Courtesy rootberry
Gluten-free Peanut Buddha Bowl, one of rootberry's plant-based products now sold at select Dierbergs Markets
Although Rootberry just launched in July, the “flavorful, health-oriented food-delivery service” will soon be more widely available across St. Louis.
The new plant-based meal delivery service has partnered with Dierbergs to sell its freshly prepared plant-based meals, salads, shareables, and desserts in 24 stores throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area and in Edwardsville. The rollout began September 16 at the Dierbergs in Brentwood (8450 Eager) and is set to continue through September and October, with all 24 locations anticipated to carry Rootberry products by November 1.
Rootberry’s mission is to provide customers with handcrafted, plant-based, earth-friendly food. The company aims to share the values of “staying smart, finding healthy, and spreading joy” through sustainably sourced food and ingredients packaged with recycled materials.
“Rootberry was made to create access to delicious food that just happens to be plant-based and to make those healthy options more accessible in the community,” says co-founder Marc Connor. “Some people want the food delivered to their doorstep, and others want it at their neighborhood grocery store. We’re happy to offer our consumers both options and could not be more proud to have the Dierberg family in our corner, supporting the mission to help more people eat more plants more often.”
Tweaking Tofu
For many plant-based diets, tofu plays a key role, Connor notes. “I was never a huge fan of tofu, and I didn’t even try it all that much,” Connor says. “The little bit that I had, I was just like, ‘This is spongy and gross.’ We started to experiment with how we could use tofu, because it is so nutritious and can be delicious.”
While experimenting with tofu as a main ingredient—working to fine-tune the flavor and texture—Connor "ate a lot of tofu," he recalls. “I can’t say they were all awesome experiences. What we wanted to do was have it be a very natural, delicious experience that added to the texture and flavor, so we worked down to the way that we press it, season it, and break it. We weren’t trying to be an alternative to meat; we just knew that [tofu] was a part of the meal.”
Courtesy rootberry
Thai peanut rootballs (vegan meatballs, zucchini and yellow squash, linguine, peanut sauce, and sweet chili sauce), one of rootberry's plant-based products now sold at select Dierbergs Markets
Once Connor was satisfied with the recipe, it allowed Rootberry to incorporate the ingredient into a number of dishes, including the teriyaki bowl, tikka masala, and Thai peanut rootballs.
“It’s always fun when somebody’s like, ‘Wait, there’s no meat in this? That was tofu?'” Connor says. “There are two things we hear most: One is, ‘Wow, that looks beautiful,’ and the other is, ‘There’s so much flavor.’”
Expanding Availability
Rootberry puts a strong emphasis on being customer-focused in terms of availability. Connor says he didn't necessarily want the company to become another subscription-based food delivery service, but he did still want the meals to be available at customers' convenience.
“We would meet with investors, and they said it was all about subscription and getting those customers,” Connor says. “In my own experience, it was obnoxious every week trying to decide or getting a delivery and forgetting about it; you just felt trapped, and I didn’t want anyone to feel trapped.” If rootberry one day decides to offer subscriptions, Connor adds, it would be because “it’s a convenience for people and they want to [subscribe].”
Courtesy rootberry
Aztec Enchiladas (black beans, sweet potatoes, onions, corn, grilled corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, and salsa verde), one of rootberry's plant-based products now sold at select Dierbergs Markets
So as a way to make Rootberry products more widely available, the company partnered with Dierbergs, which will continue releasing seasonal and new items periodically. In-store prices range from $5.99–$11.99
“Dierbergs has always been committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients, offering our customers something unique, and partnering with local companies,” Dierbergs president/CEO Greg Dierberg says in a release. “With Rootberry, we’re doing all three. When we first learned of Rootberry's mission, we thought they would be a good fit. But then we tried the food, and we were sold! Rootberry is a game-changer in the plant-based meal category.”
As for the future of Rootberry, Connor hopes to see the company expand nationwide. “My hope is that what we learn here is how to operate and be a company that people think of first and trust most when it comes to plant-based eating,” Connor says, “and that what we’re doing in St. Louis—making food locally, keeping it fresh, making it delicious first—can make Rootberry a significant part of helping everybody move to more plants more often.”
Rootberry's Rollout
Rootberry will be available at area Dierbergs stores according to the following schedule:
September:
- Brentwood: 8450 Eager
- Des Peres: 1080 Lindemann
- St. Charles: Bogey Hills, 2021 Zumbehl
- Warson Woods: 9901 Manchester
- Manchester: 421 Lafayette Center
October:
- Ellisville: 1322 Clarkson Clayton Center
- Chesterfield: 1730 Clarkson
- Wildwood: 2460 Taylor
- O’Fallon, Missouri: 2979 State Hwy K
- Florissant: 222 N. Hwy. 67
- Shiloh, Illinois: 4000 Green Mt. Crossing
- Edwardsville, Illinois: 6671 Edwardsville Crossing
- St. Peters: 79 Crossing, 217 Salt Lick
- St. Peters: 94 Crossing, 6211 Mid Rivers Mall
- Wentzville: 1820 Wentzville Pkwy.
- Chesterfield: 8 Four Seasons Shopping Center
- Creve Coeur: West Oak, 11481 Olive
- Creve Coeur: Heritage Place, 12595 Olive
- St. Louis: 12420 Tesson Ferry
- Arnold: 860 Arnold Commons
- Lemay Plaza: 2516 Lemay Ferry
- Mackenzie Pointe: 7233 Watson
- Oakville: 5640 Telegraph
- Fenton: 450 Old Smizer Mill
