One of the bestselling beers at Whole Foods Market is getting a revamp this season for people of all ages to enjoy. This month, Whole Foods debuted its new Floridian spent grain sourdough bread, made in partnership with South Florida’s popular Funky Buddha Brewery.
David McAndrew, bakehouse facility team leader at Whole Foods Market, is the mastermind behind the new bakery creation. He knew he wanted to partner with a local brewery to create an innovative bread to add to the selection shoppers already know and love.
“The beer-making process is similar to the bread-making process,” McAndrew said. “Since Funky Buddha’s Floridian Hefeweizen is such a popular beer at Whole Foods Market, using its grains seemed like the perfect starting point.”
The new bread was two months in the making. The partnership began organically when Funky Buddha provided McAndrew with spent grain used to make the brewery’s Floridian Hefeweizen beer.
“We usually give the grains to farmers, and when Whole Foods Market approached us, we loved the idea of teaming up to recycle the grains,” said John Linn, brand director at Funky Buddha Brewery. “Whole Foods Market is all about upcycling, and so are we.”
The crunchy, hearty bread hit the shelves of Whole Foods Market’s 24 Florida locations for a sale price of $4 per loaf for the first two weeks, until Wednesday, Nov. 3. After that, the bread will be $5.50 year-round.
To accompany the release, during this same two-week period, Funky Buddha’s Floridian six-pack, which, with its light citrus notes, pairs extremely well with the bread, will also be on sale. Shoppers who purchase a cold glass of Floridian Hefeweizen at one of Whole Foods Markets’ in-store bars will also enjoy a complimentary slice of the bread, spread with Kerrygold butter.
Meanwhile, Funky Buddha Brewery’s in-house restaurant, slated to open next month will also showcase the bread on its menu.
The 35-year-old Whole Foods chain, the nation’s leading natural and organic food retailer, has been named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” by Health magazine. To learn more, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.
Funky Buddha Brewery was founded in 2010 in Boca Raton and opened its Oakland Park production brewery two years ago. Visit www.funkybuddhabrewery.com for info.
