The Modern Retail Podcast How startups get on the shelves of Whole Foods
Dec 6, 2025
In this conversation with Kelly Landrieu, Principal Planner of Local & Emerging Brands at Whole Foods, the insights flow about her role in the innovative Local & Emerging Accelerator Program (LEAP). She reveals the secrets behind getting startups onto Whole Foods shelves, sharing dos and don’ts for navigating the application process. Kelly emphasizes the importance of financial planning for growth, discusses common pitfalls, and highlights emerging trends like functional snacks. Plus, she forecasts 2026's focus on fiber-rich products, making it an insightful dive into the future of food retail.
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BNPL Became Mainstream Over The Holidays
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage surged during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, driving over $1B in online spend on Cyber Monday alone.
- BNPL is broadening beyond young shoppers into parents and paycheck-to-paycheck consumers as a mainstream financing option.
BNPL Firms Compete With Card Rewards
- BNPL providers and retailers bundle discounts, memberships, and rewards to compete with credit card perks.
- Companies like Klarna and PayPal are adding membership-like benefits and cash-back to attract shoppers.
BNPL Is Moving Toward Traditional Credit Practices
- Regulators and providers are beginning to treat BNPL like credit by reporting delinquencies to credit bureaus.
- That shift removes earlier privacy perks and raises consumer risk for misuse.