Grab And Go

What Grab And Go does

Grab & Go is a Kansas City, Kansas-based industry platform that operates as connective infrastructure across the grab-and-go consumer products ecosystem in the United States. The company runs two primary lines: an Industry Network that aggregates and connects brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, packaging firms, logistics providers, incubators, and service partners around grab-and-go products, and a Launch Studio that delivers hands-on commercialization support to founders across concept validation, formulation, packaging design, manufacturing connections, channel strategy, and buyer introductions. The company does not operate a proprietary software platform; its offering is built on relationship-driven services, structured content (Resources Library, Format & Channel guides), and state-by-state market intelligence covering all 50 US states across 215 retail formats and seven categories.

The business model centers on professional services revenue through Launch Studio engagements, with pricing opaque and quote-based rather than publicly disclosed. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (direct engagement with retail buyers and foodservice operators) with channel partner recruitment across co-packers, manufacturers, and industry associations. The founding team pioneered the first national grab-and-go programming effort in the 1990s, establishing legacy relationships with 40+ major retailers spanning 50,000+ store locations, and has co-founded brands including Nature's Bakery and Hotel Pantry concepts while taking early-stage equity in Perfect Snacks (expanded nationally to Starbucks) and Pop Oats. The company serves multiple segments across the ecosystem — startup and emerging brands (primary), retail buyers, foodservice operators, co-packers and manufacturers, ingredient and packaging partners, and incubators and investors — with a horizontal segmentation approach.

Name

Grab And Go

Legal name

Grab & Go

Website

https://grabandgo.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Grab & Go is a Kansas City-based industry platform connecting brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, and suppliers across the US grab-and-go ecosystem, while providing Launch Studio commercialization support to emerging snack, beverage, and prepared food brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Brand Commercialization Services

NAICS

Convenience Retailers (445131), Convenience Retailers and Vending Machine Operators (44513), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Food Stores (5400), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Grab-and-Go Packaging, Merchandising & Food Safety Programs (Retail Ops) (CRAHAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foodservice-Led Convenience Stores (QSR/Hot Food Focus) (CRAHABAH), Omnichannel Commerce & Click-and-Collect Platforms (BPAMAGAL)

Keywords

• Grab-and-go retail
• Brand commercialization services
• Consumer products networking
• Retail launch support
• Foodservice channel strategy

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Launch Studio Services: Hands-on guidance and commercialization support for emerging grab-and-go brands from concept through launch. Services include product development, packaging design, manufacturing connections, channel strategy, buyer introductions, and launch planning.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Grab & Go is an industry platform that connects brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, and service partners across the grab-and-go ecosystem. It operates the Industry Network to build category connections across 215 retail formats and 50 U.S. states, and provides Launch Studio, a hands-on commercialization service guiding founders through product development, packaging, manufacturing, channel strategy, and retail placement. The company also co-founded and invested in brands such as Nature's Bakery, Perfect Snacks, and Pop Oats to demonstrate practical commercialization outcomes.

Product overview

Grab & Go is an industry platform connecting the grab-and-go ecosystem through two core offerings: the Industry Network (connecting brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, and service partners) and Launch Studio (hands-on commercialization support for brands). The platform also provides Market Intelligence (state-by-state retail and foodservice targeting), a Resources Library (guides and playbooks), Featured Brands (spotlights), and Formats & Channels (channel-specific guidance across Convenience, Hospitality, Campus, Healthcare, Airports, Micro Markets, Grocery, and Specialty Retail). The platform serves founders, early-stage brands, established companies, retail buyers, foodservice operators, co-packers, ingredient/packaging suppliers, and investors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Industry Network: A platform that brings together brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, and service partners around grab-and-go products.
• Launch Studio
• HotelPantries.com
• BreakfastAreas.com

Products and services

• Industry Network A membership and connection platform that brings together brands, retailers, foodservice operators, manufacturers, and service partners around grab-and-go products to champion the category and create distribution connections across formats and channels.
• Launch Studio Hands-on commercialization support service helping founders navigate product development, packaging, manufacturing, ingredient sourcing, channel strategy, and partner introductions from concept through launch and national distribution.
• Market Intelligence State-by-state market intelligence providing core retail and foodservice customers, agriculture programs, and local brand initiatives across all 50 U.S. states.
• Resources Library Online collection of guides, playbooks, checklists, and directories including Category Education, Launch Planning, Channel Strategy, Manufacturing, Product Development, and Directory content for the grab-and-go ecosystem.
• Formats & Channels Coverage Channel-specific guidance and analysis across Convenience, Hospitality, Campus & University, Healthcare, Airports & Travel, Micro Markets, Grocery, and Specialty Retail formats spanning 215 retail formats in 7 categories.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered legacy, co-founded and focused brand.

• StapleslegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn the 1990s, Grab & Go introduced grab-and-go retail concepts within all Staples locations, providing convenient snack and beverage options for customers and business professionals.
• Home DepotlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrab & Go team (with Hershey and M&M Mars) created snack and beverage programs inside Home Depot locations, serving contractors and DIY customers.
• Lowe'slegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorked with Lowe's to create a complete in-store convenience retail snack and beverage program for customers engaged in home improvement projects.
• Office DepotlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroduced grab-and-go retail concepts that complemented high-traffic retail and print service areas, plus office coffee and snack programs.
• FedEx OfficelegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated the first snack and beverage program for all FedEx Office stores.
• Best BuylegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped grab-and-go snack and beverage programs that complemented longer customer visits while shopping for electronics and entertainment.
• AutoZonelegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntroduced grab-and-go retail concepts within AutoZone locations to provide quick convenience options for automotive customers - still seen today.
• Pep BoyslegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrab-and-go merchandising that served customers waiting for automotive services or purchasing repair products.
• FollettlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelped develop early snack and beverage grab-and-go programs within Follett college bookstores serving students, faculty, and campus visitors.
• HiltonlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnack and beverage grab-and-go concepts within Hilton hotel properties, giving guests convenient refreshment options within lobby retail areas.
• MarriottlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograms supporting grab-and-go retail offerings within Marriott properties, expanding hotel lobby retail and guest convenience.
• Choice HotelslegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnack and beverage convenience retail concepts within Choice Hotels properties, providing quick refreshment options for travelers.
• VistarlegacyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcquired Marjack, Liberty, and CCSI - now the dominant distributor for specialty, concessions, vending, and alternative formats with 20 distribution centers and 9 Merchant's Marts.
• Liberty DistributionlegacyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded 1998 - became the leading distributor of candy, chips, and snack food to non-food retailers. Serviced 50,000+ retail locations with three distribution centers.
• MarjacklegacyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBased in Landover, MD - grew to $158M in volume distributing candy, snack items, and specialty retail products before being acquired by Vistar. Eight owned distribution centers.
• CCSIlegacyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContinental Concession Supplies - #1 distributor for concessions in movie theatres, stadiums, arenas, and family fun centers. Evolved into alternative retail format distribution.
• NestlélegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal food and beverage manufacturer - key brand partner in grab-and-go retail programming across all channels.
• Nature's Bakeryco-foundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded Nature's Bakery as a national brand, perfect for grab-and-go sections everywhere.
• Pop Oatsfocused brandStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of latest focused brands, Pop Oats is destined to be placed in grab-and-go sections nationally.
• HotelPantries.comlegacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founders of the Hotel Pantry concept, eventually created own distribution model including HotelPantries.com and BreakfastAreas.com.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Crossmark: Crossmark is a retail services provider offering merchandising, retail execution, and CPG sales support across grocery, mass, and convenience channels. Overlaps with Grab & Go's buyer-introduction and in-store merchandising capabilities across the same retail formats.
• Acosta: Acosta is a leading sales and marketing agency serving CPG brands across retail channels, providing retail execution, category management, and commercialization support. Directly comparable to Launch Studio for emerging CPG brands seeking buyer introductions and channel strategy.
• Vistar: Vistar is the dominant B2B distributor for specialty, concessions, vending, and alternative retail formats and acquired Grab & Go's former distribution businesses (Marjack, Liberty Distribution, CCSI). It is the most strategically entangled peer — a scaled incumbent in the same channels that Grab & Go's founders helped build.
• KeHE Distributors: KeHE is a specialty food and natural products distributor serving emerging and established CPG brands into natural, grocery, convenience, and foodservice channels. Comparable as a distribution-and-retail-access partner for grab-and-go brands seeking national placement.
• Inmar: Inmar is a retail and supply-chain solutions provider with category management, supply-chain, and shopper-marketing services for CPGs and retailers. Overlaps with Grab & Go's distribution-intelligence and retailer-connection capabilities across multiple formats.
• Advantage Solutions: Advantage Solutions is a large public CPG sales, marketing, and merchandising services firm (parent of Daymon) that provides commercialization, category management, and retail services to emerging and established brands. Comparable as a scaled competitor offering brand-launch and retail-buyer-introduction services similar to Grab & Go's Launch Studio.

Direct peers

• Daymon Worldwide: Daymon (now an Advantage Solutions company) specializes in private-label brand development and retail services for CPG manufacturers and retailers. Highly comparable to Grab & Go as a brand-commercialization and retail-introduction specialist serving emerging food brands.
• Category Partners: Category Partners is a CPG category management consulting firm serving suppliers and retailers with data-driven assortment, shelf, and shopper insights. Comparable to Grab & Go's market-intelligence and channel-strategy capabilities for emerging brands.
• The Partnering Group: The Partnering Group is a CPG retail consulting firm that helps consumer brands and retailers improve category performance, shopper marketing, and commercialization — directly comparable to Grab & Go's advisory function within the grab-and-go ecosystem.
• CBX (Consumer Brand Xcelerator): CBX is a strategy and brand-building consultancy focused on CPG innovation, commercialization, and retailer support. Closely comparable to Launch Studio's advisory and go-to-market services for emerging consumer brands in retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grab-and-go

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Grab And Go