ENGLEWOOD — When Whole Foods opens in Englewood on Wednesday, the shelves will be stocked with products and goodies from several local suppliers.
In the last year, store representatives have hosted several events allowing entrepreneurs to pitch their products. Interested suppliers have had the chance to learn more about getting their products on Whole Foods' shelves and have met individually with buyers.
Earlier this month, selected vendors set up tables in the store's parking lot so that new team members could sample their products before the grand opening. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan visited the store and made their way around the tables.
When the store opens, there will be vegan cookies from Auburn Gresham resident Jimmy Prude’s company, Jimmy’s Vegan Cookies. Both of his cookie varieties contain natural Amish grains, stone-ground whole wheat, coconut oil and agave nectar.
Justice of the Pies founder Maya-Camille Broussard will offer her Bleu Cheese Praline Pear Pie, Bourbon Pecan Pie and Salted Caramel Peach Pie at the store.
Hyde Park resident LaForce Baker’s company, Moon Meals Inc., produces a Fiesta Wrap, similar to a vegan burrito.
Organic bath salts, body butters and sugar scrubs from Island Indulgences will also be on the shelf. The home-based company was started two years ago when Englewood native Jennifer Alexander, who has skin lupus, started paying more attention to what she was putting on her skin. Her husband, Edward, offers a men’s shea butter shaving cream.
Arnett Faulkner also has created a line of skin care products under the banner of her company, AHF Body Chemistry. Faulkner, an Englewood native, said she created the products to help relieve her son's eczema.
Other local suppliers includes:
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