Nude Foods Market scales zero-waste grocery model after Shark Tank appearance

BOULDER, Colo. — Nude Foods Market is experiencing rapid growth and gaining national recognition after its recent appearance on Shark Tank. The Colorado-based grocer continues to expand its packaging-free retail model and grow its customer base.

The female-founded company, which eliminates single-use plastic through a system of reusable and returnable containers, secured investment commitments from Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec during the March 11 broadcast.

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

Founded in Boulder in 2020, Nude Foods Market has grown to a second brick-and-mortar store in Denver, supported by a rising e-commerce and delivery service across the Boulder–Denver metro area. The retailer now offers more than 1,500 products, with over 40% sourced locally, and has kept more than 1.5 million pieces of plastic out of the waste stream.

Customers shop at traditional grocery stores but return packaging for cleaning and reuse, creating a closed-loop system that cuts down on single-use materials. The company also collaborates directly with suppliers to eliminate packaging early in the supply chain.

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

Nude Foods’ growth occurs amid rising consumer awareness of plastic waste and sustainability concerns, along with increasing pressure on independent grocers. The company has raised nearly $600,000 through community crowdfunding and has built a loyal customer base around its unique retail experience.

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

With new investment and increased visibility, Nude Foods Market plans to expand further across Colorado’s Front Range and into new markets, promoting its zero-waste model as both sustainable and scalable for modern grocery retail.