Fresh Thyme Renews Vows to Fight Hunger and Boost Community Health

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – February 13, 2026 – Fresh Thyme Market is amplifying its commitment to community well-being as it enters 2026, renewing a multi-pronged strategy focused on combating hunger, improving nutrition access, and ensuring affordability for its customers. The Midwest-based specialty grocer is building on a foundation of significant charitable impact from 2025 by extending key partnerships and initiatives designed to provide tangible support to the communities it serves.

"As a better-for-you grocer, our purpose is to nourish people around every table while investing in the very communities we serve," said Liz Zolcak, President of Fresh Thyme Market. "Whether it's supporting maternal and child health, helping families put food on the table through hunger relief programs, or price-locking essential items to keep these items affordable, each initiative is rooted in making quality food more accessible. We are proud of the impact we made in 2025 and are deeply committed to continuing this work in 2026 and beyond."

This renewed pledge comes at a critical time, as many Midwest communities grapple with persistent economic pressures. By detailing its measurable achievements and outlining a clear path forward, Fresh Thyme is positioning its community-centric mission not just as a corporate responsibility, but as a core tenet of its business model.

A Multi-Faceted Attack on Food Insecurity

At the heart of Fresh Thyme's 2026 commitment is an intensified effort to address food insecurity through its long-standing partnership with Feeding America®. The grocer's strategy is not a single initiative, but a comprehensive ecosystem of programs that engage customers, optimize operations, and leverage corporate giving.

In 2025, the 'Round Up at the Register' campaign alone mobilized customers to raise over $400,000, which translated into more than 4 million meals for families in need. This program will continue, offering a simple yet powerful way for shoppers to contribute directly to hunger relief.

Beyond financial donations, Fresh Thyme is tackling food waste and hunger simultaneously through its expanding Rescue Donation Program. Last year, the initiative redirected over 1.5 million pounds of quality, unsold food—equivalent to 1.2 million meals—from its stores to local hunger-relief partners like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. This effort provides immediate, nutritious food to local pantries while advancing sustainability goals.

The impact of these programs is particularly significant in the Midwest, where food insecurity has seen a sharp increase in recent years. According to Feeding America data, the region experienced some of the most drastic rises in food insecurity post-pandemic, underscoring the vital role of consistent, localized support.

During the 2025 holiday season, the 'Grab & Give' program provided another avenue for support. Shoppers purchased pre-filled donation bags, and for the first time, Fresh Thyme matched every customer donation. This dual effort resulted in 22,681 bags being donated, delivering a combined 1.3 million meals to families. The success of this model has ensured its continuation as a cornerstone of the company's community-giving strategy.

Beyond the Pantry: A Decade of Supporting Global Health

Fresh Thyme's community focus extends beyond hunger relief to fundamental health and nutrition. In 2025, the company celebrated a significant milestone: a decade-long partnership with Vitamin Angels. This collaboration has helped provide life-changing vitamins and minerals to more than 7 million underserved pregnant women and young children worldwide.

The partnership's effectiveness is bolstered by the high standing of Vitamin Angels, which has consistently earned a top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, signifying exceptional financial health and transparency. This assures donors that their contributions are making a measurable impact.

Fresh Thyme's support is woven into its customer experience, most notably through its annual December 'Round-Up at the Register' campaign. In December 2025 alone, this initiative provided aid to over 243,308 individuals through Vitamin Angels, demonstrating the powerful cumulative effect of small, collective actions. The grocer has reaffirmed its dedication to this cause for 2026, continuing its support for maternal and child health on a global scale.

Battling Inflation with Price Locks and Local Partnerships

Recognizing that access to healthy food is also an economic issue, Fresh Thyme is extending its 'Price Lock' initiative into 2026. This program is designed to provide families with predictability and relief from the pressures of rising food costs. During the 2025 holiday season, for example, the grocer locked prices on over 100 natural and organic essentials, including staples like chicken, fresh vegetables, and baking ingredients.

By continuing this initiative, Fresh Thyme reinforces its promise to keep healthy food accessible, directly addressing a primary concern for households managing tight budgets. This commitment to affordability is a key differentiator in its 'better-for-you' market segment.

Further cementing its local ties, the company will also continue its partnership with the Indy Fuel hockey team as the organization's Official Healthy Grocer. This collaboration moves beyond simple sponsorship to active community engagement through programs like 'Fueling the End to Hunger,' a season-long campaign that encourages fans to support hunger relief efforts through digital donations during games.

A Competitive Landscape of Corporate Citizenship

Fresh Thyme Market operates within a grocery industry where corporate social responsibility has become a key pillar of brand identity. Major regional competitors like Meijer, with its long-running 'Simply Give' program that has generated over $100 million for food pantries, and Hy-Vee, with its ambitious '100 Million Meals Challenge,' also have robust hunger relief platforms. Common tactics such as register round-up campaigns and food rescue programs are now industry standards.

However, Fresh Thyme's strategy stands out for its integrated approach, linking hunger relief (Feeding America), global health (Vitamin Angels), and affordability (Price Lock) directly to its core brand promise of making healthier living accessible. This comprehensive vision appears to be resonating with consumers, as evidenced by the company's recognition in the 2025 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for its stores, produce, and loyalty program.

As grocers increasingly compete on values as much as on price, such deep and sustained investments in community well-being are evolving from philanthropic afterthoughts into essential components of a successful and resilient business strategy. Through its renewed 2026 commitments, Fresh Thyme Market is demonstrating that its growth is intrinsically linked to the health of the communities it calls home.