Cole Jones

Cole Jones is the founder and CEO of Local Line, a Kitchener-based startup that provides a platform for independent farmers to manage their businesses and connect with buyers.12 Here are some key details about Cole Jones:

Background and Education

Cole studied at Wilfrid Laurier University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Philosophy from 2011 to 2015.5 During his time as a student, he started the project that would eventually become Local Line.

Founding of Local Line

Cole founded Local Line in 2015 with the goal of helping farmers move online and accept orders from customers.2 The idea for the company originated as a summer project between terms while Cole was still studying. He visited farmers at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market and learned about the challenges they faced in selling their products profitably.1

Company Growth and Success

Under Cole's leadership, Local Line has experienced significant growth:

• The company now serves more than 13,000 farms across North America.1
• Local Line's platform is also used by farmers in Australia, the UK, New Zealand, France, Denmark, and Panama.1
• The company has 30 employees.1
• In 2024, Local Line is celebrating its tenth year in business.1

Recent Developments

A major recent achievement for Local Line is its partnership with Chipotle Mexican Grill. The fast-casual chain restaurant leader has selected Local Line as a Farm-to-Fork Partner to source food for its 3,200+ restaurants in the U.S.1

Leadership Style and Vision

Cole is described as having a unique ability to see obstacles as opportunities to create value, which has been credited as a key reason for Local Line's success.3 His mission is to help family farms and ranches profitably grow their businesses.4 Cole is passionate about building the future of food systems and promoting local eating.2

Cole Jones continues to lead Local Line as it expands its services and reach in the agricultural technology sector.