FedUp Foods Company Benefit Report
As a Benefit Corporation, we’re committed to using business as a force for good and are accountable to people and the planet, not just profit. Each report tracks our progress across environmental, social, and community efforts—from regenerative sourcing and climate action to team well-being and economic resilience.
DAVID GRAY, CEO
"I'm filled with gratitude for what we've achieved together and pride in the strength we've shown as a team and a community."
The past twelve months brought challenges we couldn’t have foreseen—economic pressures, supply chain disruptions, and the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, which caused unprecedented flooding in Western North Carolina, the place we call home. These hardships tested us deeply, but they also revealed something extraordinary: the resilience, determination, and heart that define who we are.
This year has been one of meaningful growth—not just in numbers, but in impact. With the opening of our state-of-the-art facility in Wilmington, NC, we’ve expanded our capacity for innovation, creating greater opportunities to serve our clients and drive positive change. We’ve nearly doubled the size of our team, welcoming new talent, capabilities and energy. We launched the first private label Regenerative Organic Certified® cold brew coffee line, setting a new standard for functional beverages and sustainable sourcing. At the same time, we took the first steps toward our ambitious goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2035.
At the center of everything we’ve accomplished is a simple truth: people come first. It’s not a slogan or a strategy—it’s who we are. The trust we’ve built with our team, the care we extend to our clients and vendors, and the belief that relationships are the bedrock of resilience has allowed us to adapt, grow, and turn obstacles into opportunities.
This year tested that belief, and what I saw was nothing short of incredible. Whether it was navigating uncertainty, recovering from the storm, or innovating in the face of adversity, we leaned on one another and emerged stronger, more united, and more determined to make a difference. These relationships—built on trust, collaboration, and shared values—are what make our work not just possible but impactful.
CEO of FedUp Foods
To craft delicious, high-quality, functional beverages, invest in the regeneration of our planet, and use business as a conduit for positive social impact.
We believe business should be a force for good – for people, planet and prosperity. As a Benefit Corporation this is baked into our DNA and shapes the decisions we make —from crafting nutrient-dense beverages to advancing regenerative practices that restore the planet.
We embrace change and adapt quickly to new circumstances, challenges and opportunities to stay nimble in a rapidly changing environment.
We strive to build a work environment that fosters collaboration to achieve shared goals and collective success.
We assume best intentions and invest in learning effective and thoughtful communication.
We pursue experiences and opportunities for growth to stay innovative and deliver value to our customers.
We believe in the power of community and invest in building meaningful connections with our team, customers and stakeholders to create positive change together.
We work to build recognition and appreciation into our ongoing engagements with our team, partners and customers knowing it’s the small moments of gratitude that build long lasting relationships.
Investing in Our Team
Our team is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that when individuals feel truly welcomed, valued, and supported, they thrive—and that energy ripples outward. At its core, our commitment is about creating an environment where every person is respected, inspired, and empowered. Through our focus on health, well-being, and learning, FedUp Foods is a place that genuinely fosters growth and purpose. But it doesn’t stop there. Together, we’re strengthening the communities we call home by creating meaningful jobs and standing behind local organizations making real change. Because when we put people first, we can make an impact that resonates far beyond our walls.
180 Total Employees in the United States*
Rooted in Opportunity:
A Career Journey at FedUp Foods
TECH
MACHINE TECH
TECHNICIAN
When Mary Rice joined FedUp Foods, she quickly realized this wasn’t just another job—it was a place where people come first. Starting as a packaging technician and growing into a flavor technician, her journey reflects the opportunities and support she’s found here. At FedUp Foods, work is about more than clocking in and out—it’s about contributing to something that matters and being part of a team that values you every step of the way. In our interview with Mary, she shares how working at FedUp Foods feels like being part of a family, where employees are genuinely valued and supported.
Continue reading...
