DoorDash Adds Four Grocers to Marketplace
DoorDash has welcomed multiple grocers to the DoorDash Marketplace. Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets, Festival Foods, Marc’s, and Woodman’s Food Markets are now live on DoorDash. Consumers can enjoy on-demand delivery of their groceries and household staples from these new partners, right to their doorsteps.
-
Angelo Caputo’s Fresh Markets: A family-owned business specializing in international, traditional, healthy, and organic food with ten locations in the Chicagoland area.
-
Festival Foods: With 42 locations in Wisconsin, Festival Foods is a family- and employee-owned grocer that is committed to giving back to the communities it serves and providing guests with exceptional service and value.
-
Marc’s: A locally-owned and operated discount retailer with 60+ locations throughout Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, and Columbus. Marc’s provides high-quality groceries, fresh produce, fresh meats, frozen and dairy, household essentials, local favorites, wellness products, and much more at discount prices.
-
Woodman’s Food Markets: An employee-owned grocery chain with nineteen locations across Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Woodman’s Food Markets offers everything from fresh produce and meats to bakery goods and household essentials.
The new partners announced today offer consumers across three states increased access to their favorite local grocers, connecting shoppers with the best of the neighborhood. Whether it’s purchasing specialty ingredients for a dinner party or stocking up on pantry essentials for the family, DoorDash is the one-stop shop for consumers’ daily needs. The selection from these new merchants adds to the over 500,000+ products available from regional grocers on the DoorDash Marketplace.
With more than 99% of DoorDash’s monthly consumers in the U.S. having access to a non-restaurant retailer on the DoorDash Marketplace, DoorDash continues to bolster its offerings in the Grocery vertical. In 2024, many of consumers’ favorite grocers joined the platform, including all Ahold Delhaize USA banners, Haggen, H Mart, La Michoacana, Rouses Markets, Save A Lot, Vallarta Supermarkets, all Wakefern Food Corp. banners, Wegmans, Fresh Encounter banners, and Stew Leonard’s.
The new partners announced today will be available on DashPass, DoorDash’s membership program that offers members $0 delivery fees, reduced service fees, and member-only benefits on eligible orders from thousands of restaurants, grocery, and convenience stores nationwide.*
For more news of interest to the grocery industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
TASTE Announces Transition to Employee Owned
The TASTE Family of Businesses, a Coastal Virginia culinary institution, announced its transition to a 100% employee-owned company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. This milestone secures TASTE’s legacy for generations to come while ensuring that the company remains deeply rooted in the community and dedicated to its employees and customers.
Roughly 6,000 of the 33 million companies in the United States are ESOPs, making TFOB’s transition a unique local business story. In the Coastal Virginia region, there are only around 30 ESOPs. The model, governed by federal ERISA and tax codes, provides eligible employees with a beneficial ownership stake at no cost. Research shows that ESOP companies consistently outperform in profitability, employee satisfaction, and business longevity, making this transition a strong investment in TASTE’s future.
“This is a transformative step for TASTE, ensuring that our employees—the heart of our success—benefit directly from the growth and value they help create,” said executive chairman, Jon Pruden. “Employee ownership aligns perfectly with our company culture and values of being hospitable, team players, and better every day.”
For employees, the ESOP represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build wealth and directly benefit from their hard work and dedication. The plan is entirely company-funded, with no contributions required from employees. Shares are allocated annually based on compensation, and employees vest fully after three years of service.
“This transition ensures that TASTE remains deeply rooted in our community, with decisions made by those who know and love it best—our employees,” said Pruden.
For loyal customers and catering clients, this transition makes TASTE stronger than ever. Employee ownership means that every team member is personally invested in making TASTE the best it can be—leading to an even higher level of service, quality, and care. With the same leadership team guiding us, we’re now even better positioned to enhance and innovate the guest experience while staying true to the high standards that have defined us for over 50 years. This move ensures that TASTE remains a thriving, locally owned company that will serve our community for generations to come.
Founded in 1973 by Peter Coe, TASTE has grown into a trusted name in Coastal Virginia’s culinary scene, known for its gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and curated specialty products. Under stewardship of the Pruden family since 2006, the TASTE Family of Businesses has grown to include ten TASTE store locations, TASTE Catering & Events, Zinnia Café, the TASTE Bakehouse, and TASTE Online. With this ESOP transition, TFOB ensures its legacy of quality and community involvement while empowering employees to shape its future.
As TASTE moves forward as an employee-owned company, it remains dedicated to delivering the outstanding culinary experiences and exceptional hospitality that have defined the brand for over five decades.
The TASTE Family of Businesses manages a portfolio of food and beverage brands that have been pioneering specialty food and hospitality in Coastal Virginia since 1973. Through its ten restaurants, catering business, and food retail, the collective team of over 600 is united behind the TFOB mission to “Cultivate Community through the Good Life.”
For more information, visit www.tasteva.com.
For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
Naturally Seattle Seeks Naturally Rising Applications
Naturally Seattle announced its biggest event of the year, Naturally Rising. Formerly known as Pitch Slam, Naturally Rising has evolved into a premier competition that spotlights emerging, purpose-driven brands and celebrates conscious leaders in the natural products industry. Applications are now open (see details below). The event will be held in Seattle on June 4 from 6-8 p.m., (location TBD).“Naturally Rising is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of innovation, purpose, and the incredible entrepreneurial spirit driving the natural products industry forward,” said Debi Goldman, executive director of Naturally Seattle. “We are proud to provide a platform that empowers emerging brands, connects them with industry leaders, and helps them take the next step in their journey to success.”
Naturally Rising provides a platform for innovative, better-for-you brands to gain exposure, refine their pitches, and receive invaluable mentorship to prepare for retail success. Five finalists will be selected to compete in Naturally Seattle’s Naturally Rising competition and will receive one-on-one mentorship in preparation for their live pitch in front of prominent industry judges. The winner will be rewarded with the opportunity to pitch on the national stage at the national Naturally Rising pitch competition, which takes place at Newtopia Now— formerly Expo East, the natural product industry premier experiential immersion trade show —held in Denver, Colorado, on August 20-22, 2025.
The national champion of Naturally Rising’s pitch competition will receive exclusive prizes, including a booth at Expo West 2026, one of the industry’s most influential trade shows.
Applicants for Naturally Seattle’s Naturally Rising Competition are open to established, better-for-you CPG brands based in Washington, Oregon or Idaho. To be eligible, brands must:
-
Have an annual revenue of at least $100,000 and no more than $2 million.
-
Have a retail partner (physical or online retailer distribution).
-
Be an active Naturally Seattle member.
-
Be available to attend Newtopia Now in Denver on Aug. 20-22.
Applications close on April 11. Please contact debi@naturallyseattle.org if you are interested in supporting Naturally Seattle’s Naturally Rising Pitch Competition. Sponsorships, mentorships and judging positions are available.
For more information and to apply, visit www.naturallynetwork.org/naturally-rising
For more news of interest to the food and beverage industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.
