Where Food Comes From, Inc. Expands Premium Protein Portfolio with Whole Foods Market Adoption of RaiseWell® Certified for Beef
MWN-AI** Summary
Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF), a key player in food production verification, has expanded its premium protein offerings with Whole Foods Market's adoption of its RaiseWell® Certified for Beef program. Announced on February 19, 2026, this collaboration represents a significant advancement for the RaiseWell certification, which seeks to elevate animal welfare standards in the beef industry while ensuring sourcing integrity and supply chain transparency.
RaiseWell Certified offers a robust, third-party verified animal welfare claim tailored for premium natural retailers and consumers who are increasingly demanding higher standards of animal care. This certification distinguishes itself by requiring that cattle are raised under strict welfare guidelines without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones, with complete traceability back to their farm of origin.
Leann Saunders, President & COO of WFCF, emphasized that the RaiseWell Certified program aligns with the expectations of today's conscientious consumers and aims to foster trust in the marketplace, supporting both natural retailers and producers. Whole Foods Market, which has championed farm animal welfare for decades, sees this certification as an opportunity to broaden high-quality meat options for its customers while driving ongoing improvements within the beef supply chain.
The initiative promises to construct a more transparent and responsible food system. As WFCF embarks on a phased rollout of RaiseWell's multi-species standards, including poultry and dairy, it illustrates its commitment to recognizing operations dedicated to humane care. This move serves as a strategic expansion of WFCF's validation services, designed to meet the demands of a growing market for natural proteins. With the integration of its CARE Certified® sustainability standard, WFCF is poised to further enhance its offerings, making a lasting impact on the agricultural landscape while catering to modern consumer expectations.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF) has recently achieved a significant milestone with the adoption of its RaiseWell® Certified for Beef by Whole Foods Market. This move not only reflects the shifting consumer preferences towards sustainably and ethically sourced proteins but also positions WFCF as a frontrunner in the premium protein market.
The RaiseWell standard is developed in tandem with increasing market demand for higher animal welfare and transparency in food sourcing. By enabling Whole Foods to offer a certified product that adheres to strict animal welfare practices, WFCF unlocks new retail opportunities that are essential in today's conscientious consumer environment.
Investors should note several critical factors when considering WFCF's stock. First, the collaboration with Whole Foods reinforces WFCF's credibility and market presence in the organic and natural food segments. As the certification expands to other livestock products, such as poultry and dairy, there’s potential for diversified revenue growth. WFCF's focus on rigorous verification standards can also attract additional retailers and producers who seek to differentiate themselves in a saturated marketplace.
However, market conditions remain dynamic. Stakeholders should be aware of ongoing regulatory changes and competition from other organic certification entities. Furthermore, the company must navigate supply chain challenges that could affect its scalability in a multi-species approach. Although WFCF seems well-positioned for growth, investors should remain cautious regarding potential headwinds and market fluctuations.
In conclusion, WFCF's strategic partnership with Whole Foods is a promising indicator of its growth potential in the premium protein sector, but a balanced consideration of market conditions and risks is essential for any investment decision. As always, potential investors are advised to conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with the company’s stock.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
CASTLE ROCK, Colo., Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Where Food Comes From, Inc. (WFCF) (Nasdaq: WFCF), a trusted resource for independent, third-party verification of food production practices in North America, today announced the adoption of RaiseWell® Certified for Beef by Whole Foods Market to support its commitment to farm animal welfare.
The adoption marks a major milestone for the recently launched RaiseWell standard, positioning it as a market-ready, retailer-backed certification designed to meet the evolving expectations of premium natural retailers, foodservice operators, and consumers seeking higher standards for animal care, sourcing integrity, and supply chain transparency.
WFCF launched RaiseWell Certified for the beef industry, the first species under a multi-species approach that will soon expand to poultry, eggs, dairy, and pork.
Developed in response to growing consumer demand and direct retailer input, RaiseWell Certified provides Whole Foods Market and other high-end natural retailers with a clear, third-party verified animal welfare claim that supports premium positioning, trusted sourcing, and differentiated in-store storytelling.
The certification requires that animals are raised to strict animal welfare standards at every stage of life, with no antibiotics or added growth hormones ever, and that livestock are source-verified back to the farm or ranch of origin, enabling traceability across the supply chain.
“RaiseWell Certified reflects what today’s conscious consumers expect and what leading natural retailers are demanding,” said Leann Saunders, President & COO of Where Food Comes From. “We are thrilled that Whole Foods Market now accepts our RaiseWell Certified for Beef certification. It is another indicator of a meaningful shift toward higher, more transparent standards for natural proteins. Our program brings together verified animal care, natural raising practices, and true traceability in a way that supports both market trust and continuous improvement across the supply chain.”
