Freshlocal Solutions

Freshlocal Solutions Inc. operates as a multifaceted grocery company, combining online retail, physical stores, and a sophisticated software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. The company's origins trace back to 1997 with the founding of Small Potatoes Urban Delivery, an online grocer in Vancouver focused on organic products. This entity later became Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery, or SPUD.ca.

The corporate structure evolved significantly over the years, encompassing several key brands and business units. Blush Lane Organic Market, an Alberta-based grocery chain, was started in 2004 by Rob and Zenya Horricks, who initially owned an organic orchard and sold produce at a farmers' market. Rob Horricks gained early experience in the organic sector by starting a delivery company called Organic Express in 1998, which he later sold to SPUD.ca in 2006. Blush Lane opened its first physical store in 2008 and was subsequently acquired by SPUD.ca in 2017, uniting their efforts to create a sustainable food ecosystem with both online and retail options. Freshlocal Solutions also operated the Be Fresh Local Market brand in Vancouver.

A core component of Freshlocal's business model was its technology division, FoodX Technologies. Developed from over two decades of experience in online grocery logistics, FoodX provides an end-to-end eGrocery Management Solution (eGMS) for other retailers. This SaaS platform was designed to handle back-end operations, warehousing, and fulfillment, enabling partners to establish profitable online grocery services. Notably, FoodX entered into a partnership with Walmart in 2018 to manage its e-commerce grocery platform in Vancouver and later collaborated with Carrefour in Belgium. The business generated revenue through its consumer-facing eGrocery business (SPUD.ca, Blush Lane, Be Fresh) and by licensing its FoodX software to other grocers. Despite its expansion and technological developments, Freshlocal Solutions faced financial difficulties, leading the group to file for CCAA protection in May 2022.

Keywords: online grocer, organic food delivery, sustainable produce, eGrocery Management Solution, FoodX Technologies, SPUD.ca, Blush Lane Organic Market, Be Fresh Local Market, omnichannel grocery, food e-commerce, grocery logistics, SaaS for grocery, farm-direct produce, local food system, sustainable agriculture, food waste reduction, grocery fulfillment, retail grocery technology, Vancouver grocery, Alberta grocery