January 2016 Supplier Community Update

Welcome, Suppliers! Here is our latest roundup of UNFI supplier news. I’d also like to remind you of another key resource, our Supplier Support Site.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (SRM)

Position Changes/Additions

• Barbara Beland is our newest SRM, based in Providence, RI.  Barbara has worked on our Inventory Planning and Replenishment team as a buyer.  She will be responsible for:  salty snacks, grain cakes, dips & salsas, dry potatoes, dry/prepared beans.  Barbara reports to Maureen Hines.
• Wendy Savoie has joined the Local team as the newest Supplier Development Manager. Wendy has worked as an SRM over the past 3 years.  Wendy’s strong background in SRM and Marketing will be instrumental as she begins to focus on local & emerging brands for the East Region.  Wendy reports to Kimberly Bentz. 
• Tracy French has joined our Local team.  Tracy has been a Supplier Relationship Coordinator with UNFI for 2 ½ years and has been recently promoted to Associate Supplier Development Manager.  Tracy’s proficiency in UNFI processes will provide significant support to our local and emerging brands. Tracy reports to Kimberly Bentz.
• Lori Howes has been promoted to the SRM Promotions team as Promotions Specialist after two years in a support coordinator role.  Lori reports to Mark Slattery. 
• Keri Logee joined the SRM Promotions team as the newest Promotions Specialist.  Keri has been with UNFI for four years, most recently with the Commercial Strategy team.  Keri reports to Mark Slattery.  
• Liz Lada will join the team as a Supplier Relationship Coordinator on January 11.  Liz joined UNFI in 2004 as a Customer Service Representative and in 2010 moved to our Costing and Coding team.  Liz will support David Lotti, Darla Snyder and Lisa Madsen, reporting to Nancy Semmelrock.
• Kristen Ellis will join our team on January 11 as a Supplier Relationship Coordinator.  Kristen joined UNFI in 2012 in the Dayville, CT Human Resources office.  Kristen’s ability to multi-task will be a strong addition to our support team.  Kristen will support Nora Cline and Lori Davis, reporting to Nancy Semmelrock. 

Click here for a complete list of UNFI SRMs, contacts, category and line assignments

Local Supplier Development Update

We continue to build our Local Supplier Initiative at UNFI!  Our program is geared towards smaller, local suppliers producing great products in a region.  Our Local Program aids suppliers in building the supply chain support needed to achieve and/or improve distribution of their products. With specific onboarding education and marketing programs, the Program will support the successful launch of local brands.  Our Local Supplier Development Managers work with our sales team to identify key local opportunities for UNFI.

• For Brands in our Twin Cities market, please contact Tom Stadnik.
• For Brands on the East Coast, please contact Wendy Savoie.
• For Brands in other markets, please contact Kimberly Bentz.

Supplier Portal

UNFI’s new Supplier Portal is in place and many suppliers and brokers are taking advantage of it to send UNFI their new product information.  If you do not yet have a Supplier Portal account click here for a quick reference guide and short tutorial videos.  The portal allows you to:

• Provide your SRM with your new and updated warehouse information.
• Add additional users to the Supplier Portal from your organization.
• Appoint a broker to use the portal on your behalf.
• Submit and track new items.  

Over time, we will transition all new item submissions to the portal, but you can start with your next new item and experience the convenience of the portal workflow, communication, and item status tracking.

IX-One Fills the UNFI New Item Form (NIF)

IX-ONE has launched a new feature which saves time and increases accuracy for suppliers completing UNFI’s new item forms.  This easy-to-use feature populates most of the product information required on UNFI form; leaving only the UNFI-specific elements to be completed by the supplier or broker - such as price, terms, etc.  Visit http://www.ix-one.net/unfi-new-item-form-webinar/  for a recorded webinar showing this feature.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Winter Fancy Foods Show – January 17-19

UNFI’s Gourmet & Ethnic team will be co-hosting a booth with Tony’s Fine Foods at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, CA.  Please bring your customers and your appetites by to see us at booth #233 in the North Hall of the Moscone Center!

Orlando Tabletop Show – February 18-19

Shipper and Case Stack Show – February 24

On February 24th, the Gourmet & Ethnic team will be hosting our 2nd Annual Shipper & Case Stack show at Citi Field, home of the 2015 National League Champions NY Mets.  We will be featuring 150 suppliers and the show is open to all of our customers.  Click here to register and learn more.

Foxwoods Tabletop Show – May 11-12

Portland Tabletop Show – UNFI & Select Nutrition – June 8-9

The 2016 UNFI Portland Tabletop Show will be co-hosted with Select Nutrition!  Based on supplier feedback we have decided to merge the two shows. Suppliers for both divisions can now attend just one tabletop and sell from both divisions, depending on product availability.  Suppliers available in both divisions, called “crossover suppliers”, have the option to register with either division.  Show fees will be deducted from the division chosen.  We will take orders electronically; crossover suppliers will have an iPad for each division.  UNFI and Select Nutrition deals must match.

Hawaii Tabletop Show – July 15 – Save the Date!

UNFI and Select Nutrition will be co-hosting the 2016 Hawaii Tabletop Show at the Hilton Waikoloa Village in Kona, Hawaii.  Suppliers who are currently registered for the Orlando, Foxwoods and Portland Tabletop Shows will be given first priority for participation. We anticipate this show will sell out quickly due to a high level of interest and limited table availability!  Please register for the Hawaii Tabletop Show by emailing events@unfi.com. Once we receive a request in writing we will add the Hawaii Tabletop Show to your 2016 show registration.

