Hawaii'i 'Ulu Cooperative

What Hawaii'i 'Ulu Cooperative does

Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural cooperative founded in 2016 and headquartered in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, that aggregates, processes, and distributes breadfruit ('ulu) and other traditional Hawaiian staple crops on behalf of more than 200 member farms spanning Hawaii Island, Maui, O'ahu, and Kaua'i. The cooperative's core function is to solve the perishability and small-scale fragmentation problem that has historically limited commercial breadfruit production: by centralizing post-harvest handling, the cooperative converts a 1-3 day fresh shelf-life crop into recipe-ready frozen formats and shelf-stable derivatives that foodservice, retail, and institutional buyers can actually integrate into their operations. Its product portfolio includes frozen whole and prepared 'ulu, kalo (taro), uala (sweet potato), pala'ai (pumpkin), gluten-free flours, hummus, and chocolate mousse, with retail SKUs generally priced from $5 to $20 and bulk flour up to $420 per unit.

The cooperative operates a multi-channel go-to-market model. Foodservice distribution runs through Sysco, Armstrong/FreshPoint, Y. Hata, VIP Foodservice, Hawaii Foodservice Alliance, Farm Link Hawaii, and Kodiakooler; grocery and retail span Hawaii chains and U.S. mainland specialty outlets; institutional buyers (including healthcare and education) purchase in volume; food manufacturers source 'ulu as an ingredient for co-manufactured products such as Diamond Bakery 'Ulu Animal Crackers, Hawaiian Krunch, and Aloha Bites; restaurants and resorts (e.g., Outrigger, Ulu Kitchen by Merriman, Mahina & Sun's) integrate it into menus; and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront ships nationwide. Revenue is generated across wholesale distribution, manufacturing supply contracts, institutional sales, and DTC, with pricing differentiated by channel and format (frozen vs. shelf-stable vs. ingredient).

Recent strategic activity centers on three vectors: consumer product innovation (the June 2025 Gluten-Free 'Ulu Pancake Mix launch and August 2025 co-manufactured Diamond Bakery 'Ulu Animal Crackers), capital formation (2024 Mana Up accelerator completion and a 2025 raise via nonmember preferred stock and loan instruments), and continued channel-buildout (broadening distributor relationships and enabling nationwide DTC shipping). The cooperative has grown from 9 founding farmer-members in 2016 to over 200 members today and operates with a small core team of 11-50 employees handling processing, logistics, sales, and member-services functions.

Name

Hawaii'i 'Ulu Cooperative

Legal name

Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative

Website

https://eatbreadfruit.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative is a farmer-owned Hawaiian agricultural cooperative that aggregates and processes breadfruit ('ulu) and traditional crops from over 200 member farms into recipe-ready frozen and shelf-stable products for foodservice, grocery, institutional, manufacturing, and direct-to-consumer customers across Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Food Products

NAICS

Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing (311411), Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Ethnic & International Meals (CRADADAE), Frozen Plant-Based & Vegetarian Meals (CRADADAF), Ethnic Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Wholesale (AFAIAIAB), Ethnic/International Bulk & Wholesale Grocers (CRAHAMAE)

Keywords

• Breadfruit processing
• Hawaiian staple crops
• Frozen prepared foods
• Foodservice wholesale supply
• Agricultural cooperative

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: The co-op operates an e-commerce storefront selling breadfruit products, flours, co-crops, merchandise, and trees directly to individual consumers and households across Hawai'i, Continental US, and Alaska. Orders ship frozen via FedEx with eco-friendly packaging.
2. Commercial Foodservice Wholesale: Bulk wholesale supply of pre-cooked frozen crops and value-added products to restaurants, hotels, and resort kitchens. Volume and repeat customers receive Preferred Customer pricing. Sales conducted via account application and direct email outreach.
3. Retail Grocery Wholesale: Wholesale distribution of recipe-ready staples and breadfruit flour to grocery stores and retailers across Hawai'i. Products include retail packs with 2-year frozen shelf life and 10-day refrigerated shelf life, plus Da Bux eligibility for SNAP customers at participating markets.
4. Manufacturing & Ingredient Wholesale: Sale of bulk breadfruit crops to local manufacturers for use as ingredients in consumer packaged goods, enabling 'locally sourced' and 'Hawai'i-grown' product labels. Preferred Customer pricing for repeat/volume buyers.
5. Institutional & Non-Profit Feeding Programs: Wholesale supply of bulk and pre-portioned crops to schools, hospitals, and community non-profits. The Ho'opili 'Ai farm-to-school program connects students with local staples. WIC-approved products also available. Non-profit pricing available upon inquiry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hawai'i 'Ulu Cooperative aggregates and processes breadfruit ('ulu) and other Hawaiian staple crops — kalo (taro), 'uala (sweet potato), and pala'ai (pumpkin) — from over 200 member farms across Hawai'i Island, Maui, O'ahu, and Kaua'i into minimally processed, pre-cooked frozen staples, value-added flours, hummus, chocolate mousse, and partner-manufactured products. These recipe-ready foods are distributed through DTC e-commerce at eatbreadfruit.com, dedicated wholesale programs for foodservice, grocers, institutions, and manufacturers, and a network of preferred distributors, supported by cultural programs such as the Ho'opili 'Ai farm-to-school initiative and 'Ulu Ambassadors chef network.

