Plum Market has been named presenting sponsor of the inaugural Miami Beach Food & Beverage Expo, scheduled for October 28-29. The specialty food and natural grocery retailer will use the platform to introduce its new Retail Innovation Award, designed to help emerging CPG brands break into retail distribution.
Award Offers Shelf Space and Mentorship The award grants the winning product shelf placement across all six of Plum Market's full-service locations, along with mentorship from company leadership. The initiative reflects the retailer's stated philosophy of supporting founder-led brands rather than competing through private-label products. "We partner with entrepreneurs by giving their products premium visibility, creating cross-merchandising opportunities, developing recipes and sharing the stories behind the brands," said Marc Jonna, co-founder and president of Plum Market. "Authentic storytelling creates lasting guest loyalty and independent retailers play a vital role in helping innovative companies grow."
About Plum Market Plum Market is a family-owned specialty food retailer headquartered in the Midwest with more than 35 grocery, foodservice, and airport locations nationwide. The company has expanded into South Florida with locations in Palm Beach Gardens and Aventura. Jonna, a third-generation grocer, co-founded the company in 2007 with his brother Matt. Before launching Plum Market, Jonna worked at Whole Foods Market following the 1999 acquisition of his family's specialty wine and gourmet food business, Merchant of Vino.
Why It Matters
For emerging brands seeking retail distribution, the award removes a significant barrier to entry—shelf placement in an established chain. For Plum Market, the initiative strengthens its brand positioning as a curator and champion of independent producers, a differentiation strategy that appeals to consumers seeking authentic, founder-driven products over mass-market alternatives.
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Written by FBM Publications Editors
