January 2018 Supplier Community Update

Supplier Management (SM) Updates

UNFI is pleased to announce the following new team members and team member roles.  An updated list of UNFI Supplier Managers (SMs), contact info, line, and category assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

New Team Members 

Katrina Eichenfeldt, Supplier Manager - ClearVue, Providence, RI.  Katrina brings over 10 years of experience on both the broker and supplier side of the business.  Outside of the office, Katrina enjoys traveling the world and seeing live music.  She reports to Jessica Meyer.

Nick Clemente, Supplier Manager, Providence, RI.  Nick began his career at UNFI in 2016 as a Purchasing Assistant.  Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Buyer and then again to Buyer II.  Nick reports to Maureen Hines and is responsible for Water, Water Additives, Ready to Drink Teas, and Functional Beverages.

Dan Chace, Supplier Manager, Providence, RI.  Dan has been with UNFI for 5 years in roles of increasing responsibility, spending the last 2 years with Blue Marble Brands as a Purchasing Manager.  Outside of work, Dan can be found spending time with his 2 year old daughter Emma.  Dan reports to Joe Roy and is responsible for Cookies and Crackers.

Grace Lachona, Supplier Development Manager, New York, NY.  Prior to UNFI, Grace worked for Paul Hastings LLP in Life Science Litigation Management.  Grace reports to Wendy Savoie and is responsible for UNFI Next Suppliers in the New York region.

Janice Barcomb, Supplier Coordinator, Chesterfield, NH.  Janice has been with UNFI since 2014 as a Purchasing Assistant.  She is an active volunteer with our Helping Hands team and has participated in many events to support the community.  Janice reports to Nancy Semmelrock and will be supporting Tracy Dearborn, Don Jenks, and Valarie Rozokat.

Kailey Beland, Supplier Coordinator, Providence, RI.  Kailey began her career in the medical field as a Registered Medical Assistant in an Urgent Care office and later moved into a Pediatrics office.  She likes photography, travel, and spending time with her 1 year old daughter Kinsley.  Kailey reports to Nancy Semmelrock and will be supporting Arin Donahue.

Jennifer Nelson, Supplier Coordinator, Providence, RI.  Jennifer graduated from the University of Maryland with a BA in History and served for 10 months in the AmeriCorps program teaching underprivileged communities in Eastern Connecticut about Public Health.  Jennifer reports to Nancy Semmelrock and will be supporting Barbara Beland and Nick Clemente.

New Roles 

Jessica Meyer, Group Manager - ClearVue, Providence, RI.  Jessica has been with UNFI for the past four years as a ClearVue Supplier Manager.  Jessica reports to Meagan Kessel.

Kelli Menard, Supplier Manager - ClearVue, Providence, RI.  Kelli has taken on a new role as a Supplier Manager for our ClearVue team.  She has worked for UNFI for over three years.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, Cruz. Kelli reports to Jessica Meyer.

Liz Lada, Supplier Onboarding Specialist, Providence, RI.  Liz has been with UNFI for 13 years holding roles in Customer Service, Coding, and Supplier Management.  She enjoys travel and photography and has volunteered with the BSA for over 15 years.  Liz reports to Julie Roper.

Jessica Chandler, Supplier Onboarding Specialist, Providence, RI.  Jessica obtained her degree from Rhode Island College in English with a concentration in creative writing.  In her spare time, she enjoys tap dancing, reading, and writing in the fantasy genre.  Jessica reports to Julie Roper.

Inventory Planning and Replenishment (IPAR) Updates

An updated list of UNFI Inventory Planning and Replenishment contacts and assignments can be found on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Customer Moves 

To improve our customer experience, UNFI is making the following customer moves for picking and shipping orders:

• 11 Whole Foods stores are moving from York to Racine in mid-January.  These stores are primarily located in Ohio and Kentucky.
• The Fresh Market stores in Florida are being moved to Richburg from Sarasota in early January.
• Customers in Wichita, KS being shipped from Lancaster will be moved to Iowa in early January.

