Friday, October 3, 2014

UNFI Supplier Community Update

Welcome. I’m happy to share our Fall roundup of UNFI supplier news with you. Remember to also visit our Supplier Support Site, another key resource in doing business with us.


SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Here are the latest updates to our Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) team:

Position Change
  • Richard Bruns has been promoted to SRM Group Manager. Richard will be responsible for the Frozen and Perishable team, with the following direct reports: Laura Russo, Melissa Farkas, James Gouin, Kiva Shogren and Lisa Jorgensen.
New Team Members
  • Jessica Clancy joined the team in July as SRM. Prior to that, Jessica worked with our Inventory Planning and Replenishment team. Jessica manages the following beverage categories:  Additives, Single Serve and Juices. Jessica reports to Maureen Hines.
  • Nancy Willard joined the team in August as SRM. Nancy manages the Prepared Sauce, Dry Sauces & Seasoning Packets, Beans: Dry & Prepared, Grains, Potatoes: Dry, Spices & Seasonings, Olives/Capers/Tapenades, Pickles/Peppers/Relish/Marinated & Pickled Specialties. Nancy reports to Maureen Hines.
  • Sierra Connolly joined the team in August as our newest Associate SRM. Sierra manages the Fruit:  Can/Glass/Cups/Snacks, Vegetables:  Can/Glass, Batters & Coatings, Fish & Meat:  Can/Glass, Baby Food categories. Sierra reports to Meagan Kessel. 

Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) Line Assignments Update

Click here for the latest SRM line assignments.

Product Code Dates

In my July update I asked for your help to collect accurate date code information so we could update our records. We’ll continue this process by requesting a clear, readable date code from suppliers that do not provide one on the outside of a shipping case. For any questions, please contact Nancy Semmelrock.

National Administrative Fee Program

UNFI facilitates various supplier deductions in exchange for administrative fees. The fees historically have been inconsistent across the country, so we’re moving to a national program that has one fee schedule effective November 1st. We will charge suppliers 10% with a minimum $25.00, whichever is greater, not to exceed $195. Every supplier who chooses to take advantage of UNFI’s third party billing option will incur administrative fees, with the exception of those whose fees are specifically outlined otherwise in their executed agreements. Contact your SRM or Joe Gordon with any questions.

Deductions Support

All Manufacturer Charge Back (MCB) and deductions concerns and correspondence should be directed to the national team email address, deductions@unfi.com. The East and West deduction teams have been consolidated into one to reduce response time and provide a single point of contact.

Electronic MCB Reports

I announced in my last update that we would begin testing a new way to communicate your weekly MCB deductions electronically, and eliminate paper reports. This change is a win-win―saving time and resources for you and us, as well as being environmentally friendly. We’ll continue to add more suppliers to this test, and on October 22nd, will deliver East Region reports electronically to all suppliers. We hope to deliver West Region reports electronically later this year. To receive electronic MCB reports, please click here to provide your email address. Contact Joe Gordon with any questions.

Supplier Survey

In early 2015, we plan to ask for your feedback as we continue to identify areas in need of attention, build on what you believe we’re doing right, and look for ways to enhance partnerships. Your response will be confidential, and we’ll share our overall findings and plans to address issues and opportunities. I encourage you to participate and help drive continued success for us all.

SUPPLY CHAIN

Distribution Center Ordering Insights
  • Hudson Valley, NY began shipping to customers last week. Every other week this month, we’ll transition groups of customers from Dayville, York and Chesterfield. No customer moves will take place through the holidays. We will begin to build additional inventory in December for the next transition phase, which will take place in mid-January.
  • Racine, WI is fully operational with all planned customer moves completed.
  • Iowa City, IA – We moved some customers in the St. Louis and Minneapolis markets from Greenwood, IN to Iowa City, IA last week.
Resources to Help You Develop a More Sustainable Supply Chain

We’re always looking for new ways to deepen our commitment to sustainable business practices. In that spirit, we would like to recommend two resources to you, as members of our supply chain:
Click here to learn more.

MARKETING

UNFI Joins IX-One Product Data Exchange

UNFI has joined the IX-ONE product data exchange as a founding member. IX-ONE is a membership based platform that provides independently verified and standardized product information to suppliers, brokers, distributors, retailers and key partners in the organic, natural and specialty products industry. The solution allows its members royalty-free use of all applicable data and images to run their businesses.  

