Big Wheelbarrow had an incredible 2022, and CEO Sam Eder said that’s in no small part to the company’s move to Buffalo.
The startup, which has developed supply chain software that creates a unified view of suppliers, aggregators and logistics for local food, won a $500,000 43North prize in 2021. As part of that deal, the business had to move its headquarters to Buffalo for a year.
The year’s up. But Big Wheelbarrow is still here.
“We wouldn’t have had the 2022 we had or be in this position without being in Buffalo,” Eder said. “You look back and say, ‘Wow. It was a difference maker for us.’ ”
The business grew 401% in year-over-year food transaction sales. Over $3.5 million in food transaction sales came from the Buffalo area alone.
That momentum appears to be continuing in 2023. For month-over-month food transaction sales, January 2023 did 12 times more, and February did 11 times more.
Including its 43North prize, the startup has raised about $1.1 million and is in the process of raising a $2 million seed round.
Eder cited 43North’s support and resources, as well as proximity to some of the startup’s customers as momentum-builders for Big Wheelbarrow.
The business serves nearly 60 Tops Friendly Markets stores in the Buffalo area and serves a total of about 160 Tops locations overall.
The startup, founded in 2017, serves over 400 stores total and has deals in the pipeline to more than quadruple the business it did last year, according to Eder.
“This year is all about expansion, particularly expansion nationally but we also have our eyes peeled on what’s across the world,” he said.
The business moved offices at the start of this year, still within Seneca One Tower, to make room for 43North’s new cohort of companies. Big Wheelbarrow’s space doubled from about nine desks to 18.
Currently, the startup employs 10, three of which are in Buffalo, and Eder expects to fill the majority of those 18 local seats by the end of Q3 this year. The majority of the office’s team will be in sales and customer support, as well as some developers.
“Factors came together to create great momentum,” he said. “2022 was incredible for us and we’re taking that momentum into 2023.