UNFI NATIONAL SUPPLY CHAIN

New Management Structure

Inventory Planning and Replenishment (IPAR) and Inbound Logistics (IBL) have been joined together to form UNFI’s National Supply Chain department, headed up by Michael Seekins, VP National Supply Chain.  Jodi Booska (Chesterfield NH) and Nathan O’Rourke (Aurora CO) are managing the Director responsibilities nationally, reporting to Michael.  This new structure aligns the company’s supply chain execution functions under one umbrella to ensure the highest level of performance and customer support.

To bring a higher level of attention to regional customer needs, Jodi and Nathan are focused on East and West region customers respectively. This does not affect our national buying structure but rather supplements it by increasing understanding of regional differences.   Jodi is responsible for customers served out of East DCs (Chesterfield; Dayville; Hudson Valley; York; Atlanta; Sarasota; Greenwood; Racine; Twin City; Iowa City).   Nathan is responsible for customers served out of West DCs (Ridgefield; Auburn; Aurora; Moreno Valley; Rocklin; Lancaster).

Click here the National Supply Chain org chart.  Click here for a list of buyers with category and line assignments.  If you have any questions please reach out to your SRM, Buyer, or to Michael at mseekins@unfi.com or x32056.

Hitting our Stride with National Buying

In October, we announced that we completed our transition to a national buying team for most categories. Our national buying model has resulted in streamlined interactions between our buyers, supplier relationship managers and the supplier community. A single point of contact across the three parties allows us to respond more nimbly and oversee your product performance and trends across all regions.  Should you have any questions concerning IPAR’s nationalization, reach out to your buyer or contact us at IPARnationalization@unfi.com.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER NEWS

New DC in Gilroy, CA

We are excited to announce the opening of our Gilroy, CA facility!  The IPAR team has begun placing purchase orders for Gilroy, which contain a PO ETA Date. This is the date by which we want the product to arrive at the DC.   Our Inbound Logistics team (IBL) will be coordinating pick-ups and receiving appointments.  Please do not ship any POs to arrive earlier than the assigned receiving week!  Receiving appointments can be requested by emailing:  gilappts@unfi.com.

Customers will transition from Rocklin to Gilroy in 3 phases.  The first 2 phases for Gilroy will be 10 Whole Foods Market stores in each phase. Over time you will notice a decrease in your Rocklin volume.

In order for us to successfully place purchase orders, it is critical that you set up the new Gilroy location in your system prior to go-live of the distribution center.  The Gilroy DC address, DUNS number and other details are on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site:  https://unfinc.zendesk.com/entries/98534807-UNFI-s-Newest-DC-Gilroy-CA

Key Dates for Gilroy Opening

Now	POs being placed
2/15/2016	Receiving begins
3/27/2016	Shipping begins

Leicester DC Transition

In March of 2016, UNFI will consolidate our Leicester MA operations into our Dayville CT distribution center. Please direct any questions to your SRM.

Key Dates for Leicester > Dayville Transition

2/5/2016	Last POs placed for Leicester
3/5/2016	Transition Weekend
3/7/2016	Last ship out of Leicester
3/8/2016	First ship out of Dayville

Iowa City Distribution Center Downtime - January 22

We will not be accepting deliveries to our Iowa City DC on Friday January 22, while we convert the DC to a new warehouse management system – WM2012, the same system that 6 of our other DCs currently use. Iowa City operations leadership and associates are ready for the change, and training is on-going up until go-live.  Our schedule will return to normal for orders delivered on Sunday, January 24th. We have contacted you if you are impacted by the downtime, however, if you have any questions please contact your SRM.

MARKETING NEWS

Honest Green’s e-Commerce is E-Xploding!

We are happy to announce the launch of a new marketing initiative for our Honest Green e-commerce segment.  In FY15, Honest Green sales grew 172% overall and we’re anticipating those sales to double again in FY16 as the consumer demand for purchasing groceries on-line continues to surge.

We will now be offering the opportunity to reach Honest Green’s wide customer base of eCommerce customers by placing banner ads on its ordering portal, as well as in our direct-to-customer emails.

• New area for our suppliers to grow with, allowing you to reach out to a new source of potential customers.
• Available only for suppliers with products available in Hudson Valley and Select Nutrition warehouses.
• Honest Green’s customer base includes large e-tailers, and national retailers, as well as small online marketers.

For more information, contact Laurie Donohue.

UNFI Customer Portal Special Focuses

Each month the UNFI Customer Portal focuses on popular events that spur additional sales. Coming up soon:

• February is Focus on Fitness.  The Portal’s Recommended Products page will feature B-Corp suppliers and Celebrating Vegetarians
• March is our Organics Quiz.  The Recommended Products page will feature Spring Cleaning
• April is Earth Day Celebration. The Recommended Products page will feature a Table Top Showcase

Space is limited! To participate, contact Laurie Donohue.

Foodservice Opportunities

Don’t forget that our Foodservice segment is growing FAST! UNFI offers marketing programs that are exclusive to our foodservice customers, including:

• Foodservice Triannual Catalog
• Get It While It’s Hot Foodservice Ezine – focused on new and trending products
• Sizzlers Deals – special quarterly deals promoted by our foodservice channel managers directly to foodservice customers.

For more information, contact Joannie Berriman.

Plan Now for Holiday 2016!

