October 2023 Supplier Update

On October 17^th from 2 – 3pm EST, CEO Sandy Douglas and I will host our first Supplier Success Series webinar.  We will kick-off this series discussing our annual supplier survey, changes we’re making to better serve our suppliers, and our Q4 earnings.  We invite you to join us by filling out this registration page.  The final prompt on the registration page invites you to submit questions for the discussion.  We look forward to our opportunity to connect.

Accounts Payable Best Practices

UNFI provides backup for each deduction that comes from issued checks.  This backup is automatically sent to our contacts for your organization we have on file.  It is imperative that you keep this information up to date.  We suggest creating an e-mail alias for your business where this is sent.  We also encourage you to have backup sent to your broker, if applicable.  To update and/or add to your list of recipients, please reach out to APVendorMaster@unfi.com.

There has been a recent uptick in backup requests sent to our DeductionsBackup@unfi.com alias that has resulted in a backlog.  By keeping your contacts current, ensuring initial backup e-mails are not sent to your spam folder, and including broker contacts, your team will be best positioned to address deductions questions.

2024 UNFI Selling Shows

Starting in February 2024, UNFI Selling Shows will cater to both natural and conventional supplier and customer channels, emphasizing our unique value.  This transformation involves a wall-to-wall format and two seasonal themes across four regional locations, with the following objectives:

• Simplifying show types and enhancing supplier opportunities
• Providing an exceptional attendee experience tailored to regional and industry needs
• Showcasing a comprehensive supplier representation and UNFI's category expertise
• Elevating overall sales through exclusive opportunities and cost-effective solutions

UNFI Selling Shows remain a distinctive platform for showcasing product and brand promotion.  Both in-person and virtual options allow our customers to explore emerging products and engage with established brands to secure the best cost of goods and remain competitive in the market.  Our shows offer invaluable opportunities.  Don’t miss out, register here today.

Lightning Deals

UNFI is thrilled to announce Lightning Deals, a new program centered around getting your deals to retailers very quickly.  There is no charge to participate beyond a unique two-week off invoice promotion to UNFI.  Deals will be promoted on the myUNFI Shopping Portal for instant ordering.  Participating customers are given a two-week promotional pass to these deals.  This quick turnaround program can help you drive turns and increase sales quickly.

For more information on Lightning Deals, review this info sheet and reach out to your SRM.

Supplier and Vendor Code of Conduct

UNFI has recently updated its Supplier and Vendor Code of Conduct.  Please take some time to familiarize yourself with this document.

Supplier Merchandising Management (SMM) Updates

An updated list of UNFI SMMs, contact info, line, and category assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Procurement Team Updates

An updated list of UNFI Procurement Team contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Accounts Payable (AP) Updates

An updated list of AP contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

 

August 2023 Supplier Update

The theme of today’s blog is improving the supplier and customer experience.  In an ever-evolving landscape, our focus remains having the proper product assortment for our customers and to ensure these products are merchandised effectively to consumers. 

Our Product Image Initiative detailed below will allow us to have all information about your products readily available on our myUNFI.com platform for customer orders.  Our Home Store Program provides greater execution on the shelf to support our customers and drive supplier sales.

We are excited to share this news with you today.

UNFI Home Store Program

The UNFI Home Store Program is best in class at providing Shelf Execution services. It provides data driven Category Business Plans (CBPs) and labor to execute the ever-changing merchandising landscape, including: category resets, conversion items (limiting loss of shelf placement), speed to shelf on new item cut ins, merchandising services for New Store Openings, Re-Tags, Store Remodels, and New Affiliations (when UNFI becomes the distributor of products previously purchased elsewhere).  We execute with our own Shelf Services team, and utilize 3^rd party labor providers where appropriate to perform in-store execution work. 

UNFI has expanded its in-store execution program to include Natural, Specialty, and Organic products shipped via our Natural distribution centers (DCs).  Suppliers only receive an assessment for work performed in retailers where UNFI provides in-store labor support.

