Press Release:
One of Whole Foods Market’s bestselling beers is getting a revamp this season for people of all ages to enjoy. Beginning Wednesday, October 21, 2015, America’s healthiest grocery store will debut its new Floridian spent grain sourdough bread made in partnership with South Florida’s popular Funky Buddha Brewery.
David McAndrew, Whole Foods Market’s Bakehouse Facility Team Leader and the mastermind behind the new bakery creation, knew he wanted to partner with a local brewery to create an innovative bread to add to the selection shoppers already know and love.
“The beer making process is similar to that of the bread making process,” McAndrew said. “Since Funky Buddha’s Floridian Hefeweizen is such a popular beer at Whole Foods Market, using its grains seemed like the perfect starting point.”
A bread two months in the making, the partnership began organically when Funky Buddha Brewery provided McAndrew with spent grain used to make their Floridian Hefeweizen beer.
“We usually give the grains to farmers and when Whole Foods Market approached us, we loved the idea of teaming up to recycle the grains,” said John Linn, Brand Director of Funky Buddha Brewery. “Whole Foods Market is all about upcycling and so are we.”
The crunchy, hearty bread will hit the shelves of Whole Foods Market’s 24 Florida locations for a sale price of $4 per loaf for the first two weeks. After that, the bread will be $5.50 year round. To accompany the release, during that same two week period, Funky Buddha’s Floridian 6-pack, which, with its light citrus and bread-y notes pairs extremely well with the bread, will also be on sale for $7.99 (regular price $9.99). Shoppers who purchase a cold glass of Floridian Hefeweizen at Whole Foods Markets’ in-store bars will also enjoy a complimentary slice of the bread spread with Kerrygold grass-fed butter. Funky Buddha Brewery’s in-house restaurant, slated to open November 2015 – Craft Food Counter & Kitchen – will also showcase the bread on its menu.
About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer. As America’s first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. The company’s motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to the company’s more than 88,000 team members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 18 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2014, the company had sales of more than $14 billion and currently has more than 417 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. For more company news and information, please visit media.wfm.com.
About Funky Buddha Brewery®
Founded in 2010 in Boca Raton, Florida, Funky Buddha Brewery is committed to producing bold craft beers that marry culinary-inspired ingredients with time-honored technique. Its lineup includes year-round brews Floridian Hefeweizen and Hop Gun IPA, along with specialty releases such as No Crusts Peanut Butter and Jelly Brown Ale and the highly sought after Maple Bacon Coffee Porter. Its Oakland Park production brewery opened in June 2013 and distributes draught and bottled beer to retail outlets throughout Florida.