We are already planning our 2016 Holiday Essentials Catalog. This catalog replaces our Holiday Edition Catalog and will feature key natural, organic and gourmet/specialty open-stock holiday items geared towards Independent and Supermarket retailers, with 10,000+ copies in circulation. Promotions are desired but not required.  Deadline is 2/12/16.  For more information, contact Emma Padden.

HEALTHY Clippings® Coupon Opportunities

One of UNFI’s strongest marketing programs is our HEALTHY Clippings® quarterly coupon program. For each participating supplier approximately 200,000 coupons are distributed to independent retailers. We are currently working on our spring program.  To be included contact Emma Padden. by the end of January.

Independent Channel Data

Do you need to track product sales and target the Independent Channel? The Supplier In-Site program (SIS) is a web-based tool that provides quarterly updated reports with five rolling quarters worth of data available at all times.  The majority of reports featured in SIS focus on UNFI’s Top 500 Independent Retailers, representing approximately 70% of Independent Channel Sales.  For more information, contact Emma Padden.

Your Brands Matter!

Our suppliers have told us that it’s sometimes confusing to navigate through all our marketing programs. They’ve asked us to put all the information in one place for easy access to information, forms and rates. UNFI is excited to unveil a new website that does all this and more! Visit www.yourbrandsmatter.com for UNFI program info, forms and valuable articles on the latest marketing trends for our industry.

DEDUCTIONS TEAM NEWS

The Deductions team has recently increased staffing resources and improved processes in order to reduce the turnaround time on resolving disputes.  Click here for a list of contacts for the various deduction disputes types.  Please direct any questions to your SRM or Joe Gordon.

October 2015 Supplier Community Update

Welcome, Suppliers. I'm happy to share our fall roundup of UNFI supplier news with you. I’d also like to remind you to visit another key resource, our Supplier Support Site.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (SRM)

New Team Members

• Aaron May, Supplier Relationship Manager.  Aaron comes from our National Marketing department. He will be responsible for Perishable and Frozen categories:  Perishable: Butter; Eggs; Milk and Milk Products; Frozen: Desserts; Breakfast; Ice Cream: Novelties, Sorbet and Gelato.  Aaron is based in our Providence, RI office. 
• Bob Meyer, Supplier Relationship Manager.  Bob comes from our procurement team, a great background for his new role. He will be responsible for Perishable and Frozen categories: Refrigerated: Yogurt; Beverages; Bakery; Cheese and Cheese Alternatives; Frozen: Desserts. Bob is based in our Providence, RI office.
• Tom Stadnik, Local Supplier Development Manager for the Twin Cities region. Tom was most recently Senior Channel Account Manager at UNFI for Lund’s & Byerly’s.  He is based in our Twin Cities distribution center.
• Jamie Quebec, Supplier Relationship Management Coordinator.  For the past three years, Jamie has been on our National Supplier Development team and has been instrumental in handling key account new items and activation requests nationally.  She will support Richard Bruns, Aaron May, and Tom Stadnik. Jamie is based in our Providence, RI office.

SRM Contact List and Category Assignments 

Click here for the latest SRM contact and category information.

Supplier Portal Launched

The rolling launch of our new Supplier Portal has begun. This portal allows you to:

• Directly manage your own contact and warehouse information, ensuring that we have your most up to date and relevant information.
• Add additional users to the Supplier Portal from your organization and appoint a broker to use the portal on your behalf.
• Submit and track new items.  Over time, we will transition all new item submissions to the portal, but you can start with your next new item and experience the convenience of the portal workflow, communication, and item status tracking.
• (Coming soon) Submit promotions. 

Click here for a quick reference guide and short tutorial videos.  If you need help getting started, please contact SupplierSupport@unfi.com.

Local Supplier Focus

Our Local Supplier Development Team is continuing to ramp-up. Our focus is on small, locally based suppliers. We’re constantly looking for new and innovative products. This team supports the successful launch of new brands by working closely with suppliers through on-boarding education, assistance in building marketing strategy and programs, and is a single point of contact throughout the distribution process. If interested, reach out to Kimberly Bentz.

Supply Chain by ClearVue

This new program is designed to provide you with heightened transparency through demand planning, forecasting and procurement resources, and insights.  We offer weekly and monthly reporting enabling you to identify key areas of sales growth potential, while pinpointing specific productivity opportunities.  Reporting includes:

• Monthly forecasting by product and by distribution center.
• Weekly visibility into UNFI sales and inventories:
• Weekly Sales by product, by distribution center, and by week over the last two years.
• Weekly Inventories On Hand & On Order by product and by distribution center.
• Weekly Service Level reports for the Supplier and Retailer.
• Subscription to the Supplier In-Site Program; 26 reports focused on our top 500 Independent Accounts.
• Quarterly Subscription to the Supplier Break-Out Report, showing sales for many customers. 

Reach out to your SRM for more details and to sign up.

2016 Tabletop Shows

Three tabletop shows are planned for 2016: Orlando, FL (February 18-19); Foxwoods, CT (May 11-12) and Portland, OR (June 8-9).  We made slight modifications to our registration process for 2016.  Every supplier must sign up using our portal: http://www.cvent.com/d/wrqvg2.

After completion of your registration, you must submit your completed UNFI Tabletop Show Form to tabletoppromotions@unfi.com. In order for your registration to be complete, each of the following must be done- we will notify you upon completion of each step by the deadline date:

• Your participation approval by UNFI. 
• Your deals submitted, completely and accurately.  
• Your payment received. 

