Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers Inc. is hosting a local supplier sourcing event to collaborate with local businesses, and in turn, provide stores with an expanded variety of local products.
The Local Supplier Connect program will give local businesses within SEG’s five-state footprint the opportunity to showcase their products for a chance to be featured on Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie store shelves.
“The Local Supplier Connect program allows us to expand local offerings in our stores and source products from the very communities we serve,” said Dewayne Rabon, SVP and chief merchant for Southeastern Grocers. “As a grocer in the Southeast, we are proud of our roots, and we strive to share and encourage the culture of our communities by highlighting local products in each of our stores.”
SEG is partnering with ECRM and RangeMe to source, qualify and connect suppliers with the appropriate buyers. During the Local Supplier Connect virtual event in spring 2022, participants will have the opportunity to engage with SEG buyers and category managers to share their company background, product information and marketing plans.
The upcoming supplier sourcing event follows SEG’s successful Supplier Diversity Conference in May, when merchants met with 85 suppliers that were at least 51 percent owned, operated and managed by women; Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ people; military veterans or people with disabilities and sell grocery, general merchandise and/or beauty and personal care products.
Interested businesses in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi with products ready for retail may apply to participate in SEG’s Local Supplier Connect program by Dec. 6. Applications must be submitted at www.rangeme.com/seglocalsummit.
Southeastern Grocers Inc. is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. For more information, visit frescoymas.com, harveyssupermarkets.com and winndixie.com.