We will be supporting an IX-One product data capture station located near our York, PA distribution center. UNFI recognizes the industry-wide need for a comprehensive solution to the problem of dysfunctional product data and images. We strongly encourage you to join IX-ONE. We believe it will help streamline new item setup, increase sales and create efficiencies for the entire industry. Contact IX-One at info@IX-ONE.net or (904) 512-3200 for more information.

Digital Consumer Circulars

Our Natural Connection and Healthy Advantage program will have a new digital feature beginning with January circulars. Participating retailers will be able to post the circulars on their websites, and both they and their customers will be able to share them via social media. Plus, consumers will be able to create shopping lists and use their tablet or smart phone to view the circulars.

2015 Tabletop Show Registration is Open

UNFI Tabletop Shows are a great opportunity to get in front of buyers, and I hope you’re making plans to attend. Space is limited and we will sell out, so don’t delay, click here to register.
  • Orlando Show: February 19-20, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL
  • Foxwoods Show: May 13-14, Fox Tower at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, CT
  • Portland Show: June 3-4, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
Thank you to those who participated in the 2014 post-show survey. Using that feedback we’ll be making improvements in 2015:
  • Customers asked for more time to buy and visit suppliers at the Orlando show, so we’ll extend the show hours by opening the half day before.
  • Suppliers said that a Friday show made travel back home difficult. Since the venue can only provide us a Thursday/Friday event, we’re closing the show at 2 p.m. on Friday to provide more travel time.
  • Customers identified new products as the #2 top reason for attending our tabletop shows (#1 was the deals). Therefore, we’re offering more opportunities to show off your new products.
  • Customers said they want to see your products featured at the Healthy Breakfast, so we’re offering Breakfast Sponsorships for several food categories at each show.
  • We want to help you strengthen your brand awareness, and have added new sponsorship opportunities like massage and recycling stations. Custom sponsorships are also available.
If you have any questions, contact events@unfi.com.

2015 Consumer and Trade Marketing Programs

Reach retailers and consumers with results-driven Marketing Programs available for 2015. Click here to learn more.

Customer Portal Web Advertising

Good news about our Customer Portal website―suppliers are seeing up to a 500% increase in traffic to product listing pages as a result of their banner ads. Consider including banner ads as part of your growth strategy. You can secure your product listing pages for $1,200/year/brand if you sign up before December 31, 2014. Otherwise, in January, those pages will be available for others at $500/month/brand (maximum 2 consecutive months). Check out our Case Studies and contact Laurie Donohue for more information.

Holiday 2015

Planning has begun for our 2015 Winter Holiday catalog. The catalog will have two sections: Holiday Specials, for items stocked and on deal through the holiday season, and Holiday Pre-order for ‘in-and-out’ items ordered in advance by retailers. It will be published in conjunction with our May and June Table Top Shows, and shipped with June Monthly Specials. Advertising opportunities include Customer Portal banner ads, webinars, email and styled advertorials. Click here to learn more.

East Region Advertising Agreement Billing Schedule Adjustment

We’re adjusting our East Region advertising agreement billing schedule to correspond with calendar quarters and our West Region billing schedule. Therefore, instead of the usual Sept-Oct-Nov quarterly billing, we will do a one-time adjustment and bill for four months (Sept-Oct-Nov-Dec).  Then, beginning in January 2015, advertising agreements will be billed quarterly, in Jan, April, July and October. For questions, contact your SRM.

UNFI’S NEWEST CHANNEL―GOURMET/ETHNIC

One of UNFI’s greatest opportunities for growth is to Build out the Store, ensuring that we can meet virtually all of the needs of our retail customers, ranging from center store to the entire perimeter. In keeping with this strategy, we’ve formed a new channel―Gourmet/Ethnic.

We often use the term “specialty” in conjunction with this class of trade, but as we look at our greatest growth potential across the retail landscape, we are intentionally focusing on the “Gourmet” channel as a customer class that is unique in both their needs from a distributor perspective and their go-to market strategy. As such, we have determined that this channel must have a renewed attention and energy afforded to it, along with a unique supporting structure, discipline and leadership.

One of our key focus areas will be in major metropolitan markets where we have new distribution centers and significant capacity to invest in this highly differentiated assortment. We’ll also be stretching this channel across the country to encompass what we today call “Independent Supermarkets”, or those customers with a similar need to be nimble and competitive in an ever-changing retail environment.

To learn more about the Gourmet/Ethnic Channel team, click here.

THRIVE / SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

We’re underway on a major initiative called Thrive, which will improve our processes and technologies for better supplier and customer experiences. For any questions on this, email us.

