The Best of the Midwest: Our Commitment to Local

If you know Heinen’s, you know that our local roots run deep. Since our beginning in 1929, we have always carried Midwest-made and grown products, but, as with any growing business, our assortment was not nearly as large as it is today. Walk the aisles of our stores and you’ll find an endless assortment of products made in Ohio, Illinois and our neighboring states. From fresh produce to ice cream to handmade pasta, our mix of Midwest-made items could fill a grocery store on their own.

In the early 2000s, we began to develop relationships with local farmers who supplied us with fresh, Ohio-grown produce which helped our local sourcing initiative boom. Nearly two decades later, we are proud to partner with more than 150 Midwest growers whose fresh fruits and veggies account for 60-70% of the produce sold in the summer season.

Just when we thought we’d uncovered the “best of the best” in our region, our home city of Cleveland began to rise as a hotspot for startups, leading us to continue to expand our selections. After years of building connections with our Midwest farmers, it became a part of our nature to do business with smaller regional companies. Today, we carry nearly 700 Midwest-made non-produce items that are present in all of our departments.

Looking back on our journey, we realize that the decision to offer these products was inherently easy because our region is bursting at the seams with artisans who are committed to making unique, high-quality products. However, what makes these relationships even more special is that we are also a Midwest-made business. We know what it means to be a small regional company with a dream to grow into a successful business and we want to help support the endeavors of those who have helped us achieve our 90-year legacy.  In working together, we can play a part in making the Midwest stronger community.