General Questions

Local Foods is now exclusively wholesale – what does that mean?

In March of 2023, we made the difficult decision to close our retail market and in-store services from our in-house butcher, Butcher & Larder.

Despite this difficult decision, the wholesale side of local foods – the side that connects local vendors and farmers with Chicago restaurants, school systems, and retail stores – is continuing regular business and is growing each year.

Despite customers no longer having regular access to the Local Foods market and butcher, you can still find Local Foods products in restaurants and local markets throughout Chicago. For more information, click here.

What does “local” actually mean to Local Foods?

We use three simple sourcing criteria when it comes to our products –

Locally Sourced: In almost every case, it means anything we can bring you that comes from within a day’s drive of Chicago.

Locally Processed: Products created from ingredients that don’t grow in the area – like coffee beans — but are processed here.

Beyond Local: We carry a few things the Midwest can’t grow — like avocados — but are sourced from single suppliers and ethical producers.

Here’s more about how we source products.

Where is Local Foods?

Just off Elston, north of North Avenue, where Willow heads northeast. If you know landmarks better than street names – We’re near both Hideout and Home Depot.

Is the Local Foods Market still open?

The Local Foods market is now permanently closed. If you are interested in continuing to support local foods systems, you can find more information about Local Foods products here.

Is Butcher & Larder still open?

As with the Local Foods market, our in-house butcher, Butcher & Larder, is now permanently closed. However, through Butcher & Larder, we are offering a whole animal program available for our distribution customers.

For more information, click here.

I’d like to work at Local Foods; are there any open positions?

We post open positions here, please contact us! We’re always looking for team members.

Wholesale Questions

I produce a product I’d like Local Foods to carry or distribute, can I contact you?

Can I still find Local Foods products in the Chicago area?

Local Foods Wholesale is as strong as ever, connecting local vendors and farmers with Chicago restaurants, school systems, and retail stores. For more information on where you can find Local Foods products throughout Chicago, click here.

Why should I choose Local Foods as my Wholesale Supplier?

We are Chicago’s first wholesaler of exclusively-local food, including a full range of produce, meat, dairy, grains and more from the Midwest’s finest farmers.

With Local Foods, you’ll get the best local ingredient available, you’ll know the source of every product you enjoy, and you’ll be strengthening our regional food system by keeping more money in the local economy.

For more information, click here.

Partner Programs

What is Butcher & Larder?

While our in-store Butcher closed with the Local Foods Market, we are offering a Butcher & Larder whole animal program to our distribution customers.

Butcher & Larder sources exclusively pasture-raised, non-GMO, hormone and antibiotic-free meats from a range of small midwestern farms.

For more details on this service, click here.

What is Mightyvine?

Mightyvine is one of our partner businesses, using next-generation farming techniques to produce fresh premium tomatoes, year-round, from right here in Chicago.

Our wholesale partners have access to a variety of tomatoes such as cherry and beefsteak.

Essential Information

1427 W. Willow
Chicago IL 60642
312 432-6575
info@localfoods.com

Store Hours

Monday 10am-7pm
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 10am-7pm
Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm

Available cuts, Sausage, Charcuterie, and special orders

Local Foods distributes products for independent producers—can we distribute yours?

all about our family of brands, and how we define “local”

Get in touch with us for whatever you may want to talk about

Mailing list members get premeire access to new events and specials.

FAQ

frequently-asked questions about shopping here and renting our spaces

Close
Go top