
to showcase their products across Oregon but also contributes to
the economic health and sustainability of our region.”
Market of Choice has supported local makers since its founding
45 years ago and currently carries more than 7,000 local products
throughout its 11 Oregon stores, which is approximately 15 percent
of its assortment of products. Portland Pet Food Company, Pan’s
Mushroom Jerky, Ground Up, and Tropink (formerly known as Pink
Cloud Beverages) are examples of some of the makers that have
thrived and scaled successfully with help from Market of
Choice.
According to Portland Pet Food Company’s Top Dog Kate McCarron,
Market of Choice was instrumental in getting Portland Pet Food
Company started both locally and nationally. Because Market of
Choice tracked and shared Portland Pet Food Company’s growth and
sales statistics, the company was able to demonstrate its success
with stores nationwide, which helped it expand into other
retailers. “It’s one thing to get on the shelf, but you have to
stay on the shelf. It’s a long, tough, and expensive journey. We
probably wouldn’t be where we are today without Market of Choice’s
support back then and now.”
Many makers rely on Market of Choice to distribute their
products. Market of Choice has streamlined the process by providing
centralized distribution points in Eugene, Portland, Corvallis,
Bend, and Ashland. A maker can take its product to a distribution
point, and Market of Choice distributes the product to all its
stores free of charge, saving entrepreneurs a lot of time and
money. According to the Founder of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky Michael
Pan, Market of Choice’s willingness to distribute his product
statewide from one drop-off location was critical to the success of
his business.
According to Sierra Thomas, founder of Tropink, Market of Choice
offers more than just shelf space. The team looks after Oregon
makers, providing tailored business advice and direct support,
while also driving increased foot traffic and facilitating
connections to valuable opportunities. “Market of Choice works in
close partnership with key organizations that support food and
beverage makers in the startup phase, such as Built Oregon, the
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and the Food Innovation Center, and
provided us with introductions. Every day Market of Choice impacts
my business in an important way. They just do it – without being
asked. It is beyond special.”
In their first year on shelves, Market of Choice’s “Full
Potential Promise” to makers includes quarterly promotions, content
creation and in-store sampling events for MOJO products, in which
Market of Choice absorbs the costs of all discounts and promotions.
“Most grocery stores don’t offer free promotions to vendors,” says
Julie Sullivan Loos, co-founder of Ground Up. “Market of Choice
stands out from other retailers by genuinely supporting local
vendors, featuring them prominently in marketing materials,
offering affordable distribution, and exposing them to customers
in-store and online. They exemplify a true commitment to local
makers.”
Success Stats
- Portland Pet Food Company is now in more than 5,700 stores
nationally as well as stores in Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, and South
Korea.
- Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is in more than 2,000 stores nationwide,
including a rotation with Costco, and was funded by Shark
Tank.
- In less than two years, Tropink has expanded into more than 100
locations across Oregon. Sales have seen double-digit growth
year-over-year, and it continues to donate one percent of gross
sales back into the local community through its 1% For The Planet
commitment.
- Ground Up’s nut butters are in more than 1,000 retail stores in
the Pacific Northwest and California. In addition, Ground Up
provides job skills training to women overcoming adversity. Since
2016, more than 80 women have graduated and reached their
employment goals.
Market of Choice’s MOJO participants and Oregon makers generated
millions in sales between March 1, 2023 and March 1, 2024. And
since 2020, Market of Choice has carried more than 2,500 products
from BIPOC, women-owned and LGBTQ+ makers.
About Market of Choice
Founded in 1979, Market of Choice is Oregon’s largest
family-owned, independent grocer with 11 stores located throughout
the state. Driven by the joy of and an admiration for Oregon food
and its makers, Market of Choice has grown into a thriving grocery
retailer with nearly 1,400 dedicated employees. With stores in
Ashland, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene, Medford, and the Portland-metro
area, Market of Choice has developed deep, meaningful relationships
with farmers, ranchers, fisherfolk, and food and beverage producers
across Oregon and is committed to fostering a vibrant local food
economy. For more information, visit www.marketofchoice.com. Stay
connected with Market of Choice on Instagram, Facebook, and
Pinterest.
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Laura Luthi 503-341-7785 laural@gradybritton.com