PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new company backed by the founder of Pacific Foods is reinventing grocery with a small format concept that integrates a market, nutrition classroom and discovery kitchen under one roof to increase access to foods at peak nutrition.
The new Basics Market will open late this summer at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd., anchoring The Portland Clinic at the former home of the city’s legendary Gustav’s Der Rheinlander Restaurant. A second location is expected to open by year end in Tualatin with a third in Beaverton in 2019.
At 7,500 square feet – a fraction of a typical grocery – Basics is designed for access, offering just what people need to cook healthy meals at home. Shoppers will find ingredients organized by recipes at five meal stations, developed by an in-house culinary director and vetted by a nutritionist for optimal health. Shelves will be stocked with just a few choices in every category, prioritized by local and sustainable suppliers whenever possible. The best produce of the season will be delivered fresh daily, and shoppers can choose from high quality regional meats and dairy products.
A third of the space will be dedicated to nutrition and culinary education, with a full calendar of diverse classes daily. An in-store nutritionist will be on hand to guide shoppers interested in improving their health. Upstairs neighbor The Portland Clinic is expected to take full advantage of the store to help patients avoid and improve health conditions, from diabetes to heart health.
“When you have the skills to cook your own meals and a little nutrition guidance, you’re really taking your health into your own hands,” said Store Manager Erin Leiker. “What’s important to all of us is fostering heath and connections in the store, around the table and at the farm. That’s what attracted me to Basics.”
A collective of farmers, ranchers, grocery veterans and consumer packaged goods experts are building Basics with Chuck Eggert, whose family members practice regenerative agriculture while also managing some of the largest organic farming operations in the state. Much of the meat, poultry and eggs carried at Basics will be from Eggert family farms, where they provide plenty of access to pasture, and enriched environments that take comfort and overall well-being into account. Products from the Eggert’s family-run dairies are expected to hit shelves by the end of the year. Eggert is also working to nurture new agricultural ventures and manufacturing throughout Oregon.
“We think one of the best things for your health is to cook your own food, and that the most nourishing ingredients you can use are in season, grown locally,” said Eggert. “One of the ways we saw to help people get the best nutrition was to make what we grow and raise here in Oregon more accessible, and we’re working with others to do the same.”
About Basics
Basics is a Portland market, classroom and gathering place designed to help more people cook healthy meals at home. It finds the freshest, most flavorful ingredients, pairs them with simple recipes, and shares kitchen skills and nutrition know-how so everyone can cook healthy meals at home. It supports regional farmers, growers and manufacturers by sourcing products from farms that prioritize soil health, animal welfare, regenerative practices and seasonal rhythms. Recipes are developed by an in-house chef and evaluated for optimal health by the Basics’ nutritionist. For more information visit www.basicsmarket.com.
