Fresh Thyme Market Announces 2025 Freshest MVP Awards

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Midwest-based grocer Fresh Thyme Market is celebrating supplier partners who go above and beyond in delivering on its brand pillars of quality, experience and community. The 2025 Freshest MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Awards recognize partners that fuel innovative products and drive both category and brand growth.

"Our vendor and service partners are vital to our success," said Liz Zolcak, president of Fresh Thyme Market. "They share our values, embrace innovation and collaborate with us to deliver a meaningful shopping and working experience. That's what true partnership looks like."

Selected by Fresh Thyme Market teams across all departments and product categories, the 2025 Freshest MVP honorees are:

• Martori Farms has a deep-rooted commitment to quality and collaboration that has made them a standout produce partner, said Fresh Thyme. The company recently helped Fresh Thyme launch two exclusive melon varieties — Sundrop and Honey Pear — along with several other seasonal melons that generated outstanding sales and category growth along with distinctive, flavorful fruit, said the grocer.

• Primal Kitchen leads the charge with impactful promotions and engaging in-store and digital displays that drive shopper excitement, said Fresh Thyme. Ensuring innovation reaches the shelves quickly, they are consistently first and fast with new item launches that reflect a focus on execution and excellence at every level, said the grocer.

• Across an assortment of categories that includes fast-growing Active Nutrition, Ancient Nutrition drives industry-leading market-share growth, said Fresh Thyme. This team is a strategic Joint Business Partner, providing category insights and in-store retail support along with growing sales, said the grocer. A steward of regenerative agriculture, Ancient Nutrition has been instrumental in educating Fresh Thyme team members and customers about this holistic approach to food and farming.

• Delivering certified angus beef products and exceptional service, National Beef supports Fresh Thyme with on-time deliveries, reliable communication and pricing that balances quality with extraordinary value, said the grocer. As a result, customers gain access to restaurant-quality eating experiences in the convenience of their own homes, said Fresh Thyme.

• A forward-thinking product strategy from Blount Fine Foods means customers are met with flavorful, ready-to-enjoy options that reflect the latest culinary trends, said Fresh Thyme. Their hot soup program and fresh meal solutions have fueled growth in these categories, resonating with health-conscious consumers, said the grocer.

• Unistar Plastics has long supplied Fresh Thyme stores with packaging to help support the quality of products and the store experience for both teams and customers. This vendor recently helped test and refine a new bag program, showing the kind of responsiveness and commitment to continuous improvement that drives results year after year, said Fresh Thyme.

• The Radian Group's data insights have sharpened Fresh Thyme's merchandising strategies, creating a positive experience for customers, said the grocer. The company built a vendor portal that supports collaboration and sets the stage for more cohesiveness between the merchant team and vendor partners, said Fresh Thyme.

• Baker Tilly is a trusted partner in tax and audit services, advising the Fresh Thyme Market team with expert, responsive guidance throughout the year, said the grocer.

• Xerox IT Services ensures store operations run smoothly through reliable, responsive support and tailored technology solutions that streamline workflows and empower staff, said Fresh Thyme. The company’s proactive approach to system upgrades and maintenance enables Fresh Thyme teams to deliver superior customer experiences every day, said the grocer.

• Renaissance Maintenance provides quality floor and concrete repair work with flexibility and professionalism, helping to keep Fresh Thyme's distribution center running efficiently without disruption, said the grocer.

• As media and creative agency of record, Acadia has elevated the Fresh Thyme brand with thoughtful storytelling and a focus on authenticity, said the grocer. The agency’s bold, creative direction has driven awareness and engagement across every touchpoint, bringing the grocer's community values to life, said Fresh Thyme.