Updating Vendor Information

You may have seen an e-mail from your SM recently asking you to take a moment to update us on your current Accounting and Contact Information and informing you that all invoices for both the East and West regions need to be sent to the following address:

UNFI Accounts Payable
313 Iron Horse Way
Providence, RI 02908

Please take a moment to update your information for us at the link below.  Thank you!

Update Contact Info

Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax

Starting January 1, 2018, Seattle will be instituting a Sweetened Beverage Tax on certain products distributed into the city.  A reduced tax rate is allowed on these products if certain exemption forms are provided to UNFI.

According to City of Seattle’s Ordinance 125324, if a manufacturer has been certified by the City to have worldwide gross income of less than $2 million in the prior calendar year, its products will be exempt from the Sweetened Beverage Tax.  Also, if a manufacturer has been certified by the City to have worldwide gross income of more than $2 million, but less than $5 million, in the prior calendar year its products qualify for a reduced rate of tax.  Manufacturers must apply directly to the City of Seattle in order to receive an exemption certificate or reduced rate certificate.

If you have either certificate, please send them nkoo@unfi.com. If you qualify for either certificate but have not yet obtained one, you may do so as follows:

1. Contact the City and request the applicable certification. 
2. Complete the prescribed documentation and submit back to the City with the required financial records of the business.  The City will review and determine eligibility. 
3. If approved, the City will issue the applicable certificate to the manufacturer. If denied, the City will notify the manufacturer of the denial and provide appeal information. 

If you have any other questions regarding the Sweetened Beverage Tax or the application process for either an exemption or reduced rate, please contact 206-684-8484 or SweetenedBevTax@seattle.gov.

2018 UNFI Showcases

Contact your SM with any questions or requests for additional information about these Showcases.

Showcase Update

2018 South Atlantic Showcase
Loews Sapphire Falls | Orlando, FL
February 20-21, 2018

Thank you to the 400 suppliers who are participating in the South Atlantic Showcase! We are looking forward to a great selling show with over 800 customers registered! If you would like to be placed on the waitlist please email events@unfi.com.

NEW! 2018 Central Showcase
La Crosse Center | La Crosse, WI
May 9-10, 2018

This new location will provide a unique opportunity to meet with key customers in the Central region, such as Piggly Wiggly, Festival, Brookshire Grocery, Lunds, and many independents and co-ops.

2018 Pacific Showcase
LB Convention Center | Long Beach, CA
June 20-21, 2018

Our Pacific Showcase was wildly successful again this past year!  We will accommodate over 1,000 suppliers representing all categories at this show.  Customers will not only be able to build out their store, but build strong relationships.

NEW LOCATION! 2018 North Atlantic Showcase
Mohegan Sun | Uncasville, CT
October 2-4, 2018

This show replaces the UNFI Foxwoods Tabletop Show and gives us more room for expansion with a great new exhibit hall, which means more selling opportunities than ever before!

Marketing Opportunities

Honest Green eCommerce Advertising

If you have products stocked in Hudson Valley, Racine, Gilroy, and/or Select Nutrition, check out our New Year discounted package options.

Customer Portal Digital Advertising

Reach customers on your Supplier Product Listing Page.  Click here for 2018 Monthly Themes, Product Listing Page Details, and Metrics.

Truck Fleet Advertising

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.

For more information on these exciting marketing opportunities, contact your SM or visit UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Competitive Freight Rates

Let UNFI handle getting your products to our distribution centers. We offer competitive, national freight rates and a dedicated truck fleet to all of our warehouses.  Some advantages of using UNFI’s Freight Service include:

• We take ownership of your product at the moment we pick it up
• We pay the unloading and appointment fees for you
• We plan the fastest, most cost effective way to move your products
• We have state-of-the-art supply chain technology for highest quality control

For more details, please e-mail Jennifer Leite at Ship4U@unfi.com.