Deadlines are as follows:

Show	Deadline
Orlando, FL	11/13/15
Foxwoods, CT	3/4/16
Portland, OR	3/25/16

Please contact your SRM with any questions.

2016 Supplier/Broker Deadline Schedule

Click here for the updated schedule.

Policy Update

UNFI is a federal contractor, and suppliers providing goods or services necessary to the performance of federal contracts are subject to federal non-discrimination, affirmative action and notification regulations as “subcontractors” if they meet certain jurisdictional standards and are not exempt under the regulations. UNFI is required to notify all subcontractors that it has a policy of  affirmative action in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-741.5(a), 60-300.5(a) and  60-1.4(a) with respect to recruiting, hiring, retaining and promoting qualified individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, as well as with respect to other protected groups for which placement goals have been established.  Suppliers are requested to take appropriate action in support of UNFI’s policy and affirmative action efforts.


SUPPLY CHAIN

Inventory Planning and Replenishment (IPAR) is National

The past year marked an effort to transition most supplier category lines from the experience of working with multiple buyers to a single buyer point of contact for our East and West regions. As we enter the holiday season, we are pleased to acknowledge the full transition to a buyer single point of contact for those impacted category lines.

Many suppliers have already provided feedback concerning the benefits of the streamlined relationship on the buying front. Thank you for your patience as we worked through the transition. We look forward to fully operating as a national function and to better support supplying your products to the market.

If you have additional questions concerning IPAR’s nationalization, reach out to your current buyer or email IPARnationalization@unfi.com.

IPAR Management Alignment

The IPAR Management team has been realigned:

Director	Purchasing Manager	Primary Category
Jodi Booska	Jared Clark Brenton Hall	Chill & Private Label
Melissa Christian	Eric Cote Wendy Sharp	Grocery
Nathan O’Rourke	Tracy Hanson	Frozen, HBC

New Distribution Center Opening: Gilroy, CA

In our communication last quarter, we shared information on the opening of our next state-of-the-art LEED certified distribution center in Gilroy, CA. While we’re eager to unveil our newest warehouse facility, there are adjustments to the timeline. The first receiving date will now be February 15, and the first shipping date will be March 27, 2016.

Deductions Disputes Contacts

Contacts for deduction disputes/issues by region are as follows:

Eastern Region
Term discount disputes – ERap@unfi.com
SAS & SHFRT disputes – unfifrt@sasrecovery.com
All other disputes – Deductions@unfi.com

Western Region
Term discount, invoice deduction, RTV, UNFI ad billings, concealed damages, third party billings without a CSO cover sheet disputes – Accounts Payable West 1-800-679-8735 EXT # 53451

MCB reports, PLCs, PARs, Overpulls, Unsalables, Pack Change, Split Case, third party billings with a CSO cover sheet disputes – Deductions@unfi.com

Electronic Manufacturer Chargeback (MCB) Report

We currently send MCB data via sortable electronic report from our Eastern Region business system and via PDF report for suppliers on the Western business system.  A sortable report is under development for the West.  Please contact Joe Gordon with questions.


GOURMET & ETHNIC

New Team Member

• Nicholas Medeiros, National Associate Supplier Relationship Manager. Nicholas will manage Hispanic and Kosher categories.  Prior to joining us, he was a nutritional research assistant for various mobile fruit stands at Brown University. His responsibilities were replenishment, merchandising, and marketing, which enabled him to help provide low income communities access to fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Position Change

• Meredith Griffith, Customer Promotions Specialist.  Meredith joins the Gourmet & Ethnic team after working with the AHOLD Account Specialist team, which is a great asset in her new position. She has been with UNFI for five years, and is now responsible for securing incremental promotions and creating sales programs. 

Gourmet & Ethnic Marketing Programs

The Gourmet & Ethnic channel has added new marketing programs to their arsenal, giving the entire UNFI sales force more exposure to key items. Programs include:

• Hot Items, directly from the desks of our SRMs
• Bi-weekly publication highlighting items that are on trend and appropriate for the particular selling season.
• Monthly Savers
• Monthly publication that features key items for the channel with incremental funding in the form of case stacks, etc.
• National Pallet Program
• Seasonal program that features pallet buys across all channels and classes of trade.
• Sofi Finalists/Winners
• Semi-annual publication that showcases both Sofi finalists and winners from the Fancy Food show.

We will be launching a publication titled “A Dash of Gourmet,” highlighting topics specific to Gourmet & Ethnic suppliers, programs and customers.  This publication will be applicable to customers, suppliers and internal associates.  We look forward to sharing these bi-monthly updates.

For more information on any of these programs, please contact  Joe Roy, Arin Donahue, Ginger Lynch, Sierra Connolly or Nick Medeiros.


MARKETING

Now you can access in-depth information on all our Marketing programs online. For more information including rates and to download order forms, click here.

Independent Channel Data

Do you need to track product sales and target the Independent Channel? The Supplier In-Site program (SIS) is a web-based tool that provides quarterly updated reports with five rolling quarters worth of data available at all times.  The majority of reports featured in SIS focus on our Top 500 Independent Retailers, representing approximately 70% of Independent Channel Sales.  For more information, click here.

On the Road

We have a fleet of over 1,000 trailers all over the country. Market your brand on the road by reaching millions of consumers directly. For more information, click here.

Ads & Inserts Deadlines

Please note Ads & Inserts for the Monthly Specials publications are due to us, or to our printer, on the first of the month three months in advance. (i.e. For February 2016 publications,  your Ads & Inserts are due November 1, 2015.) View the full schedule here.


