Founder: Atlanta-Area Company Closes After Whole Foods Cancels Contract Early

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March 13th, 2018

Ron Marks is the founder of AtlantaFresh, which produces Greek yogurt and milk products in Chamblee. The company is closing its business after nearly a decade because Whole Foods canceled its contract early. Whole Foods was acquired by Amazon last fall.

Tasnim Shamma / WABE

After Amazon acquired Whole Foods last fall, local producers said they have been feeling more pressure to meet higher sales expectations.

At least one Atlanta-based company recently announced it is going out of business. Industry analysts predict other small businesses that contract with Whole Foods may also see an impact from Amazon’s purchase of the grocery chain.

AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery founder Ron Marks recently laid off 32 employees after Whole Foods canceled its contract with AtlantaFresh early. “Literally overnight, we went from a $7 million to a $1 million company.” (Tasnim Shamma/WABE)
AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery founder Ron Marks recently laid off 32 employees after Whole Foods canceled its contract with AtlantaFresh early. “Literally overnight, we went from a $7 million to a $1 million company.” (Tasnim Shamma/WABE)

At an industrial office park in Norcross, AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery founder Ron Marks shows off the facility where his employees made Greek yogurt.

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