Product overview

Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative is a farmer-owned cooperative offering a portfolio of recipe-ready Hawai'i-grown staple crops and value-added breadfruit products. The core offerings include: (1) Recipe-Ready Products - pre-cooked, frozen breadfruit (ʻulu), kalo (taro), ʻuala (sweet potato), and pala'ai (winter squash) sold in bulk and retail packs; (2) Value-Added Products - ʻUlu Flour (retail and bulk), ʻUlu Pancake Mix, ʻUlu Chocolate Mousse, ʻUlu Hummus, and Fresh Frozen Poi; (3) Partner Products - items from local manufacturers using co-op crops including Diamond Bakery ʻUlu Animal Crackers, Hawaiian Krunch Granolas (kalo, ʻulu, ʻuala flavors), Aloha Bites baking mixes (cupcake, bread, breading), and Big Island Organic Honey; (4) ʻUlu Trees - eight breadfruit varietals (Ma'afala, Maoli, Pua'a, Otea, ʻAveloloa, Maopo, Fiti, Pu'ou) sold for pickup on Hawai'i Island; (5) Educational Resources - Sam Choy's ʻUlu Cookbook, Hawaiian Breadfruit book, Roots of ʻUlu DVD; and (6) Farm-to-School Programs - Classroom and Culinary tasting boxes. The co-op sources from over 200 member farms and sells directly to consumers, wholesale to foodservice/restaurants, grocers, institutions (schools/hospitals), and manufacturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 'Ulu Flour (Retail)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 member farms across Hawai'i Island, Maui, O'ahu, and Kaua'i sourcing breadfruit and co-crops
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SyscocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational broadline foodservice distributor working with the co-op to distribute Hawai'i-grown breadfruit and staple crops to commercial kitchens and foodservice operators across the islands.
• Hawai'i Foodservice AlliancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Hawai'i-based foodservice distributor and preferred partner of the co-op, enabling local distribution of co-op products to restaurants and institutions.
• Armstrong (FreshPoint)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFreshPoint, a produce distribution brand under Armstrong, partners with the co-op to distribute Hawai'i-grown produce and staples to foodservice customers.
• Farm Link Hawai'icoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal Hawai'i food distributor connecting co-op products with broader markets across the islands.
• Y. HatacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHawai'i's foodservice distributor, partner in the co-op's Preferred Customer Program for distributing local staples.
• VIP FoodservicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHawai'i-based foodservice distributor and preferred customer of the co-op, facilitating distribution to commercial kitchens.
• AdaptationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op, supporting the distribution network.
• Hilo ProductsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• Cal KonaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• HansenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• Honda FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• Kula ProduceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• CFIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed as a distributor partner of the co-op.
• Hawaiian ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarth Month 2022 partnership with Hawaiian Electric and Hawai'i Farm Trails to help local farmers plant 'ulu trees and sequester carbon through agroforestry.
• Hawai'i Farm to School (Hawai'i Public Health Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the Ho'opili 'Ai Farm-to-School Program. Provides resources to connect students with local staple foods and build lifelong relationships with Hawai'i-grown crops.
• Chef HuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal partner for the Ho'opili 'Ai program. Administering tax-deductible donations through the Hawai'i Community Foundation's Chef Hui Fund. Also a partner in the farm-to-school initiative.
• University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Ho'opili 'Ai farm-to-school program, contributing research and agricultural expertise to support local staple crop cultivation and education.
• Kaukau 4 KeikiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured community non-profit program supported by the co-op's wholesale community non-profit channel, providing keiki with meals incorporating local staples.
• Piko ProvisionsminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLocal manufacturer using co-op's crops to create value-added products with 'locally sourced' labels.
• Hawaiian KrunchminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLocal manufacturer creating 'Ulu Krunch Granola, Kalo Krunch Granola, and 'Uala Krunch Granola using co-op's staple crops. Products sold through co-op's partner products channel.
• Aloha BitesminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLocal manufacturer creating 'Ulu Cupcake Mix, 'Ulu Bread Mix, and Sam Choy's Savory 'Ulu Breading Mix using co-op flour and crops. Products featured in co-op's partner products channel.
• Mā'ona Community GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity garden partner in a regenerative 'full circle' composting partnership with the co-op — food waste returns as compost for local farms.
• KodiakoolercoreTechnology or IntegrationShipping box manufacturer providing 100% biodegradable insulation made from recycled cotton fibers for perishable product shipments. The packaging biodegrades in 27 weeks and can be composted, mulched, used as animal bedding, or repurposed. Reflects the co-op's commitment to mālama 'āina.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maui Pineapple Company (Maui Gold): Hawai'i-based grower and value-added processor of a single signature tropical fruit, with multi-channel distribution across grocery, foodservice, and DTC. Closely parallels Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative's strategy of aggregating a niche island crop, processing it into branded products, and supplying both retail and foodservice across the islands.
• Diamond Bakery: Hawai'i's iconic cracker and cookie bakery, and an active co-op partner producing the ʻUlu Blueberry Animal Crackers. Comparable as a Hawaiian baked-snack manufacturer that incorporates local agricultural ingredients into branded retail SKUs sold across grocery and tourist channels.