THRIVE/ SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY

CORE

CORE will replace our regional legacy computer systems with one enterprise business system and is the culmination of Thrive. We are taking decisive steps forward to create a single, tightly integrated technology platform to support the “UNFI of the Future”.

We will continue to keep you updated as we mark important milestones, which impact our supplier community.

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

July 2015 Supplier Community Update

Welcome, Suppliers. Thank you for joining us this quarter to stay current on UNFI supplier news. I’d also like to remind you to utilize our Supplier Support Site, another key resource for maximizing opportunities with UNFI.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT (SRM)

Here are the latest updates from the SRM team:

Position Changes

Mark Slattery joined the SRM team as Promotions Manager. Mark has been with UNFI in various positions, and most recently as a Manager on the Commercial Strategy team.

Kiva Shogren has left the company to pursue other interests. As a result, we have implemented a coverage plan for her lines until a replacement has been named:

• Perishable Condiments – Laura Russo
• Perishable Desserts – James Gouin
• Butter/Soft Cheese – Richard Bruns
• Milk & Cream – Richard Bruns
• Yogurt & Cultured Beverages – James Gouin
• Eggs – Richard Bruns
• Frozen Breakfast, Bread & Baked Goods – Melissa Farkas

SRM Contact List and Category Assignments

Click here for the latest SRM contact and category information.

Supplier Portal Launch

We have begun Beta testing our new Supplier Portal and expect a rolling-launch later this year. Once you receive further information, follow the instructions to take the first step of adding your company’s contact information. From there, you can add information such as warehouse availability, new item submissions, and promotions. We will continue to add features based on your feedback.

Local Supplier Focus

UNFI has launched a new initiative geared toward local suppliers with a dedicated team that supports small or start-up suppliers in key regions across the country.

Local Supplier Development Managers will seek new product ideas and suppliers in their region to bring to market. Working closely with customers and UNFI sales, Local Supplier Development Managers will focus on local trends, new products, and assortments. In a business advisory role, our Local Supplier Development teams will support the growth of new local suppliers in all facets of the distribution channel. This initiative is being led by Kimberly Bentz, Local Supplier Development Group Manager.

Regulatory Document Compliance and Maintenance Software

UNFI’s new supplier regulatory document compliance and maintenance software, TraceGains, will be implemented within the next few months. TraceGains allows you to send documents required by UNFI, such as certificates of insurance and food safety regulatory documents, via email for automatic upload for review by UNFI. Through TraceGains you will also be alerted on missing or non-compliant documents.

Suppliers have the option of becoming part of the TraceGains community and can set up an account with TraceGains, free of charge. This is not a necessity, but it is an added benefit.

For more information on how TraceGains works visit www.tracegains.com. Kristin Andreozzi, UNFI Legal and Regulatory Compliance Administrator, is coordinating this project for UNFI. More information will be coming later this summer.

SUPPLY CHAIN

National Model Update for Inventory Planning and Replenishment (IPAR)

Progress has been made as we implement a national buying model. Many suppliers are now working with one buyer for both East and West distribution centers. We will continue to stagger the implementation of this model throughout the summer and early fall of 2015.

Your current buyer will be in touch with more information. Email IPARnationalization@unfi.com with any additional questions.

Twin Cities Distribution Center Delivery Address

This is the correct address for inbound carries to use for deliveries to UNFI's Twin Cities Distribution Center.  Please update your records.
               
UNFI
1101 Dexter Street N.
At the intersection of US 10 and Hwy  35
North Prescott, WI 54021

Final Twin Cities Distribution Center Customer Transitions

Our Twin Cities Distribution Center (DC), located near Prescott, WI, has over 22,000 items. Local Trudeau business was transitioned to this building and we have moved select customers from our Iowa City DC to the Twin Cities DC. Final customer transitions from the Iowa City DC will occur the week of July 12, 2015.

New Distribution Center Opening in Gilroy, CA

Our newest state-of-the-art LEED certified distribution center in Gilroy, CA, is scheduled to begin receiving orders on August 17, 2015 and begin shipping to customers on September 25. Similar to the Twin Cities and Ridgefield distribution centers, the Gilroy DC will operate on the Warehouse Management (WM) 2012 system.

• Gilroy DC Location information
• Address: 6351 Cameron Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020
• DUNS: 9435561830038
• Phone: 408-846-1780
• Setting Gilroy up in your system
• In order for us to successfully place Purchase Orders, it is critical that you set up the new Gilroy location in your system prior to go-live of the distribution center.
• To schedule an appointment, suppliers will email GILAppts@UNFI.com, once available.
• Many things remain the same. Here are things that will not change:
• UNFI account numbers
• Your UNFI Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM)
• Your UNFI Accounts Receivable contacts
• Your UNFI remit to address
• Your UNFI Buyer will remain the same as Rocklin
• Purchase Orders
• Mailing of Invoices
• Deductions Questions
• Customers will transition over in 4 phases:
• Phase 1: 9/25/15
• Phase 2: 10/30/2015
• Phase 3: 1/30/2016
• Phase 4: 2/27/2016

Please contact your SRM for assistance. Click here for a complete list of UNFI Warehouse DUNS information.

“Blackout” Period for Supplier Cost Changes

This year, the Supplier Cost Change “Blackout” period has been modified. For Safeway exclusive items, UNFI will not accept cost changes with effective dates between October 1 and December 31, 2015. All cost changes for these items will need to be effective prior to, or after, this time.  Contact your SRM or Joe Gordon with questions.

