Review of Food Products: Why We Revoke Their Certification

I remember the first time I came across Groceries Apparel.

It was in a short Remake filmMade in America— a document taking you inside the Los Angeles clothing industry to show the truth about who makes clothes in this country, and under what conditions. Most of the film is sobering. Yet there is a moment when the founder of Groceries Apparel Matt Boelk, standing in his LA city factory, stopped me. \”It\’s bright, well ventilated, and they have a great resting place,\” he says. \”We only know each other. Big companies make absolutely no profit and if they say it can\’t be done the right way, it\’s a lie. Everything is possible.”

Founder Rob Lohman, who continues to run the brand today, made a similar commitment on the record: \”I\’m putting Groceries on a path to 100 percent organic, local and ethical clothing or we\’re going out of business. I\’m going to be kicking and screaming to make this happen.\”

The model they built together was right there in front of you: an integrated factory for downtown Los Angeles. Plant-based, non-toxic dyes made from avocado pits, coffee grounds, and onion skins. Organic cotton, TENCEL™, hemp. “Zero Mile Radius” operation — designing, cutting, sewing, dyeing, finishing, and shipping all under one roof. A brand that sources more than 98% of its ingredients from local vendors, employs 70 people at a high level, and creates full-time jobs in its community. Their names, clearly written on their site:\”Groceries Apparel would rather close their doors than compromise their values.\”

The brand has received our certificate. And for years, that trust felt justified.

This spring, a student reached out to us. They had bought great things from Groceries Apparel. The items were returned through proper channels. The refund never came. Support tickets were not answered. Weeks passed.

We took that complaint seriously – and started digging.

Our findings led us to one conclusion: to act quickly, we are revoking the Ujo Shop certification for Groceries Apparel.

Grocer\’s Property Review: A Written Pattern for All Multi-Platforms

When a student complaint arrives in our inbox, our first step is always to investigate before we act. So we went to Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, reviewed aggregators, and consumer feedback forums to understand if this was an isolated incident or something systematic.

What we found was a consistent pattern, documented across multiple reviews and multiple platforms.

Groceries Apparel currently has a 1.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot – rated \”Poor\” – across 46 reviews. Their BBB rating is F, earned specifically for failing to respond to 9 complaints filed against the business. That last detail is important: it\’s not like the BBB let them down by getting complaints. It is that Groceries Apparel did not answer them.

The reviews themselves describe an almost identical experience: emails go unanswered for days, then weeks – some customers report that they reached out to multiple channels, including Instagram, and heard nothing. Customers only found out after the items sold were ineligible for a refund — a policy they say wasn\’t clearly disclosed at the time of purchase, despite the site advertising \”Easy Returns.\” A broken return portal that left consumers confused with no way forward and unresponsive when they asked for help. Orders take a month to arrive, and follow-up emails are largely ignored.

One independent review analysis from early 2026 summed up the pattern bluntly: ongoing problems with shipping delays, return processing, and slow or non-existent customer responses — some customers ended up resolving the situation by filing payment disputes with their credit card companies.

This is not the story of a product that once stumbled. It is the story of the customer experience gap that has been accumulating, quietly, without public notice, while the story of the sustainability of Groceries Apparel continues to be celebrated.

What We Did – And What We Heard

After reviewing the pattern of complaints, we contacted Groceries Apparel directly, in writing, with five specific questions about their return and refund process, any current processing delays, and the steps they were taking to improve the customer experience.

We gave them a clear deadline to respond. We followed up after that deadline had passed.

Asizwanga lutho.

We gave them two formal opportunities to clarify, correct the record, or tell their side of the story. A brief general statement would have sufficed. The questions were not a trap – they were an invitation. And silence is your answer – especially from a product with an F rating from the BBB for that same behavior.

A Brand Worth Rooting For – Which Makes This Hard

I want to be honest about something before I go any further: I don\’t think Groceries Apparel is a bad brand. I think they might be struggling.

Matt Boelk – the co-founder who appeared in the movie Remake – has left the company. Rob Lohman, another co-founder, continues to run the brand today. What we do know is that the business has had lucrative contracts over the years: a team that once employed 70 people in a 33,000-square-foot factory in downtown LA now operates at half that number, out of a small location in Vernon, California.

We don\’t know why. We won\’t guess. Small independent brands are facing real headwinds – rising costs, changing retail environments, the brutal economy of ethical manufacturing in the United States. None of this is easy, and none of it detracts from the real work Groceries Apparel put into the materials and production.

But here\’s what we do know: when a product is stretched thin, the first thing that often breaks is customer service. And when customer service breaks down — when people can\’t get refunds for returned items, can\’t reach anyone for help, can\’t get straight answers about their money — that\’s no small feat. That is a failure of values.

