United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) has concluded its first comprehensive product and solution regional selling show, which featured its range of natural, conventional, fresh and organic products and total store solutions.
The two-day event in San Diego brought together more than 5,500 representatives of hundreds of UNFI customers and connected them with the company’s network of suppliers. The show also featured UNFI’s Professional Services, which focuses on driving growth and efficiency for retailers.
“We’re helping our suppliers expand their product reach while helping our retailers access more of the right products for their markets at competitive prices,” said Steve Dietz, chief customer officer of the Providence, Rhode Island-based company.
“Our suppliers and products span from top-selling national brands to local one-of-a-kind innovators, and are ready to connect with our retailers. Our professional services team and vendors … help retailers save money.”
UNFI’s first comprehensive product and solution show also included:
- More than 700 suppliers, covering more than 100,000 square feet, showcasing more than 1,000 brands.
- Hundreds of new products, with more than 40 selected and featured in UNFI’s New Product Showcase Area and several dozen highlighted as UpNext emerging brands.
- More than 60 Certified Diverse suppliers.
- UNFI’s Pitch Slam competition, where contestants pitched their new products to a live audience. The San Diego winners were Tea Drops, which makes a fair-trade, eco-friendly alternative to tea bags, and Fishwife, which produces ethically-sourced, tinned seafood.
“It was great to see the full range of products and services that UNFI offers all in one show,” said Ryan White, program category manager at New Seasons Market.
“We appreciate the way they partner with us and help us identify new trends and bring us new products, assist in supplier negotiations and source great deals. They are key to our continued growth and success.”
The San Diego show was also the first time the company recognized customers and suppliers with Circle of Excellence and Customer- and Supplier-of-the-Year awards. The honors recognize innovation, market positioning, size and geography.
Following the upcoming Orlando show, the company plans to release the complete list of customer winners from both events.
Upcoming shows
UNFI’s 2024 Spring and Summer show is scheduled for Feb. 20-21 in Orlando (Central and East). The company’s Holiday and Winter shows are scheduled for June 5-6 in Uncasville, Connecticut, (East) and Aug. 6-7 in Minneapolis (Central and West).
Read more wholesaler and distributor news from The Shelby Report.