Electronic Manufacturer Chargeback (MCB) Report

Last year, UNFI replaced paper MCB reports with sortable electronic reporting from our Eastern Region business system. In July, we will be introducing a weekly PDF report of MCBs for suppliers on the Western business system. A sortable report is under development.  Please contact Joe Gordon  with questions.

Administrative Fees

Effective August 1, 2015, UNFI will change the minimum Administrative Fee for processing retailer marketing and advertising support billings to $75.00. Please contact your SRM or Joe Gordon with any questions.

MARKETING

Independent Channel Data

Do you need to track product sales and target the Independent Channel? The Supplier In-Site program (SIS) is a web-based tool that provides quarterly updated reports with five rolling quarters worth of data available at all times. The majority of reports featured in SIS focus on UNFI’s Top 500 Independent Retailers, representing approximately 70% of Independent Channel Sales.

Contact Aaron May at 401-528-8634 ext 32499, or click here for more information.

New Opportunities on the Web

Additional advertising options will be available in August 2015 on the UNFI Customer Portal:

• Specified Category Ads - Suppliers can advertise at the top of a specified category page related to their products
• Recommended Products Page - Featuring only 10 products each month, this page will feature trending brands and items.
• Quick Entry Page - Space is available at the top of this streamlined Retailer ordering page.

Contact Laurie Donohue for rates and to reserve space, or click here for more information.

On the Road

UNFI has a fleet of over 1,000 trailers all over the country. Market your brand on the road by reaching millions of consumers directly. Click here for more information.

THRIVE/ SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY

CORE

UNFI is completing the first phase of CORE, a multi-year program which will replace our East and West business systems with one core business system. In its first phase, we completed a comprehensive analysis of key requirements to evaluate technology vendors.  We will continue to keep you updated as we progress.

eCommerce Fulfillment for Suppliers

UNFI has made eCommerce enhancements that allow us to offer you eCommerce fulfillment services nationwide for your smallest accounts, including accounts that may order sporadically, with UPS shipment from our Hudson Valley, NY and Philadelphia, PA distribution centers.

UNFI eCommerce also offers drop ship services for etailers who are asking you to drop ship eaches or cases direct to consumers, but which you are unable or not interested in providing. You can simply forward those requests to the UNFI eCommerce Services team and we will get them selling your product online quickly. To fully participate, UNFI requires product information such as label images and ingredients. The easiest way to convey these materials to UNFI is to join IX-ONE , an industry-wide solution for product data and images.

eCommerce is an added service for our suppliers, provided at no cost to you. For more information on eCommerce, contact HonestGreen@UNFI.com or click here for more details on the Hudson Valley, NY grocery assortment just added to the eCommerce program.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

We are closer to utilizing EDI to its full capacity with Purchase Order (PO) confirmations. EDI is an electronic communication platform designed for data exchange between UNFI and our suppliers. With upgrades that include PO confirmation capabilities, the benefits in time-savings and accuracy will increase. We understand not all of our suppliers currently use this platform, so we will be working with you as we implement EDI in July and August 2015.

Bob Meyer, UNFI Director of Inventory Planning and Replenishment is coordinating this project. More information will be provided in upcoming weeks.



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

UNFI Supplier Community Update

Welcome, Suppliers. Thank you for joining us this spring quarter to stay current on UNFI supplier news. I’d also like to remind you to visit our Supplier Support Site, another key resource for maximizing opportunities with us.

SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT

Here are the latest updates to our team:

Position Changes

• Maureen Hines will take on management responsibilities of all Grocery Supplier Relationship Managers with the following direct reports:  Capri Miller, Wendy Savoie, Melissa Ricardy, Greg Esslinger, Jessica Clancy, Nancy Willard, Kelli Menard, David Lotti, and Lori Davis.
• Meagan Kessel will manage all ClearVue Supplier Relationship Managers.  Direct reports include:  Lisa Jorgensen, Jessica Meyer, Amie Thayer, and Amy Rooney. 
• Lisa Jorgensen will transition to the ClearVue team.  
• Wendy Savoie will transition to the Snack category. She will be responsible for Grocery Salty Snacks and Packaged Salty Snacks.
• Kelli Menard transitioned to the following Grocery categories: Cocktail/Drink Mixes & Additives, Waters, and Tea; Ready-to-Drink and Dry.  
• Valarie Rozokat transitioned to the following Personal Care categories: Hand & Body Lotion, Oral Hygiene, Sun Care, and Feminine Hygiene.  She reports to Lisa Madsen.