Broad incumbents

• Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts: Hawai'i's largest value-added macadamia nut brand, producing branded CPG from a single island-grown crop for nationwide distribution. Comparable to Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative as a Hawaiian agricultural origin brand converting a tropical crop into shelf-stable packaged foods, though at far greater scale.
• Hawaiian Host: Major Hawaiian chocolate and macadamia nut CPG brand with national distribution and a strong hospitality/tourist gifting channel. Comparable as a Hawaii-anchored, value-added food brand converting local agricultural inputs into packaged consumer goods.
• Bob's Red Mill: Specialty flour and grain brand with deep expertise in gluten-free, whole-grain, and alternative flours distributed nationally and used by both home bakers and foodservice. Comparable to Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative in building a premium gluten-free alternative flour category, including a 1:1 substitution baking flour, from a non-wheat base crop.
• Amy's Kitchen: Large-scale producer of organic, plant-based, frozen prepared meals and entrées distributed through grocery and foodservice nationwide. Comparable as a frozen plant-based / vegetarian meal manufacturer serving both retail and institutional customers, though at a substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Cascadian Farm: Organic frozen fruits, vegetables, and prepared frozen foods brand with broad grocery distribution and an organic/sustainability-led positioning. Comparable to Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative as a values-driven frozen food brand sourcing from a network of small/regional growers for retail shelves.

Emerging players

• Saffron Road: Brand of frozen ethnic and globally-inspired entrées (Indian, Thai, Mexican, Moroccan) sold in grocery natural and mainstream channels. Comparable to Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative's frozen entrée category in bringing culturally-rooted, ready-to-heat meals into the US frozen aisle, though focused on broader global cuisines rather than Hawaiian staples.
• Patagonia Provisions: Mission-driven food brand selling regenerative-ingredient packaged goods (grains, frozen meals, jerky, salmon) with a strong sustainability narrative. Comparable as a values-led, narrative-driven specialty food company converting climate-friendly ingredients into branded grocery products with a smaller, premium footprint than mainstream CPG.

Regional players

• Hawaiian Granola Company: Small-batch Hawaiian granola and snack brand using local ingredients, sold via grocery and online channels primarily within Hawai'i. Comparable to Hawai'i ʻUlu Cooperative's partner-product ecosystem (e.g., Hawaiian Krunch granolas) as a regional Hawai'i snack manufacturer sourcing island-grown crops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/HawaiiUluCooperative
• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiiulucoop
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiiulucoop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-ulu-producers-cooperative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaii'i 'Ulu Cooperative