Here’s the latest:
  • One Source is a project that will provide better national data, standardized reports and enhanced analytics capabilities. It will greatly improve our ability to share this type of information with our business partners.
  • Inventory Optimization (IO), our advanced forecasting system for buying, is in use at all of our West Region distribution centers. Our East Region rollout began on July 7th with Racine, Iowa City and Greenwood fully converted to date. All remaining East Region distribution centers will be converted by November.
Our Auburn, WA distribution center has been operating with the new Warehouse Management (WM) for two months and service levels have now normalized. We’re focused on capitalizing on the positive improvements we expect from WM: lower selection errors, lower billed/not received issues, and less damaged product due to better pallet building.

Thank you for your support of UNFI.  Please feel free to reach out to me or your SRM with any questions and comments.

John Raiche
Vice President, Marketing

Monday, June 30, 2014

UNFI Supplier Community Update

Welcome Suppliers. Thanks for joining us this quarter to stay current on UNFI supply chain initiatives and information. I’d also like to remind you to visit another key resource, our Supplier Support Site.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

As our team continues to evolve to better serve you, we have several changes to announce. Some of these folks are currently in a transitional period so we’ll update you once the changes are completed.

Position Changes
  • Maureen Hines has been promoted to Supplier Relationship Group Manager. Maureen joined us in 2011 as a Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM), managing the beverage categories. Her significant management and category expertise will be a great addition to the Group Management team. She’ll be responsible for the Dry Grocery Categories, managing Joseph Roy, Jacquelyn Schneider, David Lotti, Veronica Vanni, Arin Donahue, Richard Bruns and Greg Esslinger. Maureen will continue to cover:  Beverages: Additives, Single Serve and Juice until we have hired her replacement.
  •  Laura Russo has been promoted to a newly created position of Associate SRM. Laura started with UNFI in 2011 as a Purchasing Assistant and then became a Supplier Relationship Support Administrator in 2013. She will begin transitioning into her new role over the next month and will be responsible for the management of:  Perishable Macrobiotic Foods/Tofu/Miso, Meat Alternatives, Dips and Salsas and Condiments and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables. 
  • Jason Walsh will be transitioning to a new position as a member of our ClearVue team. Jason has been working as an SRM since 2012, managing various frozen and perishable categories. He will continue to manage these categories until he shifts them to his replacement. 
  • Richard Bruns is responsible for new categories as an SRM. Effective immediately, Richard is responsible for the management of:  Beans: Dry / Prepared, Grains, Potatoes: Dry, Fish & Meat: Can / Glass, Tortillas (wraps), Specialty Tea: Non RTD and Hispanic.

New Team Members
  • Nancy Semmelrock joined the SRM team as Group Manager in December. Nancy has been with UNFI since 1989 in various positions, most recently as National Supplier Development Manager responsible for the Costing and Coding and Supplier Development teams. Nancy is also an active participant in the Partnership for Data Governance Product team. Nancy’s significant UNFI and industry knowledge, along with her strong interpersonal and communication skills, makes her a great addition to the team. Nancy’s primary focus is on special projects and the development of processes through cross-functional departments.
  •  Lisa Jorgensen joined us in April 2014 as an SRM. Lisa most recently worked for Nestle USA as a Package Design Manager. She has a significant background in the food industry, particularly in the frozen food, deli and prepared foods categories. Lisa will be responsible for the management of: Cheese/Cheese Alternatives, Frozen Entrees, Pizza and Pasta, Frozen Appetizers & Convenience and Frozen Beverages.
  • Kelli Menard joined UNFI in April 2014 as an SRM. Kelli worked for Dorman Products holding various positions while there, and has significant background in purchasing and product sourcing. She will be responsible for the management of: Supplements - Food Supplements, Multivitamins, Sport Supplements; Ointments and Medical Creams. 
  • James Gouin will begin transitioning to the team in early July as an SRM. James started with UNFI in 2013 as a Buyer, focusing on various perishable categories. His proficiency in buying and perishable expertise will be a great addition to the team. James will be responsible for the management of: Perishable Juice and Non Dairy Beverages. 

Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) Line Assignments Update

Click here for the latest SRM line assignments.

Price Change Deadlines for Holiday

To meet retailers requirements during the peak holiday selling season, we cannot accept price changes with effective dates of October 1st – December 31st. All price changes must be received and implemented before or after this period. Price changes submitted by July 1st will be made effective for October 1st. Price changes submitted after July 1st will not take effect until January 1st.

