Farmer’s Fridge builds internet-connected vending machines that deliver fresh, chef-designed salads, sandwiches, granola and other healthy ready-to-eat meals priced roughly $5–$8. Food is prepared daily in the company’s kitchen and restocked multiple times per week by a dedicated workforce; airport locations are stocked seven days a week. The company uses an allocation algorithm to keep waste low (about 5%) and donates leftovers to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Its vending units include firmware, a graphical user interface and cloud infrastructure; an accompanying app shows fridge locations, inventories and allows reservations. Farmer’s Fridge has deployed roughly 200 machines across Chicago and Milwaukee in airports, hospitals and traditional retailers (including an Amazon Go store). The business runs varied commercial models by vertical, from subsidized accounts to revenue-share arrangements. The company plans regional expansion next year and expects headcount to grow from about 130 employees to roughly 200 by the end of next year. Farmer's Fridge prepares all of its salads and meals in-house, designs and owns its vending machines and software, and replenishes its own fridges daily via a cloud-based network. The fridges run algorithms that match historical demand so menus and inventory can change by location day-to-day, yielding single-digit waste rates; unsold food is donated via Zero Percent and inedible scraps are composted. Packaging is recyclable and the company provides on-site jar recycling at its fridges. The menu has expanded from salads in jars to breakfast items, prepared meals, snacks and drinks, and the company customizes offerings by location and margin. Farmer's Fridge currently operates 75 locations with another 200 in development, employs 60 staff (including hires from Mars, Kraft, Tyson and Starbucks) and is profitable. Management says the company is focused on deepening density around its Fulton Market kitchen and expanding its delivery radius to reach most of the Midwest, with an ambition to become a national concept.

Total raised

$30M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Sep 2018