Rob Lohman said he would rather close the business than loosen its principles. We respect that standard. We arrested them for it.

Our Certification Requirements

At Ujo Shop, our certification is not just points. Scores matter, and Groceries Apparel\’s sustainability work gets real credit for that. But certification is more than just a number — it\’s a statement from us to our readers that we trust this brand, and that we feel good about sending it their way.

That trust is based on three pillars:

1. Branding is not a fad.
2. Uphawu luyasikhuthaza.
3. Siyaluthemba uhlobo.

Groceries Apparel still surpasses the original. But the second and third are gone.

There is nothing inspiring about a product that talks about values ​​while leaving customers on the hook for refunds and silent when asked to account for it. And trust requires accountability – showing up when things go wrong, being approachable, and showing that your stated values ​​extend to the people who pay your bills. We cannot in good conscience look the reader in the eye and say \”we trust this brand\” when the product will not answer a direct programming question on behalf of an unresolved customer complaint.

Why Customer Service Is a Value Issue

When you spend money on a sustainable product, you\’re not just buying a garment – you\’re putting trust in a set of values. You pay a premium because you believe the company behind the label really cares about you. About the planet, yes. But it\’s also the people who support them.

Currently, Groceries Apparel fails that test.

Certificate revoked.

If You Are a Current Grocery Customer Having a Problem

If you\’re in a similar situation – refund sent, refund pending, support unanswered – here\’s the most efficient way forward.

Try to reach them directly through their customer care page. If you paid by credit card and the refund for the returned item has not been processed within a reasonable time, you have the right to dispute the charge with your card issuer. Document everything: confirmation of your original order, return tracking, and any communication. That paper trail is important.

You are also welcome to contact us. We take student concerns seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.

Where to Shop Instead

The Groceries Apparel product range – soft basics, athletic essentials, everyday wear in natural materials, made in California – is truly unique. If you\’re looking for proven alternatives that match that profile and that we can fully stand behind, here are three:

1) Pact Clothing

Pact is one of the most certified organic products in the US market. Gots certified factories, Fair Trade, and a wide range of basic amenities – tees, leggings, underwear, blankets – that compete directly with the daily essentials of Groceries Apparel in a price range that more people can access. Faithful, transparent, and consistent in responding to customers.

2) MATE Ilebula

If all you loved about Groceries Apparel was the LA-made staple, MATE Label is the perfect replacement for you. And based in Los Angeles – about 17 miles from their headquarters – MATE makes clean essentials: joggers, tees, tanks, sweatshirts, leggings. They use GOTS and TENCEL™ certified organic cotton, avoid synthetic chemicals and toxic dyes entirely, and hold both B Corp and Carbon Neutral certifications. The brand, ethos, and origin story are almost identical. With a customer experience to match.

3) INDAWO kaLydia

On the activewear side of your Groceries Apparel wardrobe – leggings, tanks, yoga and movement pieces – Lydia\’s ZONE is a proven alternative. Founded by Olympic gold medalist Lydia Lassila, the brand specializes in hemp-based functional clothing combined with natural cotton, GOTS and OEKO-TEX certified everywhere. Their supply chain is fully transparent, our manufacturing partners are audited, and the packaging is plastic-free. Performance gear with a real value story behind it.

What Can It Take to Get Your Certification Back?

We have revoked your certificates before. We also verified the brands that did the work. This is not a permanent blacklist — it is an outcome with a clear path forward.

In order for Food Products to be considered for re-certification, we will need three things: a specific response to the planning question we submitted, including a statement of how customer service and return processing is handled; documented evidence that the pattern of complaints we have identified are being addressed; and a reasonable amount of time to develop before we revisit the measure.

That door is open. But they need to get through it.

Your Trust Deserves Protection

I started Ujo Shop because I believe people deserve honest information about the products they support. Not greenwashing. They are not prepackaged sustainability claims. Real information, kept at a real level, updated when things change — including when they change for the worse.

Rob Lohman said he would rather close the doors than loosen Groceries Apparel\’s standards. We are not asking them to close anything. Please pick up the phone. To respond to their customers. Paying back money owed to people. To be the brand they always say they are.

Until that happens, we cannot in good conscience send our students their way.

If you have questions, leave them in the comments below. And if you want to explore brands that still earn trust, our full product guide is where to start.

Dress like you\’re respectful.

– Garik

Garik Himebaugh is the co-founder of Ujo Shop, a behavioral clothing discovery tool. He is also a stable fashion designer and international speaker in all fashion trends. Garik loves coffee, riding, and clothes.