Local Liquid Is Closing as Founder Joins Kanbe’s Markets

Thank you so much to the Local Liquid community for supporting our KC metro regional roasters. It’s been a fantastic, fun ride, and we’re so happy to have shared the best coffee in KC with so many of you.

This week marks Local Liquid’s final deliveries of coffee. It’s bittersweet news, and I want to explain.

I was recently approached by my friends at Kanbe’s Markets to help lead a major expansion of their services this fall. Back in my Bier Station years, we hosted a launch fundraiser for Kanbe’s. In the ten years since, the organization has grown enormously in its mission to build a zero-waste, inclusive food system by turning food loss into food access.

Right now, Kanbe’s redirects 100,000–200,000 pounds of food every month from landfills to KC homes. Starting November 1, that number will grow to up to 1 million pounds per month. That’s the opportunity.

I’ll always love and support local coffee, but the chance to help grow a truly special organization and feed KC was too much to pass up. Trying to run Local Liquid alongside that ramp-up just wasn’t feasible. It was a very, very tough call.

I still want to keep in touch with everyone! And, we will need help with food sorting, general office work, staffing tables at events, and more. If you’d like to volunteer, you can even build a team to join you. Or reach out to me directly at johnc@kanbesmarkets.org. I’m happy to give you a personal tour of the Kanbe’s warehouse and share how we’re transforming food systems. And just like Bier Station, I’m always up for good event ideas, so bring ’em.