1-800-flowers.com Expands Its Reach in Better-For-You Protein With Vital Choice Acquisition

October 28, 2021

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Did you know that 1-800-flowers.com controlled a large portfolio of food brands?  I didn’t.

Currently the owner of brands including Harry & David, Shari’s Berries, Cheryl’s Cookies, Moose Munch, The Popcorn Factory, and Wolferman’s Bakery, among others, 1 800-Flowers has expanded into the better-for-you protein category with the acquisition of Vital Choice – a provider of high-quality wild-caught seafood, sustainably farmed shellfish, pastured proteins, organic foods, and marine-sourced nutritional supplements. 

Founded in 2001 in Bellingham, Washington, on the belief that wild Alaskan salmon is “nature’s most perfect food”, Vital Choice has built out a network of relationships with approximately 60 well-managed, global fisheries that source both hard-to-find and high-quality seafood that meets high sustainability benchmarks.

Since its inception, the company has donated a portion of its profits to programs that protect the planet, including SeaShare and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and has integrated environmental strategies into its shipping operations, becoming a certified B Corporation in 2014. 

Today the business purchases carbon offsets to reduce its carbon footprint, source ingredients that are certified organic and Fair Trade™ when possible, and forge relationships with suppliers that uphold positive manufacturing practices for a positive impact.

Its wild-caught seafood is free of antibiotics and pesticides, and its farmed seafood is fed GMO-free fish feed rations. All its products are gluten-free, are kosher-certified when possible, and are paleo-, keto-, and Atkins-diet friendly. 

“’Better-for-you’ products are contributing to the strong momentum we’ve been seeing in our gourmet foods business over the past year, and Vital Choice is a natural fit with our existing brands to help drive continued growth in this category,” said Steve Lightman, group president of gourmet foods and gift baskets, 1-800-flowers.com, Inc.

Through its VitalGreen program, Vital Choice contributes a sum commensurate enough to offset the entire climate-warming effects of its customers’ shipments, including the effects of jet emissions at high altitudes. 

The company also has worked with NativeEnergy to support a methane-to-energy project on a Pennsylvania-based farm, and has played a role in bringing wind power to Greenburg, Kentucky.

“There is growing consumer interest in food that is healthy, natural, and convenient, with newer, younger customers especially drawn to these products,” said Lightman. “We look forward to offering our customers even more healthy eating options and driving strong top and bottom-line performance for Vital Choice by leveraging our best-in-class e-commerce platform.”

 

– Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Oilseed & Grain NewsShe can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com

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