Promotional Calendars

Find our 2015 deadline calendar and promotional forms on our Supplier Support Site. The deadline calendar includes due dates for promotions, advertising, new item packet and price/pack changes.

Our promotions team is here to help you be as successful as possible and will assist in identifying missed opportunities. Email your front/back half promotional grids to:
Don’t delay, the sooner we receive your promoted item listings to the emails listed above, the sooner our customers have the opportunity to see them and plan accordingly.

New Item and New Supplier Forms

Our New Supplier Form and New Item Form have been updated to include our newest distribution centers―Racine, WI and Hudson Valley, NY. Make sure you update your files with the newest versions: find them here.

Product Code Dates

We’ve found that many products shipped to UNFI are not labeled with a readable date code on the outside of the shipping case. A clear and readable date code will improve receiving efficiencies, allow for proper stock rotation, and most importantly, make sure our customers receive products with the correct expiration date. Your SRM will soon ask for your help to collect accurate date code information so we can update our system. I appreciate your prompt attention to this project.

LINE ASSIGNMENTS BY BUYER

Click here for a list of supplier line assignments by Buyer.

NEW MANUFACTURER CHARGE BACK DEDUCTIONS PROCESS

UNFI will soon begin testing a new way to communicate your weekly Manufacturer Charge Back (MCB) deductions electronically. We’ll start with a few East Region suppliers and then roll it out to more groups over the next several months. The new process will automatically email an Excel report to each supplier, saving time and paper while also providing a sortable spreadsheet format to analyze. Additional improvements related to communications and workflow are also being worked on with the intent to provide more transparency and quicker resolution. Email your questions to: DeductionsCoordinatorEast@unfi.com (East Region) or DeductionsWest@unfi.com (West Region).

A helpful overview of the different MCB processes that UNFI uses can be found here.

NEW INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIERS

As we announced in May, we’ve changed the insurance requirements for suppliers with products containing protein. For specifics on this, click here.

NEW DUNS NUMBERS

In preparation for the opening of our two newest distribution centers, EDI suppliers should plan for new DUNS numbers. Learn more here and contact us with any questions.

THRIVE / SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

We’re underway on a major initiative called Thrive, which will improve our processes and technologies for better supplier and customer experiences. For any questions on this, email us.

Here’s the latest:

Inventory Optimization (IO)

Our advanced forecasting system for buying, IO, is now live in our East Region. A few key points to remember:
  • We are deploying it according to the following schedule
Distribution Center
Estimated Conversion Date
Racine
July 19
Iowa
August 2
Greenwood
August 16
Hudson Valley
August 30 (partial); early 2015 (full)
Dayville
August 30
York
September 13
Chesterfield
September 27
Select Nutrition East
September 27
Atlanta
October 11
Sarasota
October 25
Leicester
October 25
Select Nutrition West
Fall 2014
















  • Purchase orders will look and arrive to you the same way as they do now
  • Order patterns and quantities may shift. IO takes into account demand, sales history and lead time to determine an optimal ordering frequency. For example, you may no longer receive orders on the same day (e.g., every Tuesday) as you do now. Buyers will communicate any expected shifts in ordering patterns to reduce related impact to your production. 
  • IO takes into account promotional activity and lead time to optimize order quantities. For example, you may see an increase in purchases during promotional periods.

New Warehouse Management System

The installation of the new Warehouse Management System is targeted for July 20th at our Auburn, WA distribution center. Benefits of this system include voice selection technology, slotting optimization and engineered labor standards. It’s designed to deliver improved production, accuracy and quality in your experience with UNFI.

In order to install and test the system, it’s necessary to create 24 hours of order processing downtime at our Auburn facility. As a result, it will be closed on July 18th and no orders will be scheduled to deliver or receive on that day. 

2015 MARKETING PROGRAMS

New for 2015, we’re enhancing our current advertising options, updating our supermarket-focused Market Watch program and offering an innovative case stack program. Click here for rates.

TABLETOP SHOWS

Thank you to those suppliers who participated in our Tabletop Shows this year―our largest and most successful so far. We hosted over 3,000 buying retailers and 1,500 supplier exhibits at our Orlando, Foxwoods and Portland shows.

If you participated in a post event survey, thank you. Planning is already underway for 2015 and we have taken into consideration much of the advice you provided. Registration will open in late summer, so watch for an email in August that will include a link to register.

Please feel free to reach out to me or your SRM with any questions and comments.

