Kanbe’s Markets, a nonprofit organization and tenant of Copaken Brooks, announced that it’s expanding its space in Kansas City, Missouri, by 12,000 square feet this month, following a year of growth.
Through its food delivery system, Kanbe’s Markets provides access to fresh, healthy and affordable foods in areas of Kansas City designated as “food deserts” by the USDA. In 2020, its services became even more valuable as the organization provided fresh food for those in the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last year, Kanbe’s Markets delivered more than 1 million pounds of fresh produce to individuals and their families,” said Carmen Vajgrt, the organization’s director of development. “Our property has been invaluable to our efforts to serve a community in need. With any less space, that amount of donations and deliveries wouldn’t have been possible.”
Copaken Brooks procured Kanbe’s Markets’ warehouse space at 3119 Terrace St. in Kansas City, Missouri, in late 2019. In preparation for 2021, Kanbe’s has begun its expansion from 15,000 square feet to the full 27,000 square feet that the space offers. The nonprofit also saw a jump from 12 locations of its popular Healthy Corner Store program at the beginning of 2020 to its current 40 locations.
Following its progress last year, Kanbe’s has outlined several incentives to continue its growth trajectory in 2021. The organization, alongside Copaken Brooks, plans to upgrade its warehouse to help boost productivity through measures such as temperature control and optimized storage space. Kanbe’s will also enhance its home delivery service by adding nutritionally dense produce to its packages, and it will sponsor a number of local restaurants making hot meals for other nonprofits such as FeedKC Forward.
Going forward, Kanbe’s plans to broaden its program outside of Kansas City, from neighboring Kansas and Missouri towns like Wichita and Columbia to other Midwestern cities like Des Moines and Minneapolis.