Deductions are processed on a biannual basis at 0.70% (or 70 basis points), based on your total invoiced sales amount to applicable stores.  Retailers with their own in-store execution program are omitted.  This deduction only applies to retailers who are currently participating in the UNFI in-store execution program. 

We are assessing our Natural DC volume in two phases.  Phase one (effective July 2023) included natural volume for retailers we are currently supplying in-store labor to.  In phase two, launching in February 2024, we will expand our offering to additional customers & banners.

The program offers several benefits, including:

• Improved consistency in reset execution through better traceability and accountability
• Faster item innovation executed at the shelf
• Category and Consumer Insights incorporated into our Base DC Planograms
• Enhanced planogram integrity and compliance
• Real-time reporting with image capability via a secure web portal for suppliers

If you have any questions, please reach out to retail.execution@unfi.com.

Product Images for myUNFI.com

UNFI is investing in many initiatives to improve our customer experience and help grow our suppliers’ sales across digital platforms. Recently, UNFI upgraded myUNFI.com, our premier B2B website which provides access to an expanded assortment of brands and products, as well as billing, claims, and other timely business information. 

As we look to partner and grow digital sales on myUNFI.com for your brand, product images and attributes are essential components for visual presentation, transparency, and sales.  Global Data Sync (GDS) is UNFI’s preferred standard for product attributes, including full package information and updates, images, product dimensions, etc.  

To capture this critical information and help us grow your sales, we request your partnership to either:

1. Provide required information directly to UNFI via your GDSN connection or through your current GDSN syndication partner.
2. Or, provide this information utilizing a syndication provider within the GDSN network. UNFI has established partnerships with: IX-One, Syndigo, 1WorldSync.  These providers support our data requirements.  You may also leverage any certified GDSN data pool to provide your item information.

All items in the UNFI product catalog require attributes and images as part of their setup process. We recommend working with our preferred 3rd party partners to capture this information.  

In the event you choose to not provide this content for new items, or for current items with missing or outdated information, UNFI will capture this content on your behalf at a charge of $150 per item.

To promote the sale of your products on myUNFI.com, we ask for your participation in working with the above named UNFI partners to:

• Share all active items (new and existing) with your selected partner for image and data capture.
• Ensure all future new items and packaging changes are shared with your selected partner for image and data capture going forward. 

To ensure continued success and mutual partnership in growing your brand, constant adherence to the above process is critically important going forward.  We ask that you align with a GDSN partner of your choice by October 31, 2023 to maximize our ability to drive sales of your products for the holidays.

For more information or to submit product information, please visit our UNFI Product Image Initiative page.

Pack Change Clarification

Effective immediately, all UPC changes require a recode including changes to the Master Case GTIN.  This is needed to ensure customers receive the exact product they expect, and that is consistent with their shelf tags.

Please direct questions to packchanges@unfi.com.

Shipping & Handling Policies

The most up to date Shipping & Handling Policies can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Supplier Merchandising Management (SMM) Updates

An updated list of UNFI SMMs, contact info, line, and category assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Procurement Team Updates

An updated list of UNFI Procurement Team contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Accounts Payable (AP) Updates

An updated list of AP contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site. 

Thank you for your time and attention to these updates.  We’ll have more for you in the Fall!

May 2023 Supplier Update

2024 Supplier Planning Meetings

The 2024 planning season is upon us, and we are pleased to share the marketing materials supporting the Natural channel are now available on ZenDesk.  Your Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM) will be working with suppliers and brokers directly in the coming weeks to establish marketing strategies for the coming year.

We have given our marketing materials a refresh to provide more insights and critical deliverables for the programs we offer.  We are confident this will provide value as you work collaboratively with your SRM to build out your marketing plan.