Growing Leaders, Strengthening Our Future
Our team members are the driving force behind everything we do—the innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders shaping a more resilient and sustainable future. The FedUp Foods Academy, now in its second year, exists to honor that truth by investing directly in the people who make our purpose possible. Powered by the NC Customized Training Program, and in partnership with WCI and AB Tech Community College, the Academy offers hands-on training designed to build practical skills, leadership confidence, and long-term career growth.
- Technical Upskilling
- Continuous Improvement
- Leadership Development
- Health & Safety Training
"The FUF Academy contains surprisingly insightful courses that anyone can benefit from. This information can be carried onward to be used in one’s personal and professional life. Highly recommended!"
Research & Development Technician
"The FUF Academy was a great team building experience. It was great to get to learn with people in other departments that I don’t always see day to day!"
Accounting Manager
Scaling with Purpose
MARSHALL, NC (2017)
The heart of our operations. Our headquarters remains the foundation of our craft, housing our R&D and innovation hub, where new ideas take shape.
ERWIN, TN (2022)
A strategic expansion that allowed us to build a dedicated transportation and logistics hub.
WILMINGTON, NC (2024)
Our latest milestone, expanding operational capacity to fuel the next generation of products—including the launch of the first-ever Regenerative Organic Certified® cold brew coffee.
When we stepped into 715 Greenfield Street, we saw more than just a facility—we saw a meaningful next step in furthering our purpose: to make high-quality functional beverages more accessible. Since then, our team has worked steadily to transform the space into a high-performance fermentation and cold brew hub. Every part of the buildout was designed with intention—to support our growing capacity, increase redundancy for our core products, and allow us to innovate and take on new formats and categories.
With the expansion to Wilmington, we've been able to increase our production and expect to be able to produce upwards of 27% more when we're operating at full capacity.
Our Commitment: Giving Back
At FedUp Foods, we believe that business can be a force for good. Whether responding to immediate crises or supporting long-term change, we are committed to use our resources to rally for and financially support causes we believe in.
$90,000
Local Roots: Growing from Hurricane Helene
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, we took swift action to support both our team and the town of Marshall, NC, where we’re based. This 1-in-500-year flood left families displaced, homes destroyed, and essential services disrupted, reshaping our community in ways we are still navigating.
To provide immediate relief to our employees, we issued direct stipends to help them recover and rebuild in the aftermath. At the same time, we established the FedUp Foods Hurricane Relief Fund—a dedicated effort to support long-term recovery in Marshall. Through this fund, we’ve been able to donate directly to local organizations working tirelessly to restore homes, businesses, and essential needs and infrastructure.
$30,000
$10,000
Cherishing the Planet
`“Sustainable” won’t cut it anymore. Our planet needs more than just less harm—it needs healing, renewal, and regeneration. At FedUp Foods, we’re dedicated to going beyond sustainability and committing to practices that rebuild soil, restore ecosystems, and actively nourish our planet. We believe every decision—whether it’s harnessing renewable energy, choosing regenerative partners, or reducing our impact—should serve to make things better than they were before. Everything’s connected, and we’re here to honor that truth with tangible actions that aim to leave the earth truly thriving for future generations.
Sourcing a Regenerative Future
Sugar and tea are foundational to our fermented beverages, just as coffee is to our cold brew. But beyond their role in our drinks, these ingredients tell a bigger story—one of responsible sourcing, equitable trade, and environmental stewardship. The farmers and producers we work with are not only protecting ecosystems and improving soil health, but they are also investing in their communities, ensuring fair wages, and creating better working conditions for agricultural workers.
By using our buying power for the good of the many, we’re helping to make these high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients more accessible—not just for us, but for the industry as a whole. When more manufacturers have access to regenerative organic coffee, fairly traded sugar, and sustainably grown tea, it raises the bar for what’s possible in food and beverage production. The impact ripples outward: healthier soil, stronger farming communities, and ultimately, better ingredients for more people.
Continue reading...Over $97,000
to Fund Community Projects and Social Programming through Fair Trade USA
Ingredients
Sourced in 2024*
*All ingredients we use are recognized by our organic certifier as organic. A select few are legally exempt or do not currently exist in organic form. These ingredients are not represented in this chart.
