UNFI & SUPERVALU
On July 25, 2018, UNFI entered into an
agreement to acquire SUPERVALU. Since
then, our respective teams have been planning for a smooth integration of our
two businesses. Once complete, this
transaction will transform the combined company into North America’s premier
wholesale distributor for our diversified and long-tenured customers.
SUPERVALU announced yesterday that the
acquisition is expected to close on October 22, 2018. As an important supplier
to UNFI and/or SUPERVALU we wanted to provide you with some key information
before the transaction closes.
Specifically, please note that:
- You will continue to
receive P.O.’s for both UNFI and SUPERVALU Distribution Center locations
separately.
- UNFI will continue to
use the same DUNS numbers that either UNFI or SUPERVALU are using
today.
- Supplier payment terms
in place at both companies have been reviewed. In general, the most
favorable UNFI/SUPERVALU terms will be applied to all P.O.’s received
after 12:01AM October 22, 2018 (or the date the transaction closes, if
later).
- Supplier agreements and
other programs have been reviewed as part of the integration planning
process. After the closing, our supplier management teams will be
reaching out to you to discuss the agreements in place and next steps
related to our combined purchases.
- Please continue to work
with the respective UNFI or SUPERVALU supplier management, merchandising
and procurement contacts that you currently do to conduct business now and
after closing.
Once the transaction is finalized, we’ll
be in touch with more details and information. Bringing together UNFI and
SUPERVALU is a significant and exciting undertaking. Thank you in advance
for your assistance in helping us make this successful. Your continued
support to ensure the strong execution of current plans and programs is
expected and appreciated.
Supplier Management (SM) Updates
An updated list of UNFI Supplier Managers (SMs), contact info, line, and category assignments can be found
here on
UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.
Inventory Planning and Replenishment (IPAR) Updates
An updated list of UNFI Inventory Planning and Replenishment contacts and assignments can be found
here 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.
- Three Whole Foods NorCal stores have moved from Rocklin to Gilroy effective 9/30/18
- Earth Fare refrigerated, frozen, and repack items (bars, HBC, and supplements) have been moved from Atlanta to Richburg effective 9/30/18
- Fairway specialty business will be moved from Hudson Valley to Dayville to consolidate the customer into one DC effective 10/22/18
Purchase Order Confirmations
Please see these frequently asked questions about the Purchase Order (P.O.) confirmation process. By confirming a P.O., you are confirming receipt of the P.O. itself. If there are disputes regarding quantity, pricing, and/or pick-up/ETA date, please reach out directly to your buyer or buyer’s assistant.
Q. How long do I have to confirm a P.O.?
A. 24 business hours from P.O. receipt.
Q. As a supplier, where do I send P.O. confirmations?
A. P.O. confirmations should be sent to either
iparconfeast@unfi.com or
iparconf@unfi.com. Please see P.O. cover sheet to determine the correct e-mail for your P.O..
Q. Why is it important that I confirm a P.O.?
A. UNFI needs to know that you have received the P.O. for logistical planning, i.e. arranging pick-up or appointment planning at the DC.
Q. If revisions are necessary for the P.O. such as quantity, pricing, or ETA, who do I reach out to?
A. You should reach out directly to the buyer assigned to your orders. UNFI item number is required on all communications regarding quantity or item discrepancies.
Q. What if I don’t know who my buyer is?
A. The name of your buyer is referenced on the P.O. that is sent to you.
Deductions and Accounts Payable Responsibilities
Accounts Payable
Please click
here to see the most recent AP representative updates. Here is a list of subjects to reach out to AP with questions on:
- Pay Terms – East & West
- Payment Inquiries – East & West
- RTVs (IDPs) – West Only
- Concealed Damages
- Detention Fees – East & West
- Invoice Chargebacks – West Only
- ClearVue/Spoils/Freight Allowances – West Only
- Pallet Payments – East & West
Deductions
All deduction disputes require this
form and backup be sent to
deductions@unfi.com. All requests for backup on deductions should be sent to
deductionsbackup@unfi.com. Please note “BACKUP REQUEST” in the subject line and state in the body of the e-mail the full deduction invoice number while attaching a copy of the check stub associated with the payment in which the deduction was taken.
All inquiries on deductions listed
here or those listed below should go through the Deductions team.
- RTVs (IDPs) – East Only
- Invoice Chargebacks – East Only
- ClearVue/Spoils/Freight Allowances – East Only
IX-ONE Update
In order to support the ever-growing list of retailers who require and rely on IX-ONE membership from their suppliers, UNFI is asking all of our suppliers to join IX-ONE before year end.
IX-ONE is our industry’s choice for dependable product data and images. If you are not familiar with their services, please visit their website
here and then click
here to begin the membership application process.
In addition to the very impressive list of retailers requiring IX-ONE membership, UNFI trusts IX-ONE data to:
- Fuel our e-commerce content
- Power our GDSN functionality
- Drive our flyer programs
- Expedite our item setup process
Suppliers not in IX-ONE are at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to suppliers whose products are cataloged within the IX-ONE exchange.
Click
here to get started or
here if you would like to request more information from IX-ONE.
Shipping and Handling Information
Please refer to
UNFI’s Shipping and Handling Guide for details pertaining to packaging and shipping.
Labeling Requirements
- All orders must be palletized.
- All shipments must have a release/PO number and consignee name clearly marked on the front and back of each pallet. This is very important as we consolidate freight for many of our divisions.
- Each Bill of Lading must be accompanied by a detailed packing slip for each release/PO being delivered or picked up.
Shipping: Small Package Shipments
- Cartons must be clearly marked with box count (1 of 2, 2 of 2, etc.)
- A PO number must be written on each carton
- A packing slip must accompany each PO. If enclosed in carton, please clearly identify said carton.
