WEST SACRAMENTO, CA - Raley’s has long been a staple of my Northern California existence, so any news of the grocer sparks joy. And combining that with news that Raley’s is working to support local producers? Even better. The grocer announced that it is sponsoring the food lab portion of The Lab@AgStart, an agriculture technology incubator designed for use by startup and ag-tech food companies.

“We get a lot of requests from businesses and young entrepreneurs who want to get on our shelves,” said Chelsea Minor, Corporate Director of Public Affairs. “We like and prefer to support local as much as possible. To get [small companies] across the finish line, to get them to qualify for the retail space, is a huge challenge.”

Raley’s has long supported local producers and growers, and its investment into what is being called The Raley’s Food Lab strengthens this commitment. The facility will offer a space for food startup companies to develop new products, ingredients, and recipes. The wet lab portion will have a dedicated space of 4,800 square feet.

According to a report from Sacramento Business Journal, the Lab@AgStart will be one of the largest wet-lab incubator facilities in California, as well as the only combination incubator space with both a wet lab and food lab in the state.

Companies working on their products here have the additional benefit of Raley’s partnership. The West Sacramento-based grocery chain will provide mentorship for startups on beginning commercial production of their products, including advice on packaging and connecting with co-packing facilities.

A champion of food, Raley’s continues to push the envelope of how to help push the boundaries of fresh innovation. We’ll continue to check in with regards to how the grocer is helping local growers—because that is one story we won’t want to miss.

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