John Raiche
Vice President, Marketing

Monday, April 7, 2014

April 2014 - UNFI Supplier Community Update

Welcome. I’m happy to share this Spring roundup of UNFI supplier news with you. I’d also like to remind you to visit our Supplier Support Site, another key resource for maximizing opportunities with us.

UNFI’S NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTERS

To support the growth in our industry, UNFI’s network of distribution centers continues to expand. Currently, we’re in the construction or planning phase of four best-in-class facilities that will help us:
  • Provide more efficient service and speed to market
  • Improve productivity through sophisticated warehouse and inventory control systems
  • Increase capacity and product mix
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by being closer to our customers

Racine, Wisconsin―433,000 square feet, Pursuing LEED® Gold certification
  • Initial purchase orders will be placed for Grocery and Non-Foods during the weeks of April 7th and April 14th. Frozen and Chill items will be ordered mid to late-May. 
  • Receiving will begin in early May
  • Shipping will begin in mid-June
  • The full realignment of our Midwest business will take place over a 3-4 month period
  • EDI suppliers, be sure to have this facility properly set up in your system with new DUNNS numbers. Learn more here.














Hudson Valley, New York―508,000 square feet, Pursuing LEED® Gold certification
  • Initial purchase orders will be place in early Summer, 2014. Stay tuned for more details.
  • EDI suppliers, be sure to have this facility properly set up in your system with new DUNNS numbers. Learn more here.
  • Green design includes: controlled lighting system to reduce the amount of time fixtures are on; low-flow toilet fixtures; 98% of construction debris recycled or reused off site












Prescott, Wisconsin―298,000 square feet, Pursuing LEED® Gold certification
  • Opening expected Spring, 2015
  • More details to come in future updates









Gilroy, California―433,000 square feet, Pursuing LEED® Gold certification
  • Opening expected Summer, 2015
  • More details to come in future updates
  • Green design includes: gray water supplied by city of Gilroy to reduce amount of potable water; controlled lighting system to reduce the amount of time fixtures are on; energy management metering system to control peak demand












SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) Line Assignments Update

Click here for the latest SRM line assignments.

Product Movement Reporting―Update

In my January blog I announced our new Underperforming Items Report, the first step in a process where our goal is to collaborate more closely with you to address potentially challenging situations. We’ve been sharing the report since February, and there are a few key points I’d like to re-emphasize:
  • The report is meant to generate a dialogue between you and your SRM
  • Items on the report will not be automatically discontinued. It means that the level of product movement we’re experiencing may be an issue, and further attention is needed.
  • We understand that an automated report will not identify all underperforming items or replace the need for close communication with your SRM
If you have any questions on the report, please contact your SRM.

New Items? Share Them With Us

I encourage you to present your new and innovative items to your SRM. First and foremost, we’re looking for on-trend, exciting items that we can promote with our Marketing Programs. So, whether you are a brand that consumers are already familiar with or new to the marketplace, please don’t hesitate to speak to your SRM.

Promotional Calendars

In order for UNFI to best support your promotions and provide the most accurate information to our customers, be sure to give your most up-to-date promotional calendar to your SRM. Having an annual promotional calendar on hand allows for an additional validation against any gaps in paperwork as well as the ability to ensure you’re getting the most out of the Marketing Programs we offer.

THRIVE / SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

One of our most significant initiatives is a project we call Thrive, which will improve our processes and technologies for better supplier and customer experiences. Here’s the latest:

Inventory Optimization (IO)

Our advanced forecasting system for buying, known as Inventory Optimization (IO), will be deployed in the East Region this summer. IO is currently in use in the West Region. To learn how this transition impacts you, be sure to attend the IO Overview at our East Winter Holiday Tabletop Show in May.

New: Roadmap to Thrive

Click here to watch an interactive presentation on Thrive and see how we’re improving the way we buy, manage and deliver products. If you have any questions, email us.

INBOUND FREIGHT & LOGISTICS

Currently in use at a handful of our distribution centers, our new Master Scheduling Program will role out to all facilities by July. The program allows us to maintain our service levels across distribution centers by prioritizing delivery appointments.

UNFI-Managed Logistics

Consider switching from delivered pricing to UNFI-managed logistics, and let us handle moving your product to our distribution centers. We offer competitive freight rates for our extensive intermodal, over-the-road, dedicated fleet, LTL and cross-dock networks. Benefits include:

Dedicated 365 day cross-dock program for Chill, Frozen and Dry
National asset-based, best-in-class carriers with high-volume capacity commitments
Extensive supply chain technology portfolio―network modeling to transportation management
Focus on carbon footprint reduction and maintaining a sustainable environment

Thank you for your support of UNFI.  Please feel free to reach out to me or your SRM with any questions and comments.