+0%
Regeneratively grown inputs increased in total volume by an average of 20%*
+0%
Fair Trade Certified inputs increased in total volume by an average of 22%*
+0%
Organic inputs increased in total volume by an average of 32%*
*Compared to 2023
THROUGH TEA
Our tea leaves come from a woman-owned supplier that partners with smallholder farms in Rwanda and from Teatulia, which partners with the Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate in northern Bangladesh. Teatulia’s tea garden, managed by a cooperative of women, has been practicing regenerative agriculture for over 30 years—transforming once-barren land into a thriving, biodiverse ecosystem.
Beyond sustainable farming, the Teatulia Cooperative (KSF) empowers thousands of Bangladeshi families through Cattle Lending, Farming, and Education programs, creating economic opportunities and strengthening local communities.
3,147
Total Cooperative Members
Pays wages 56% above the industry average, not only contributing to the local economy, but also decreasing poverty rates.
480
Women’s Literacy Graduates to-date
Basic literacy and math education are provided so women are more employable, independent, and can confidently participate in the local economy.
430
Preschool Graduates to-date
Preschool education for their own children.
Breaking the Bean Barrier and Disrupting the Monocrop Mindset
The story of coffee is written in the soil.
For generations, farmers have tended coffee trees across lush landscapes, their hands in the earth, their livelihoods tied to the land’s ability to produce. But over time, the demands of the global coffee market have pushed farming away from its natural rhythms and into extractive cycles. Monocropping, deforestation, and chemical-heavy farming have stripped the soil of its richness, leaving it weaker with every
harvest. Farmers, forced to chase higher yields on increasingly depleted land, now find themselves at a breaking point. At the current rate, experts predict that half of the land suitable for coffee farming today will be unfit for cultivation by 2050.
This is the reality of conventional coffee—a system that takes more than it gives, leaving both the land and the people who rely on it vulnerable. But there is another way.
Not All Packaging is Created Equal
Being better stewards of the planet isn’t a solo effort—it’s built on collaboration. It takes a network of incredible growers, material innovators, and partners who share a vision for the future and a deep care for the world we leave behind.
PACKAGING SUPPLY CHAIN
Commitment to Recyclability
Innovating with Lighter, Stronger Materials
Reducing Emissions with Locally Sourced Glass
Championing 100% PCR Plastic in Our 48oz Bottles
Balancing Our Travel Impact
We offset our travel CO2 through Terrapass, a program that funds renewable energy projects, landfill gas capture, and reforestation efforts.
Between meetings, conferences and our remote team — we travel a lot. It’s important to us that sustainability is front of mind in all decisions.
For the first time, we offset product transportation between our Marshall and Erwin facilities! This included 1,362 one-way trips and 75 return trips, totaling approximately 48,598 miles.
Reforestation with One Tree Planted
5,000 Trees
Planted
4,400,000 kg (or 4,400 metric tons) of CO2 over 40 years.
Through our partnership with One Tree Planted we’re contributing to global reforestation – restoring ecosystems by planting trees to support biodiversity, sequester carbon, and revitalize communities.
7,500 Trees
Planted
6,600,000 kg (or 6,600 metric tons) of CO2 over 40 years.
10,000 Trees
Planted
8,800,000 kg (or 8,800 metric tons) of CO2 over 40 years.
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With gratitude
Creating something meaningful—something that lasts—takes dedication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to a greater purpose. This journey wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our team, the trust of our partners, the support of our stakeholders, and the belief of our customers.
Thank you for your passion, resilience, and willingness to push boundaries. Your dedication is the driving force behind everything we do.
Thank you for your trust in our mission. Your support enables us to think bigger, act with intention, and grow with integrity.
Thank you for your collaboration and shared vision. Your commitment to innovation and sustainability allows us to continuously improve and evolve.
Thank you for choosing to support purpose-driven manufacturing. Your choices fuel our ability to make a real impact.
We’re grateful to be on this journey together, and we look forward to continuing to build something truly meaningful in the years ahead.
