Press Room
Uncle May's Produce in the Media
We're building the first data and distribution platform for urban food consumption, starting with produce boxes and a neighborhood grocery flagship in Chicago's Hyde Park. Resources for journalists and media professionals are below.
Awards & Recognition
Chicago TechRise Award
P33 Chicago
Chicago's premier technology and innovation pitch competition, recognizing Uncle May's data platform approach to neighborhood grocery retail.
World Business Chicago Food Innovation Award
World Business Chicago
Awarded by Chicago's public-private economic development organization for innovation in the food sector.
SXSW Speaker
Midwest House at SXSW Austin
Anthony Ivy spoke on "The Business of Belonging: From Pop-Up to Powerhouse" at the World Business Chicago and Obama Foundation-partnered Midwest House programming.
Company Overview
Uncle May's Produce is building the data and distribution infrastructure for culturally connected urban food consumption. The produce box delivery business validates demand and builds the customer data flywheel ahead of the Hyde Park flagship store opening. Founded by Anthony Ivy (Chicago Booth MBA, M&A background), the company has assembled a leadership team with decades of experience across Amazon, BofA, Unilever, and P&G, and secured SBA financing for the flagship build-out.
Founded
2024
Flagship Location
Hyde Park, Chicago
Current Product
Direct-to-consumer produce boxes
Long-Term Vision
82-store national rollout
Market Focus
Urban communities with strong cultural food identity
SBA Financing
$2M SBA 7(a) loan secured
Story Angles
Business & Entrepreneurship
- —Chicago entrepreneur secures $2M SBA loan to bring a data-driven grocery model to Hyde Park
- —Chicago Booth MBA applies M&A rigor to neighborhood retail
- —Award-winning founder rewires how produce moves from farm to household
Food Systems & Community
- —First data and distribution platform connecting culturally aligned farmers to urban households
- —SXSW speaker launches Hyde Park flagship after validating demand with direct-to-consumer produce
- —Why the food desert framing misses the real opportunity: demand intelligence and distribution infrastructure
Innovation & Technology
- —Distribution-first approach: building the customer data flywheel before the store doors open
- —TechRise Award winner applies technology and analytics to a category long overlooked by institutional capital
- —From SBA to produce boxes: a replicable financing model for independent community grocery
Press Contact
We're available for interviews, speaking engagements, and expert commentary on food systems, community retail, and SBA financing. High-res photos and additional materials are available on request.
Anthony Ivy, Founder & CEO
- 2025 Chicago TechRise Award Winner
- 2025 World Business Chicago Food Innovation Award Winner
- SXSW 2026 Speaker
- Chicago Booth MBA
- M&A Background
Media Assets
The following materials are available for editorial use:
- —Company logo (high-res PNG and SVG)
- —Founder headshot
- —Product photography (produce boxes)
- —Store renderings (Hyde Park flagship)
- —Company boilerplate and bio