Nude Foods Market Demonstrates Strong Growth After Shark Tank Appearance

Colorado-based zero-waste grocer proves packaging-free model can compete at scale — while expanding footprint, growing customer base & avoiding 1.5M pieces of plastic

BOULDER, Colo. (March 24, 2026) — Nude Foods Market, the Colorado-based, female-founded grocery company eliminating single-use plastic from everyday shopping, is gaining national traction following its appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, which aired March 11.

Co-founders Verity Noble and Rachel Irons secured investment commitments from Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec after pitching a bold vision: a grocery store where packaging waste is eliminated and food is delivered in returnable, reusable containers.

“This wasn’t just a pitch for our business — it was a pitch for a better food system,” said Noble. “We’re proving that a grocery store can operate competitively while dramatically reducing waste.”

A Growing Model Addressing a Massive Waste Problem
The company’s rise comes amid increasing awareness of the scale of the U.S. waste crisis. The average American produces approximately 1,704 pounds of trash each year, which is equivalent to tens of millions of garbage trucks annually, much of it driven by single-use packaging.

Nude Foods Market is working to reverse that trend. Since launching, the company has prevented more than 1.5 million pieces of plastic from being created by replacing conventional packaging with returnable glass jars and reusable containers.

Customers shop much as they would in a traditional grocery store, but instead of discarding packaging into landfill, they return it to be cleaned and reused hundreds of times.

Scaling a Zero-Waste Grocery Model
Founded in Boulder in 2020, Nude Foods Market has expanded to a second brick-and-mortar location in Denver, alongside a growing e-commerce and delivery operation serving the Boulder–Denver metro area. Select sustainable home bundle products are also available for nationwide shipping.

The company now carries more than 1,500 hand-selected products, with more than 40% sourced locally from Colorado producers. Nude Foods works directly with these partners to eliminate packaging entirely by providing reusable containers that are returned, cleaned and refilled in a closed-loop system.

“This is where we’re seeing real innovation,” said Irons. “We’re not just removing plastic at the store level — we’re working with producers to eliminate it across the supply chain.”

Local offerings include a wide range of everyday staples, from tortilla chips, granola and fresh bread to broths, prepared foods, personal care items and more, all delivered without single-use packaging.

Designed for Convenience, Built for Regeneration
Nude Foods Market’s model is built on the belief that sustainability must be convenient to scale. The company purchases products in bulk to reduce upstream packaging, prioritizes compostable and recyclable materials when needed, and offsets minimal plastic through recycling partners such as Ridwell.

Operations have also evolved to support growth while minimizing environmental impact. What began as a bike-delivery model has expanded to include electric vehicles for store transport, alongside partnerships with local delivery services to optimize routes and reduce emissions.

Every product is vetted to meet the company’s standards for ingredient quality and sustainable sourcing, with a focus on supporting regenerative agriculture and local food systems.

“Our goal is to create a food system that improves the health of our land, our communities and ourselves,” Irons said.

Strong Performance in a Challenging Retail Landscape
At a time when independent grocers face mounting economic pressures, Nude Foods Market is demonstrating that a low-waste model can also be a high-performing business. The company has built a loyal and growing customer base, supported by a highly differentiated retail experience and strong community engagement.

To date, Nude Foods has raised nearly $600,000 through community crowdfunding, turning customers into investors and advocates for a more sustainable food system.

The company has also been recognized nationally for its innovation, including being named among the Top Independent Grocers in the United States by Progressive Grocer.

A Cultural Shift Toward Plastic-Free Living
Nude Foods Market’s momentum aligns with a broader cultural shift as consumers increasingly question the health and environmental impacts of plastic. A newly released Netflix documentary, The Plastic Detox, exploring the global plastic crisis, has intensified public awareness and positioned the company and its founders as emerging voices in the shift toward packaging-free retail.

“In the beginning, food didn’t come wrapped in plastic — it was grown, shared and consumed within communities,” said Noble. “We’re not inventing something entirely new. We’re bringing food back to a more natural, responsible state, updated for how people live today.”

Looking Ahead
With new investment, national visibility from Shark Tank and growing consumer demand, Nude Foods Market is focused on expanding across Colorado’s Front Range and into new markets.

The company’s mission remains clear: to make zero-waste grocery shopping the new standard, without sacrificing convenience, quality or scale.

About Nude Foods Market
Nude Foods Market is a Colorado-based, female-founded grocery company on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic from everyday shopping. By offering local, organic and regeneratively sourced foods in returnable, reusable packaging, Nude Foods makes zero-waste grocery shopping convenient and accessible. With more than 1,500 products, a growing retail and e-commerce presence, and over 1.5 million pieces of plastic avoided, the company is redefining the future of grocery: transparent, regenerative and designed to nourish both people and the planet. Consumers can shop Nude Foods Market in Boulder and Denver, or order online for local delivery and select nationwide shipping at www.nudefoodsmarket.com. Follow on Instagram and Facebook. 

Media Contact
Steven Hoffman, Compass Natural, steve@compassnatural.com, tel: 303.807.1042