“Whole Foods Market has been committed to advancing farm animal welfare for decades,” said Ann Marie Hourigan, Executive Leader of Quality Standards for Whole Foods Market. “The addition of RaiseWell Certified for Beef as an approved animal welfare certification offers producers more access to rigorous animal welfare certification options and provides our customers with more high-quality meat choices.”
RaiseWell’s first wave of enrollment will focus on beef cattle, with additional species launching in phases. Developed with input from beef supply chain stakeholders and coupled with available science and robust auditing principles, RaiseWell Certified is designed to recognize operations already investing in humane care and responsible production, while creating a clear pathway to premium natural retail markets.
“Our co-op has always been committed to continuous improvement while upholding the high standards for people, land, and animals,” said C. Tylor Braden, CEO of Country Natural Beef. “This approach allows us to continue delivering all-natural, premium beef while supporting our ranchers and meeting evolving retail expectations. We believe ranchers, shoppers and retailers alike will embrace this evolution.”
The below structure gives retailers confidence in claim integrity while providing consumers with clarity about how their food was raised.
- Clearly defined, third-party verified animal-raising claims
- Source-verified livestock with traceability and chain of custody to the farm of origin
- A transparent supply chain story suited to premium markets
- On-pack seals aligned with USDA FSIS requirements
RaiseWell Certified integrates seamlessly with WFCF’s CARE Certified® sustainability standard, enabling producers and retailers to bundle verified claims to communicate practices related to animal care, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility, as well as add-on opportunities like pasture-raised, pasture-access, grass-fed, and other value-added attributes into a single certification and audit experience.
“With RaiseWell Certified, our goal is simple,” added Saunders. “Help build a food system where doing the right thing isn’t the exception. It’s the expectation.”
RaiseWell Certified represents a strategic expansion of WFCF’s portfolio of third-party verification solutions, supporting continued growth and demand in value-added natural protein markets.
Natural retailers, foodservice operators, farmers and ranchers, and producers interested in enrolling can contact WFCF for program requirements and onboarding information.
Learn more at www.wherefoodcomesfrom.com.
About Where Food Comes From, Inc.
Where Food Comes From, Inc. is America’s trusted resource for third party verification of food production practices. Through proprietary technology and patented business processes, the Company estimates that it supports more than 17,500 farmers, ranchers, vineyards, wineries, processors, retailers, distributors, trade associations, consumer brands and restaurants with a wide variety of value-added services. Where Food Comes From solutions are used to verify food claims, optimize production practices and enable food supply chains with analytics and data driven insights. In addition, the Company’s Where Food Comes From® retail and restaurant labeling program uses web-based customer education tools to connect consumers to the sources of the food they purchase, increasing meaningful consumer engagement for our clients.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on current expectations, estimates and projections that are subject to risk. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and actual events could differ materially from the Company’s predictions. Important factors that could cause actual events to vary from predictions include those discussed in our SEC filings. Specifically, statements in this news release about industry leadership and expectations that the Company’s services will add value for producers, retailers, and consumers; and demand for, and impact and efficacy of, the Company’s products and services on the marketplace, are forward-looking statements that are subject to a variety of factors, including availability of capital, personnel and other resources; competition; governmental regulation of the agricultural industry; the market for beef and other commodities; and other factors. Readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or developments. For a more extensive discussion of the Company’s business, please refer to the Company’s SEC filings at www.sec.gov.
Company Contacts:
Jennifer Moore-Stover
Manager, Livestock Marketing & Communications
jmoore@wherefoodcomesfrom.com
303.895.3002
Jay Pfeiffer
Manager, Investor Relations
jpfeiffer@wherefoodcomesfrom.com
Direct: 303-880-9000
FAQ**
How does the adoption of RaiseWell® Certified for Beef by Whole Foods Market impact the market position of Where Food Comes From Inc. (WFCF) in the food production verification sector?
What advantages does the RaiseWell Certified program provide to producers and retailers in terms of meeting consumer expectations and enhancing their brand image for Where Food Comes From Inc. (WFCF)?
Given the future expansion to other species, how does Where Food Comes From Inc. (WFCF) plan to maintain the integrity and rigorous standards of the RaiseWell certification across different animal products?
In what ways do you envision the RaiseWell Certified program influencing the overall trends in sustainable agriculture and animal welfare within the industry for Where Food Comes From Inc. (WFCF)?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Where Food Comes From Inc. (NASDAQ: WFCF).
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