Kansas City, Mo. — Kanbe’s Markets, a nonprofit organization and tenant of Copaken Brooks, announced that it’s expanding its space by 12,000 square feet this month, following a year of massive growth.

Through its innovative food delivery system, Kanbe’s Markets provides consistent access to fresh, healthy and affordable foods in areas of Kansas City designated as “food deserts” by the USDA. In 2020, its services became more valuable than ever as the organization provided fresh food for those in the community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Last year, Kanbe’s Markets delivered more than 1 million pounds of fresh produce to individuals and their families,” said Carmen Vajgrt, the organization’s director of development. “Our property has been invaluable to our efforts to serve a community in need. With any less space, that amount of donations and deliveries wouldn’t have been possible.”

Copaken Brooks procured Kanbe’s Markets’ warehouse space, located at 3119 Terrace St., in late 2019. In preparation for 2021, Kanbe’s has begun its expansion from 15,000 square feet to the full 27,000 that the space offers. The nonprofit also saw a jump from 12 locations of its popular Healthy Corner Store program at the beginning of 2020 to its current 40 locations.

“Copaken Brooks has been honored by the unique opportunity to assist Kanbe’s impressive growth, and to offer them the perfect location to continue providing much-needed services to Kansas and Missouri customers,” said Jeremiah Dean, Copaken Brooks’ VP of Leasing. “We’re excited to continue working alongside them as they expand their space and capabilities this year.”

Following its impressive progress last year, Kanbe’s has outlined several incentives to continue its growth trajectory in 2021. The organization, alongside Copaken Brooks, plans to upgrade its warehouse to help boost productivity through measures such as temperature control and optimized storage space. Kanbe’s will also enhance its home delivery service by adding nutritionally dense produce to its packages, and it will sponsor a number of local restaurants making hot meals for other nonprofits such as FeedKC Forward.

Going forward, Kanbe’s plans to broaden its program outside of Kansas City, from neighboring Kansas and Missouri towns like Wichita and Columbia to other Midwestern cities like Des Moines and Minneapolis.

“There’s a world of possibilities with this new space,” Vajgrt said. “Food insecurity is a problem that isn’t specific to just Kansas City, so our goal going forward is to maximize the impact of this program, to enhance health outcomes, and to help as many in need as we can.”

Image Credit: Kanbe’s Markets

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About Copaken Brooks

Copaken Brooks is a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Kansas City and serving the Midwest. The company’s full suite of services includes investment acquisition and sales, tenant representation and HQ relocations, condo management, property management, asset management, development, leasing (office, retail, medical, industrial and underground), and construction management. Learn more at copaken-brooks.com.

About Kanbe’s Market

Kanbe’s Markets provides access to fresh, healthy foods in the areas of Kansas City designated by the USDA as a “food desert”, where residents lack consistent access to healthy and affordable food. Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity by providing a distribution model that includes more people, enhances small businesses, and improves communities, one neighborhood at a time. Learn more at www.kanbesmarkets.org.