The Problem
The US discards more food than any other country in the world. Approximately 120 billion pounds—or 40% of the food supply intended for people to eat—ends up in the landfill annually.
13.5% of US households are food insecure, and since the pandemic, numbers have continued to rise. Over 1.2 million residents in the Kansas City metro live ½ mile or further from fresh food. Despite the evident need for fresh produce in these neighborhoods, for-profit supermarkets often hesitate to establish themselves due to concerns for their bottom line.
Consequently, the responsibility of providing essential groceries in affected neighborhoods often falls on the shoulders of small corner stores, which face numerous financial and logistical hurdles of their own. Locally owned, independent retailers cannot compete against national grocery chains on prices and variety, and ultimately it is the customer who has to pay more for less.
Who We Are
Kanbe’s Markets is a 501(c)3 non-profit on a mission to build a more inclusive food system by transforming food loss into food access. Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity while simultaneously reinvesting into our communities and reducing food waste.
We achieve this through a distinctive business model that creates local fresh-food sources, supports small businesses, and activates local volunteers to make a difference.
Our Vision
Reliable, high-quality, affordable fruits and vegetables within ½ mile of every home.
That...
Meets our neighbors where they shop, in small businesses that enrich the fabric of the community.
Captures food at the wholesale level, preventing it from being discarded into landfills.
Pilots a new distribution model—one that is sustainable, replicable for other cities, and reverses the die-off of independent retailers.
Enhances our small business partners’ bottom line with a shared revenue model that generates income.
Ensures imperfect fresh food reaches food pantries for free, getting it to those in greatest need instead of the landfill.
Is led by those we serve, prioritizing community input and hiring from the neighborhoods where we operate.
How We Do It
Kanbe’s Markets offers a practical solution to food insecurity.
We partner with independently owned stores in low food-access tracts across Kansas City by installing a stand-alone cooler and tiered basket rack to provide fresh food choices inside shops customers already visit.
Operating on a consignment basis, we remove any financial risk to the store and deliver fresh food daily to ensure excellent food quality. 30% of sales stay with our store partners, contributing to the sustainability and profitability of these neighborhood businesses. By offering this service in areas where small retail already exists, we ensure that we work with, not against, the existing fabric of the community.
Additionally, we divert millions of pounds of “distressed inventory”—fresh food removed from the food supply by large-scale wholesalers. Through volunteers, we hand-sort this excess, redirecting rescued produce to areas of greatest need. More than half of the food we rescue goes directly to feeding our community, adding millions of dollars worth of rescued food into our region's food pantries, kitchens, and shelters—for free.
Through our network of hunger relief partners, we ensure that no good food gets wasted.
Fresh Food for Every Neighborhood
Our flagship program, Healthy Corner Stores, brings fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables to neighborhood stores, enhancing access to high-quality produce in areas where it’s essential.