New Additions

• Darla Snyder joined UNFI’s SRM team managing Supplement categories including: Food Supplements, Multivitamins, and Sport Supplements: Ointments & Medical Creams. She has extensive retail background in the natural channel and has experience managing supplement brands. Darla will be located in our Providence office and report to Lisa Madsen.
• Capri Miller joined the SRM team as Supplier Relationship Manager.  Since 2008, Capri held positions of increasing responsibility over the course of her tenure at UNFI.  She will manage the following Grocery categories:  Sweeteners: Dry & Liquid; Packaged Snacks: Nuts, Dried Fruits & Trail Mixes; Baking; and Jerky.  
• Lori Davis will transition into a Supplier Relationship Manager role.  She joined UNFI in 2012, and held positions of increasing responsibility within the SRM team.  Lori will manage the following Grocery categories:  Pasta Sauces, Pastas, Tomato & Tomato Products, and Specialty Crackers & Cookies.  
• Gail Moran joined the SRM team as Associate Supplier Relationship Manager.  Previously, she worked with new suppliers and products for the National Supplier Development team. Gail will be handling key projects for the SRM team, and will report to Nancy Semmelrock.  
• Liliana Goncalves joined the SRM team as Supplier Relationship Support Coordinator.  Liliana joined UNFI in July 2013 working in the IPAR department as an Administrative Assistant.  She will support Lisa Jorgensen and Greg Esslinger, and will report to Nancy Semmelrock.
• Christine Gauthier will transition to Supplier Relationship Support Coordinator.  Christine has been with UNFI since 1995, and will now support Robyn Romano and report directly to Nancy Semmelrock. 
• Kimberly Bentz recently joined the UNFI and SRM team as Regional Supplier Development Group Manager.  Kimberly has significant supply chain experience and will be responsible for managing the new Regional Supplier Development team.  Kimberly will be based out of our Racine, WI location, and will report directly to Melissa Angle.  

SRM Contact List and Category Assignments

Click here for the latest SRM contact and category information.

Supplier Portal Testing to Begin

To increase communication with suppliers and brokers, UNFI is developing a Supplier Portal that will include new item setup, promotional information delivery, and other key processes. Beta testing is scheduled for this spring.

SUPPLY CHAIN

National Model for Inventory Planning & Replenishment (IPAR)

Last year, UNFI implemented a leading purchasing platform, Inventory Optimization (IO), which provides enhanced insight for smarter buying decisions. Today, the IPAR team is evolving to take full advantage of the IO platform.

We have begun piloting national buying desks, and a full-scale staggered implementation will take place throughout the summer of 2015. When fully implemented, suppliers will work with one buyer for both East and West distribution centers. As we finalize the anticipated buyer-supplier relationship changes, UNFI will maintain one of your current buyer contacts, where possible, in an effort to maximize expertise.

Your current buyer will be in touch with more information.  For additional questions, email IPARnationalization@unfi.com.

To facilitate the national procurement model, IPAR Director responsibilities have changed:

• Jodi Booska, previously responsible for Grocery and Private Label categories, will now head Dairy/Chill. 
• Nathan O’Rourke will retain Frozen in addition to Grocery and Private Label categories. 

Hudson Valley Customer Transition is Complete

Monday, March 30, 2015 marked the completion of Phase VI customer moves. All large-scale customer transitions are complete, and Hudson Valley is servicing all customers as originally planned.

GOURMET & ETHNIC 

Successful Shipper Show

With over 95 suppliers and orders placed for more than 85 customers, the first annual Gourmet & Ethnic Shipper Show in Woodcliff Lakes, NJ was a success! Thank you to all our supplier and broker partners who supported this event.

For information on upcoming Gourmet & Ethnic marketing opportunities, please contact your Gourmet & Ethnic SRM.

Gourmet & Ethnic Feature at Foxwoods Tabletop Show

UNFI’s  Gourmet & Ethnic Channel will host a new feature at this year’s Foxwoods Tabletop Show, May 13 – 14th, 2015 at Fox Tower, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, CT.  Located in the Celebrity Ballroom, Customer Experience will feature several Gourmet & Ethnic suppliers as well as celebrity appearances, cooking and mixology demonstrations, holiday displays, sampling, merchandising displays and more.

MARKETING

UNFI Customer Portal Banner Ads Show Significant ROI

We’ve analyzed response and sales activity from six supplier banner ad program participants. During the months ads ran, the average retailer traffic increase to that product listing page was 410%, and the average increase of sold units neared 34%. With a supplier running a two month ad on the New Products page, sales increased by 300%.

For more information on featuring your banner ad on the UNFI customer portal, click here, or contact Laurie Donohue for more details.

IX-ONE Product Information Exchange Platform 

Launched in collaboration with leading industry partners, IX-ONE is the industry-wide solution for product information exchange. Scanning 360° images, IX-ONE captures over 20 images and 500 data points per item, including label-based claims, third party certifications, and attributes. Supply chain and logistic information, such as weight and dimensions, are also captured, creating a centralized hub for manufacturers to access and share information.

UNFI supports the adoption of IX-ONE and encourages membership for all suppliers. For more information, visit www.IX-ONE.net.

International Selling Opportunities

Not sure what to do with international tradeshow leads? Are potential international customers reaching out to you for purchases and you don’t know where to start? You have a partner in UNFI and since we are your customer, there is not a financial risk in this class of trade. Our experts can partner with you to assist in consolidation and international shipping and documentation. Click here for more information.

THRIVE / SUPPLY CHAIN TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

Twin Cities Distribution Center Opening

UNFI’s newest state-of-the-art, LEED-designed warehouse opens this month in Prescott, WI. This distribution center, referred to as our Twin Cities location, will help us better serve the needs of customers and suppliers in a growing market, as well as helping grow the local economy. It will provide an expanded product offering, with thousands of items from Trudeau Distributing and Albert’s Organics added to UNFI’s industry leading product assortment. Shipping is scheduled to being April 27th, 2015.

Transitions at Ridgefield Distribution Center

UNFI’s Ridgefield distribution center has been operating on the Warehouse Management (WM) 2009 system, and will convert to an updated WM 2012 system in July. This warehouse management platform transition includes voice selection, directed put-away and replenishment logic, and will positively impact our product selection accuracy.

