Fresh Thyme Market
Credit: Fresh Thyme

Fresh Thyme Market is continuing its partnerships with Vitamin Angels and Feeding America in 2026 while extending its Price Lock initiative, the Downers Grove, Illinois-based better-for-you grocer announced Feb. 13.

The Midwest retailer marked a decade-long partnership with Vitamin Angels in 2025, helping provide essential vitamins and minerals to more than 7 million women and children in underserved communities worldwide. The partnership is supported through multiple customer- and product-driven initiatives, including an annual Round-Up at the Register campaign each December.

Hunger relief programs

In December, the Round-Up campaign helped more than 243,308 lives. Fresh Thyme supports Vitamin Angels through the year-end round-up initiative that allows customers to round up their purchases.

Through its multi-year partnership with Feeding America, Fresh Thyme will continue addressing food insecurity through customer round-up campaigns, its holiday Grab & Give program, food rescue donations and corporate matching contributions.

In 2025, Fresh Thyme and its customers raised more than $400,000 through the Round Up at the Register campaign, providing the equivalent of more than 4 million meals to families in need through Feeding America-affiliated initiatives. Every dollar helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks.

Food rescue expansion

Fresh Thyme expanded its Rescue Donation Program that redirects quality unsold products to local hunger-relief partners. In 2025, the grocer donated more than 1.5 million pounds of food, or 1.2 million meals, to families across the communities it serves. According to the USDA, 1.2 pounds is equivalent to one meal.

The Grab & Give program remained a cornerstone of community-giving strategy. During the 2025 holiday season, shoppers purchased pre-filled $5, $10 or $15 donation bags at checkout to support local families in need. New in 2025, Fresh Thyme matched customer donations, doubling the impact.

The program resulted in 22,681 donation bags purchased by Fresh Thyme customers, along with a matching company contribution, delivering 1.3 million meals to support hunger relief efforts through Feeding America.

“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.”

Affordability Commitment

As part of its commitment to affordability, Fresh Thyme is extending its Price Lock initiative into 2026. The program provides customers with greater price consistency on key healthy grocery essentials, offering families relief and predictability as they plan meals and manage household budgets.

Fresh Thyme also will continue its partnership with the Indy Fuel hockey team in 2026 as the organization’s official healthy grocer partner. The organizations collaborate on community-based nutrition and hunger programs throughout the year, including Fueling the End to Hunger, a season-long campaign encouraging fans to support hunger relief efforts through digital donations at games.

Fresh Thyme Market operates stores across the Midwest, offering fresh, natural and organic food, vitamins and body care products.

[RELATED: Fresh Thyme Market Names 2025 Freshest MVP Awards]

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