Sourcing
Where the food on Nuven comes from — direct producer relationships, consolidator partners, and how we verify what's on the label.
Direct producer relationships
For core pantry categories (rice, lentils, cold-pressed oils, single-origin spices), we buy directly from producers or their named export houses. This lets us verify origin claims by seeing the invoice chain and, in most cases, the certifications on the producer's letterhead — not just what got printed on the retail bag.
Consolidator partners
For categories where direct import isn't practical yet — small-run regional condiments, imported snacks — we work with domestic consolidators that hold the FDA prior-notice paperwork and can share COAs (certificates of analysis) on request. If a product's COA isn't shareable, it doesn't go on the shelf.
What we verify
Every SKU has, at minimum, a scanned front-of-pack and ingredient panel in our system. For USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project claims, we cross-reference the certifier's public database. For single-origin claims, we require producer documentation. Claims we can't verify, we don't repeat.
What we don't do
We don't rebrand third-party goods as house brands to obscure origin. We don't accept slotting fees from suppliers — see How we make money. And we don't carry SKUs that fail our No-Go screen, no matter how popular they are elsewhere.