Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash has shipped the first containers of supplies as part of its $1 million commitment to Ukrainians who are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. SpartanNash’s military division coordinated the export, which included baby formula, diapers, over-the-counter medicines, sports energy drinks and personal hygiene items.
“Collecting product donations in the U.S. is one thing but having the international logistic relationships to get them abroad quickly is another,” said Tony Sarsam, SpartanNash president and CEO. “International freight shipping is an extremely delicate and intricate specialty, as so many details go into these journeys, and coordinating these shipments is one of SpartanNash’s global supply chain strengths.”
The overseas and rail journey can take up to 50 days, but SpartanNash was able to expedite this shipment to less than 17 days, taking a route to get as close to the conflict as safely as possible in Warsaw, Poland. SpartanNash partnered with Convoy of Hope to receive and distribute the necessities in the hands of Ukrainians across eastern Europe.
“This is a humanitarian disaster, and SpartanNash is uniquely positioned to support Ukrainians in addition to the American military heroes who are serving on the front lines of this crisis,” Sarsam said. “As a People First company, we look for opportunities to provide aid to those in need whenever we can.”
SpartanNash’s military division distributes grocery products so military commissaries and exchanges can deliver a familiar shopping experience to servicemen and women with their favorite USA brands, providing a touch of home regardless of where they are stationed.
The company distributes products to 160 military commissaries and more than 400 exchanges located in 39 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Djibouti, Korea and Japan.
“In any crisis situation, rapid response is vital, and we are glad to partner with SpartanNash to leverage its expertise in global food logistics,” said Ethan Forhetz, VP of public engagement for Convoy of Hope. “Getting close to a warzone and responding during a crisis is no simple task. We rely on our disaster response experts and local volunteers to deliver hope to the impacted communities.”
The company will continue collecting donations from key vendor partners in the U.S. and working closely with the Convoy of Hope team for on-the-ground distribution in impacted areas throughout Europe.
For more information or to donate to Convoy of Hope, visit convoyofhope.org.
To read more from The Shelby Report about SpartanNash’s $1 million product donation for Ukraine relief, click here.