John Raiche
Vice President, Marketing

Monday, January 6, 2014

January 2014 - UNFI Supplier Community Update

Welcome suppliers. I’m pleased to share several important topics with you as we start the New Year together, including: new reporting and deduction process for suppliers, SRM line assignments, marketing program updates, and the latest information on our systems transformation we call Thrive. I hope you have enjoyed the holiday season, and I wish you a happy and healthy 2014.

PRODUCT MOVEMENT REPORTING―NEW

As part of our continuous effort to carefully evaluate the performance of the products we carry, we will be providing you with a monthly Underperforming Items Report. Our goal is to be proactive regarding these products and create a process where we can collaborate with you to address challenging situations.

We understand that an automated report will not identify all underperforming products, or replace the need for close communication and product mix planning with your SRM. Look for the report and further communications on this subject this month.

Supplier Relationship Manager Line Assignments Update
Click here for the latest SRM line assignments.

NEW DEDUCTIONS SUPPORT PROCESS FOR EAST REGION

UNFI East Region will be implementing an improvement to the way we communicate with suppliers about deductions. Beginning today, we will send deduction support to our suppliers in a weekly mailing. The deduction support documents will no longer be part of the payment/check packet. 

The weekly mailing of deduction support will provide you with visibility into recently taken and pending deductions on your account. You will no longer have to wait for a UNFI payment to see the deduction activity.

The new process will provide you with timely information, allow you more time to review deductions and help you estimate the payments due to you from UNFI.

If you have any questions regarding the new procedure, please call the East Region Accounts Payable Department at 603-256-3000 (press 4 for the Accounting Menu, then 3 for Accounts Payable). Any member of our Accounts Payable Team would be happy to help you.  

MARKETING PROGRAMS

2014 Holiday Advertising―Sign Up By Mid-February
Now is the time to plan for holiday 2014. Consider advertising your products in our Holiday Edition catalog (circulation: 10,000). We also have several other advertising options available―please take a moment to learn more here.

Tabletop Shows―Space is Limited
Planning for our upcoming Tabletop Shows is well underway. If you’ve already secured a table, I look forward to seeing you there. If you haven’t, then I strongly encourage you to register now as time is running out and space is limited. The East Spring Summer show has already sold out.
  • East Spring Summer Show, February 13-14, Disney's Contemporary Resort, FL – Sold Out
  • East Winter Holiday Show, May 14-15, Foxwoods Casino, CT
  • West Winter Holiday Show, May 29-30, Oregon Convention Center, OR

Web Advertising―Now Underway
Our web advertising program has just launched on our Customer Portal Website (avg. 240,000 visits/month). It offers many affordable options on the landing pages, as well as content advertising on the home page in three new areas:
  • Featured Products Blog “Taste Matters”
  • Featured Monthly Specials
  • What’s Hot Next Month
Content advertising means your product is included as part of an article or story, with links to more information. We provide each supplier with analytics regarding the number of impressions each page gets each month. For more information on this low cost advertising opportunity contact Laurie Donohue at ldonohue@unfi.com, 603-256-3000 x 32126.

THRIVE / SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

One of our most significant initiatives is a project we call Thrive, which will improve our processes and technologies for better supplier and customer experiences. Here’s the latest:

Inventory Reservation (IR)
In February we’ll pilot an important part of our inventory management improvements, called Inventory Reservation. It will enable us to reserve inventory for customers.

Enterprise Item Number (EIN)
Moving to a single item number is something we know many of you are looking forward to. We’re now planning to begin using Enterprise Item Numbers in early 2015 to give us a little more time to ensure a seamless transition. Information and support will be provided beforehand, but in the meantime contact your SRM or email us with questions.

Coming in 2014
Along with the Inventory Reservation pilot and the preparation for our transition to Enterprise Item Numbers, we will:
  • Open three new distribution centers, Racine, WI; Hudson Valley, NY; Select Nutrition West, Auburn, CA, with a system that optimizes warehouse capacity and labor
  • Start using our advanced forecasting system (also known as Inventory Optimization or IO) in the East (already in use in the West)
Thrive is a large project with many components, and we appreciate your patience as we work through them. Learn more on our website or email us your questions.