Business Accelerator
Get useful tools, enhance your grocery business knowledge and introduce your product to Schnucks customers.
Congrats to Our 2026 Cohort!
We’re proud of our 2026 Springboard class. Learn more about the cohort below!
Accelerate Your Business
In-Store Product Trial
After course completion, we’ll feature your product for a limited time in select Schnucks stores in the Spring. This shelf trial period allows you to reach new customers with your product!
$5,000 in Funding
We’ll grant you $5,000 in equity-free funding once you meet all the requirements, so you can continue to invest in and grow your business.
Weekly Onsite Business Development Classes
Classes will take place afternoons at the Schnucks home office in St. Louis, MO. Each class has been carefully crafted to provide you with grocery business knowledge, such as:
- Food Safety
- Pricing and Promotion
- Marketing and Engagement
- Distribution
- Pitching to Category Managers
Networking Opportunities and New Connections
Throughout the program, you’ll be given chances to connect with others in the industry, such as:
- A panel with Schnucks category managers.
- A pitch presentation to Schnucks leadership and other companies.
- Weekly classes in which you’ll chat with and work alongside your cohort members.
- Meetings with coaches.
Vendor Requirements
To qualify for Schnucks Springboard, a privately-owned company must have a consumer packaged good (CPG) product with existing retail sales and meet the following criteria:
- Annual CPG product revenue of less than $1 Million
- Fewer than 10 years in the CPG business
- Fewer than 50 employees
- Open exclusively to companies whose products have never been sold at Schnucks or any of its banners
- Be based in one of twelve Midwestern states (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin.
- If selected – have the ability to attend all classes in-person and to also meet food safety and insurance requirements for a product shelf trial.
Meet the 2026 Class
We’re excited to introduce our third Springboard cohort! Coming from all different backgrounds, these folks each offer unique products that we’re excited to feature on our shelves in spring 2027. Check them out via their linked websites below.
3 Bears Granola
Recipient Name: Laura Dunlop
Location: St. Louis, MO
Product: Granola made with organic sprouted gluten-free oats, whole nuts, seeds, extra virgin olive oil and coconut sugar.
B. Happy Peanut Butter
Recipient Name: Ambrosia March
Location: Itasca, IL
Product: Peanut butter snack mix.
Chef Pure Foods, LLC
Recipient Name: Kurt Stiles
Location: O'Fallon, MO
Product: Dry soup mixes.
ChiChi Foods
Recipient Name: Chiara Munzi
Location: St. Louis, MO
Product: Hot cereal made from chickpeas.
Eccentric Earth LLC
Recipient Name: Stephanie Freeman, PhD
Location: Pleasant Valley, MO
Product: A premium, all-in-one cultivation system featuring non-GMO seeds and sustainable growing medium that ensures a 98% germination rate.
El Cafe Cubano
Recipient Name: Racquel Rodriguez
Location: Kansas City, MO
Product: Premium packaged Cuban coffee.
Hink's Smokehouse
Recipient Name: Joshua "Adam" Hinkle
Location: Chenoa, IL
Product: Small batch bourbon bbq sauces.
Rasa Chai Inc (Nari)
Recipient Name: Shradha Challa
Location: St. Louis, MO
Product: Chai blends.
Springfield Trading Company
Recipient Name: Anthony Brent
Location: Springfield, MO
Product: Small batch hot sauces.
Tastachio Brands LLC
Recipient Name: Robert Brangle Jr.
Location: Kirkwood, MO
Product: Wood fire roasted pistachios.
See Our Class Archives
Coming from all different backgrounds, these folks each offer unique products that were featured on our shelves. Check them out!