KC-frothed Omega Power Creamer wins supermarket sweep with Walmart distribution deal

Welcome the unexpected, Greg Blome said in reflection of the pitch that landed Omega Power Creamer a supermarket sweep: a 224-store distribution deal with Walmart. 

Omega Power Creamer

“[Walmart] reached out to us and they were interested in carrying our products — or at least in us pitching them — and we were already selling on Walmart.com … They also saw our success selling on Amazon,” Blome, cofounder of Omega Power Creamer, said of the startup’s experience with Walmart’s Open Call program — a two-day event that enables Walmart product buyers to meet face-to-face with entrepreneurs in Bentonville, Arkansas, with the hope of buying more American-made good.

Click here to read more about Open Call and Walmart’s commitment to purchase $250 million in U.S. products.

An initial shipment of original, vanilla and cacao flavored power creamer and the Omega’s collagen peptides was sent to stores earlier this month, Blome noted. More locations are expected to come online in the coming weeks. 

“We pretty much went in without many expectations and did not expect to get a yes at that time … but they said the initial yes and then we finalized [the deal] with the buyer and category manager two weeks later,” he added.

Click here to shop additional flavors of Omega Power Creamer — which now includes pumpkin spice.

A new era for Walmart, the company is chasing more healthful beverage items, which initially attracted them to Omega, Blome explained. 

“This is a new category we’re going to be in called ‘nutritional beverages,’” he said. “They’re trying to go in the direction of providing healthier options and trendier options that follow along with the keto diet and the paleo diet and bring healthier options to the consumer.” 

More than a distribution deal, the support of Walmart will enable the Kansas City company — which relocated from St. Louis — to chase additional growth opportunities, Blome said. 

“We’re going to try to leverage this to get into more domestic retail in the coming months,” he said, referencing the startup’s future. 

Blome’s advice for founders looking to expand retail opportunities of their own: Ensure the creation of quality products. 

“If you’re in a position where you’re looking for retail growth, there’s definitely a high demand for healthier, nutritional beverages and foods right now,” he said. “It’s a good area to be in. It always helps to get into more places and get more eyes on your product … [the better it is in quality, the easier that becomes].”

Click here to read about Omega’s beginnings and commitment to the keto craze.