More than 2,000 independent grocers, vendors and employees will gather July 26-27 at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo.
During the two-day event, attendees will get a firsthand look at advancements in the company’s supply chain and merchandising transformations, as well as enhanced customer service solutions and its Own Brands offerings.
Last year’s annual event saw more than 1,500 customers, spanning from food and grocery suppliers to independent retail customers. SpartanNash’s 2023 event is expected to be the largest in the company’s history.
“Our expo brings together top vendor partners and thousands of customers and employees from across the country for an annual exchange of best practices, innovative thinking and food solutions,” CEO Tony Sarsam said in a statement.
“It’s our responsibility to help our independent customers grow by facilitating these relationships, sharing success strategies and continuing to invest in their business with initiatives like our merchandising transformation. It’s also a great event that positively impacts the Grand Rapids economy while driving excitement and buzz for SpartanNash.”
Earlier this year, SpartanNash optimized its supply chain operations with the acquisition of Great Lakes Foods, an independent grocery wholesaler.
In addition to adding numerous independent retail customers to the roster, the 300,000-square-foot distribution center in Menominee, Michigan, will help serve customers across the Midwest and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula more efficiently.
SpartanNash offers a range of business solutions for its customers, customized to cater to their needs. Services include a coordinated program for marketing, merchandising expertise, pharmacy, asset protection, financial and retail technology support and a portfolio of Own Brands products.
Since SpartanNash also operates its own retail stores, it is qualified to provide industry insights designed to help grow independent retail businesses.
Through partnering with the company, customers have access to the tools, insights and technologies available to big retail chains while still seeing the benefits of being an independent grocery store within their local community.
“Our customers value our differentiated service, custom-designed solutions, local and regional market expertise and recent momentum through our supply chain and merchandising transformation strategic focus areas,” said David Sisk, EVP and chief customer officer.
“We are proud to be a food solutions leader, delivering the ingredients for a better life to more than 2,100 independent customers around the country, including new customers we recently welcomed to the SpartanNash family.”
