Founded in 2009 by Neka Pasquale, and built on the mantra that “food is healing,” Urban Remedy came to fruition after years of providing healthy, ultra-fresh, and free-from foods at Pasquale’s wellness retreats where she combined acupuncture and Chinese medicine with cutting edge nutrition and lifestyle modifications. The life-changing results that her patients with chronic illnesses saw just from eating healthy, nutrient-rich foods and beverages inspired Pasquale to share these products with consumers across the country. With that, Urban Remedy, a Certified B corporation and woman-owned business, was born.
Urban Remedy has grown from a direct to consumer online business into a company of more than 400 employees selling across 17 brick-and-mortar locations, hospitals, hospitality and gyms, and natural and organic grocers, including Whole Foods Market, Erewhon, and more. Read on to learn more about Urban Remedy products and leverage RangeMe to connect with several retailers, including RydeOn.
Food that heals… and tastes good!
Urban Remedy offers a wide selection of fresh, plant-based, ready to eat foods such as cold-pressed juices and protein-packed meal replacement shakes to flavorful, ultra-fresh salads and grain bowls, and decadent, refined-sugar-free desserts. Everything is organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free to naturally help lower inflammation, the precursor to many chronic conditions.
Rafael Xavier, Sr. Manager of Business Development at Urban Remedy, says they live by the mantra “Food is Healing.” “Our mission is to reimagine the food system by providing organic, plant-based, functional foods that are conveniently available to help people live their fullest lives,” shares Xavier. “As we grow, we never compromise on quality, which includes freshness, top-quality ingredients, supporting local farmers, and continuous improvement.”
To always ensure fresh, quality products, Urban Remedy has successfully been able to sell fresh food at scale, such as innovating its product packaging for its salads and bowls that provide maximum shelf life while retaining ultimate freshness.
The remedy for retail success
Urban Remedy has found success in various channels and retailers by bringing a unique advantage, offering fresh, clean, and convenient products. You can find their cold pressed juices, meals, and snacks in retailers, including Whole Foods Market, Bi-Rite, Mollie Stones, Amazon Go, Barry’s gyms, and even healthcare institutions such as Stanford Healthcare and Kaiser hospitals.
Able to provide fresh meals at scale, Urban Remedy was ready to expand its channels even more. “We discovered RangeMe through retailers who sent us over as part of their category review and new vendor submission process,” shares Xavier. “I didn’t know that so many retailers are on there and use RangeMe as their primary method of finding new brands like ours.”
They joined RangeMe in 2019 and upgraded to Premium in January 2020 and got RangeMe Verified™ shortly afterward.
Xavier says what attracted them to RangeMe was the efficiency of contacting new potential customers, the overall ease of use with the platform such as loading new products, adding in details or photos, and the broad range of buyers who are on there daily. “One of the best functions on RangeMe is being able to submit your brand directly to the buyers during their scheduled category reviews,” he says. “This allows for efficient and relevant timing for sales conversations and gaining serious interest in your company’s products and offerings.”
Bringing better-for-you to retailers on RangeMe
Since joining RangeMe, Urban Remedy has connected with retailers and distributors, including KeHE, N.A. Buffen and Sprouts. But since upgrading to Premium, they’ve scored a deal with RydeOn, a local online grocer, to sell up to 30 different SKUs.
“Adam, the CEO of RydeOn, reached out via RangeMe messages, and we connected over the phone within a couple of days. After two conversations, we had agreed to work together and provide fresh organic products to his online customers,” shares Xavier.
Working with RydeOn fits right into Urban Remedy’s diverse portfolio of retail experience. “With COVID-19 impacting most retailers, many online and e-commerce services have taken off due to the home delivery and contactless format that many people prefer,” Xavier says. “RydeOn, an online grocery and delivery company, is based here in the San Francisco Bay Area, as we are, and the idea of partnering with a local company to provide immune-boosting and healing foods such as Urban Remedy was a dream come true! We are thrilled to be working with Adam and his RydeOn Team.”
Advice to brands just starting out
For emerging brands, Xavier notes that they have to think beyond the product they’re producing if they want to see success. “For companies just starting, it all starts with your people. Building a strong and vibrant company culture makes a huge difference. During the good times and the tough times, it’s the team that brings your brand to life.”
About Urban Remedy: Urban Remedy crafts plant-based, organic prepared meals that embody the belief that “food is healing” and empowers consumers to conveniently eat ultra-fresh and clean. All of Urban Remedy’s ultra-fresh and ready-to-eat meals, snacks and cold pressed juices are certified organic, certified non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, and low glycemic. Urban Remedy believes that business can be a force for good and is a certified B corporation meeting rigorous standards of environmental and social performance, accountability, and transparency. Urban Remedy ships directly to customers nationally from its headquarters in Point Richmond, CA and operates 17 retail locations and 163 Whole Foods kiosks across California, Arizona, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island, DC, and MarylandLearn more at www.urbanremedy.com.