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 3rd 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:
- Provide required information directly to UNFI via your GDSN connection or through your current GDSN syndication partner.
- 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!
