Schnucks Springboard Seeks Third Cohort to Participate in Emerging Business Accelerator

Schnucks Springboard Seeks Third Cohort to Participate in Emerging Business Accelerator
Those chosen will receive education, resources and access to Schnucks customers

ST. LOUIS, February 25, 2026 - Schnuck Markets, Inc. is seeking its third cohort of emerging suppliers to participate in the Schnucks Springboard accelerator program. To apply, Midwest business owners should visit schnucks.com/springboard prior to April 25, 2026.

To qualify, owners must:

• Have annual consumer product goods (CPG) revenue of less than $1 Million
• Have fewer than 10 years in the CPG business
• Employ fewer than 50 employees
• Offer a product that’s never been carried by Schnuck Markets, Inc. 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, vendors must have the ability to attend all business development classes in-person at Schnucks’ St. Louis headquarters this fall and also must meet food safety, insurance and other regulatory requirements for a product shelf trial. Businesses who meet all requirements and are accepted into the cohort will receive $5,000 of equity-free funding and an in-store product trial at select Schnucks stores in 2027.

“After receiving incredible feedback from the first two Schnucks Springboard classes, we’re proud and excited to welcome our third cohort of businesses and look forward to helping them reach more customers and grow their businesses,” said Schnucks Senior Director of Merchandising Enablement & Emerging Suppliers Adrian Moore. “Not only are we here to teach, we’re here to learn, and we’ve incorporated feedback received from the first two cohorts to make this an even better learning experience for our participants.”

Products from the second cohort of companies will appear on shelves of select Schnucks stores for a trial run starting in mid April. Meet those business owners and learn more about their products by clicking Schnucks Springboard on the Schnucks website.

About Schnucks

Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocery retailer committed to nourishing people’s lives. Schnucks operates 113 stores, serving customers in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and employs more than 11,000 teammates. According to Forbes’ 2025 rankings, Schnucks is the 185th largest privately-owned company in the United States and the 13th largest privately-owned grocer. Schnucks is committed to helping communities thrive, and as a champion for reducing hunger, the company annually donates more than $15 million in food to pantries that help those in need.

Schnucks is part of 1939 Group, Inc., which is owned by the family that founded Schnuck Markets, Inc., and named after the year they opened the first Schnucks store. Other members of the family of companies include Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc.

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