As we continue to integrate our Natural Supplier Relationship Management and Conventional Regional Retail Category Merchandising teams, we have made the decision to align the negotiations of two key programs, Circulars and Hot Sheets, to the Regional Category Merchandising teams, for the Grocery, Frozen, and Dairy categories (excludes GM/HBC, Wellness, Pet, Candy, and Baby categories).  Beginning in September 2024, Circulars and Hot Sheets will be planned and solicited by the Regional Merchandising Team. To make this transition as smooth as possible, you will continue to have the option to submit your proposals for these two programs to your SRM.  You will then be contacted by the Regional Retail Category Manager to finalize those details.  The Save Every Day (SED) and Shippers/Pallets programs will continue to be planned with the Regional Retail Merchandising team for 2024.

Over the coming weeks, we will provide a complete contact list for the Supplier Relationship Management and Regional Retail Merchandising teams as a resource and guide to help support in planning efforts.

In-Store Execution Program

We have expanded our in-store execution program to include Natural, Specialty, and Organic products.  To date, this program has been focused on our assortment distributed from our Conventional distribution centers (DCs).  On April 30, 2023 the program expanded to all distribution DCs for retailers currently participating in the program. 

We are committed to providing excellent customer service and shelf support through this program.  This includes managing and executing category business resets, remodels, new store openings, re-tags, and new affiliations, as well as cutting in new items on the shelves.  We collaborate with 3^rd party labor providers and our own Shelf Services team to perform in-store execution work. We plan to expand our program to meet additional customers’ needs.  As part of this expansion, suppliers will be deducted for work performed in retailers where UNFI provides in-store labor support.

The program offers several benefits, including:

·         Improved consistency in reset execution through better traceability and accountability

·         Faster new item introductions to shelf

·         Enhanced planogram integrity and compliance

·         Real-time reporting with image capability via a secure web portal for suppliers

If you have any questions about the program, please contact Retail.Execution@unfi.com.

UNFI Marketplace Program

The UNFI Marketplace Program enables suppliers to sell their products on our UNFI EasyOptions and myUNFI websites, shipping directly to retailers across the country.  This opportunity is available for products that are not currently slotted in UNFI DCs, allowing you to expand your item selection and sales, while providing more options for our retailers.

Based on our pilot success, we’ve updated our customer ordering platform to include the assortment offered through the UNFI Marketplace Program. This is an exciting opportunity for suppliers to expand their portfolios with UNFI.

Currently, we are looking for suppliers and items that meet the following requirements:

·         Suppliers must be able to dropship to customers

·         Items may not be currently carried in UNFI DCs

·         Items may not contain alcohol, tobacco, or CBD 

Think you have items that should be a part of the UNFI Marketplace Program?  Please fill out our inquiry form.  A representative will reach out to you if your items are a fit.

Product Data Enrichment

UNFI is enhancing its product data on myUNFI!  We are bolstering our product data for many of our UPCs including product descriptions, images, nutritional information, and ingredients within myUNFI.  This leads to an improved screen design for a positive customer experience as seen below.

It is important to be sure that you submit accurate data to be featured on the site.  With questions on where to submit item images, attributes, and more, please reach out to your SRM.

UNFI Educational Series

Our Supplier Educational Series has been updated to include a detailed Supplier Deduction Key and a Supplier Policy Overview that highlights several key sections of the document. Please click on this link to check out all of our educational series content.

Soon we will launch our Logistics and Procurement Series that will break down each department’s services and benefits. 

You can find the most recent SOP for Shipping and Handling Guidelines here.  This will be updated quarterly moving forward.  We are moving to this cadence to always provide you timely and accurate information on getting product to UNFI DCs.

Key Team Updates

Supplier Merchandising Management (SMM)

An updated list of UNFI SMMs, contact info, line, and category assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Procurement Team

An updated list of UNFI Procurement Team contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.

Accounts Payable (AP)

An updated list of AP contacts and assignments can be found here on UNFI’s Supplier Support Site.