As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on a year of growth, innovation, and community impact. This year, Midwest Foods achieved long-term goals, expanded our offerings, and strengthened connections across the foodservice community. Our most important highlight has been deepening relationships with the chefs, farms, and partners who make our work possible.
Top 5 Moments of 2025
Growing Our Capabilities
We welcomed Spiceland, a well-loved local spice company, into the Midwest Foods family. Working closely with their founder, we brought curated, high-quality spices and custom blends into our offerings. Orders are already being fulfilled, and in 2026, we plan to introduce a refreshed brand that reflects the vision for our growing portfolio.
Showing Up Locally
Connecting to our local community remained a key priority. Through farm tours, local kickoff events, and partnerships with family-owned farms, we supported underrepresented growers while giving chefs seamless access to fresh, local produce. This year, orders for multiple local farms grew, helping strengthen the regional food system. These events also allowed us to spend quality time with the people at the center of the food system—our chefs, buyers, and farm partners.
Expanding Women’s Leadership
As a women-owned company, supporting women in business is central to our mission. In 2025, two talented women joined Midwest Foods in new leadership positions created to support our growth and future goals. Our current leadership also gained recognition through speaking engagements and features, including a WTTW article highlighting a day in the life of Alex Frantz, our Director of Local and Sustainability.
Advancing Sustainability Initiatives
We made significant strides in sustainability. Alex Frantz was recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in Sustainability, a well-deserved honor. This year, Midwest Foods joined the US Food Waste Pact, a nationwide initiative led by ReFED and the World Wildlife Fund to reduce food waste across the supply chain. Internally, we switched our Edible Cuts Grab n’ Go line to eco-friendly packaging, moving closer to our goal of 100% sustainable packaging. These efforts help our clients meet their sustainability goals while protecting the planet.
Modernizing Our Brands
With growth accelerating, we took steps to align and refresh our family of brands, including Midwest Foods, Edible Cuts, and the newly acquired Spiceland. Updates included a new website, refreshed branding, and a unified Edible Cuts identity that consolidates bulk pre-cut produce and Grab n’ Go offerings. These updates help clarify our mission and messaging as we continue to expand.
Looking Ahead
Everything we achieved in 2025—from supporting local farms to implementing new tools—was possible because of our partners and clients. Moving into 2026, we’re excited to continue modernizing our offerings, enhancing sustainability initiatives, and deepening our impact on the local food system. We look forward to growing together in the year ahead.