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 3rd 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
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.