CORE

UNFI has initiated a project to replace our East and West business with an integrated, enterprise-wide business system. We are calling this project CORE.

The primary objections are:

• Build a platform for future growth
• Enhance our ability to support our customers and suppliers
• Create efficiencies through streamlined business processes
• Enable One UNFI through standardized technology
• Mitigate risk by replacing obsolete systems and technology

We will provide you with ongoing timely updates on our progress, and outline key improvements and benefits to our supplier community.

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

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 (SRM)

Here are the latest updates to our team:

Position Changes

• Lisa Madsen has been promoted to our newest SRM Group Manager. Lisa will be responsible for the HABA, Supplements and Non-Foods team with the following direct reports: Kelli Menard, Nora Cline and Robyn Romano. 
• Laura Russo has been promoted to SRM. Laura started with UNFI in 2011 as a Purchasing Assistant and then moved to a SRM Support Administrator role in November 2013. Laura will begin transitioning over the next month, reporting to Richard Bruns. She’ll be responsible for the management of:  Perishable: Macrobiotic foods/Tofu/Miso, Meat Alternatives, Dips and Salsas, and Condiments; Frozen: Fruits and Vegetables, Pizza, Entrees, and Pasta.   
• Lisa Jorgensen will transition to the snack category over the next month. She will report to Maureen Hines and be responsible for: Grocery Salty Snacks, Packaged Snacks and Dips/Salsas.  

Contact List and Category Assignments

Click here for the latest SRM contact and category information.

New Item and New Supplier Setup Packets

We still occasionally receive the “old” paperwork for New Item and New Supplier requests. To ensure the quickest and most accurate turnaround, please be sure to use the current forms.

RETAIL CATEGORY MANAGEMENT (RCM)

Supplier Meeting Form

To help you prepare materials for our category review meetings, we have created a Meeting Request Form that we’ll send to you several months before the category review posting date. If you are not currently receiving an email that includes an invite to participate in these meetings, please contact Julia Haines.

Deductions Dispute Form

In order to assist with timely and accurate resolution of deduction disputes, please make sure to complete the form with all applicable information. Much of the time taken to resolve disputes involves follow up to gather this information. Please submit forms to deductions@unfi.com. 

SUPPLY CHAIN

Distribution Center Ordering Insights

• Hudson Valley, NY: Three groups of customers will be moved from Dayville to Hudson Valley. On January 18th, we’re moving more independent retailers. On February 22nd, the first half of the Whole Foods New England region stores start shipping from Hudson Valley, and on March 29th the second half begins.
• Twin Cities, MN: Our new building is well on its way to completion. Click here to learn more about it. We start receiving product in mid-April and you will start to see purchase orders in February. There are five waves planned to move business in: Wave 1 moves our Trudeau business from Minnesota for a first ship on April 27th. Waves 2, 3 and 4 (May 31, June 28 and August 2 respectively) will move business from our Iowa City and Racine facilities. Wave 5 will be our last, moving Albert’s Organics from Mounds View. 

Twin Cities

Twin Cities

Changes to Purchase Order Scheduling and Receiving Processes

Click here to see the changes we are making to our scheduling and receiving processes.

Notification of Supplier Shortages on Purchase Orders

Whether you’re coordinating a shipment to our facilities or we’re picking up your product at your facility, we need to know exactly what is shipping so we can change your purchase order in our system to match. We would like at least 96 hours notice before it leaves your dock of any changes from the original confirmation you made of our order. This information rolls to our appointment schedulers so they know how many cases are being booked for a facility and can let our drivers know how many pallets they are picking up. This crucial step is listed in our Supplier Policies and ensures we have a smooth flow from your dock to ours.

As a reminder:

• Confirm all POs within 24 hours of receipt
• If anything changes from this confirmation, let us know the exact details as soon as possible, at least 96 hours from the PO leaving your dock

MARKETING

New Printer for UNFI East Region Publications

Beginning with the April Monthly Specials we’ll use Kase Printing, Inc., a printer committed to green business practices. Kase uses Forest Stewardship Council Certified paper exclusively, invests in wind-powered electricity, uses soy-based inks and has a printing process that does not require harsh chemicals. Kase can print your inserts honoring the same discounted rate as our prior printer RIPON. If you have already sent printed inserts or artwork to RIPON for April or a future publication month, we are working with them to get it shipped to Kase at no cost to you. Please reach out to ads@unfi.com with any questions and see our updated Ad Specs and Parameters.

Exhibit at the UNFI 2015 Tabletop Shows

Don’t miss this great opportunity to get in front of buyers from the natural, organic and healthy product industry to write orders. Space is limited and we will sell out, so register now:

• 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

If you have any questions, contact events@unfi.com. 

Focus on Fitness Web Advertising Package

After a stressful holiday season filled with rich foods and drinks, February is a time when people refocus on their health. Our Focus on Fitness multi-media marketing program includes banner ads, email marketing and video to communicate your message to our retailers. Click here for more information.

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, is now in use across all of our buying offices. It will provide us enhanced insight and reporting to better meet the needs of our suppliers and customers.
• Lawson Accounts Receivable (AR) is our new, unified accounts receivable application now in use across the company. It will provide us many benefits around transaction processing and collections.
• CORE is a new project that will deliver one technology platform across the company, replacing our two current business systems. It will make it easier to do business with us by providing one set of processes and technology, regardless of region.
• One Source, a project that will provide better national data, standardized reports and enhanced analytics, is on track as we work toward our goal of being able to better share this type of information with you.

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