SpartanNash held its annual two-day Food Solutions Expo July 30-31, bringing almost 2,000 grocery industry leaders together. Independent retailers, suppliers and SpartanNash employees swapped insights, shared samples and snagged deals at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
SpartanNash showcased curated 2025 Consumer Taste Trends displays, highlighting the top food trends of the year, backed by flavor forecasts and consumer insights. The event also featured supplier and customer award ceremonies and live auctions. The expo concluded with a donation of leftover product to Feeding America West Michigan, equivalent to providing about 45,000 meals to local families in need.
Independent grocers represent 33 percent of retail grocery industry sales, equating to $253.6 billion annually and 1.2 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product, according to the National Grocers Association. SpartanNash serves more than 2,100 retail locations, empowering customers with tools to stay fresh, competitive and community-focused.
“Independent grocers are the heart and soul of neighborhood supermarkets, and they bring a distinctive, vital perspective to the industry,” said SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam.
“The Food Solutions Expo offers our attendees the opportunity to turn shelf space into success stories. They come for the savings and stay for the strategy. Most importantly, it helps SpartanNash, our customers and our vendors find new ways to partner together, ultimately elevating the grocery shopping experience for consumers.”
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The company celebrated five exceptional customers and four vendors who have gone above and beyond in the last year to deliver value to independent customers and their communities during the SpartanNash Vision Awards and Impact Awards, respectively.
The 2024-25 SpartanNash Impact Award winners are:
- Johnsonville
- Ferrara Candy Co.
- Sunkist
- The Campbell’s Co.
The 2024-25 SpartanNash Vision Award winners are:
- Discount Drug Mart: The Medina, Ohio-based chain with 79 stores earned the “We Serve” award by raising more than $400,000 to support charitable initiatives and community programs in 2024, including funds for Hurricane Helene and California wildfire relief efforts.
- Berens Market: This grocer earned the “We Have Fun” award by bringing its Milbank, South Dakota, community together. Berens Market organized impactful events for its hometown last year, holding produce truckload sales in the summer and outdoor frozen food sales in the winter.
- Harding’s Friendly Markets: With 28 locations across Michigan and Indiana, the retailer earned the “We Create Solutions” award by launching a new digital platform in April in response to evolving guest needs. The team introduced a mobile app, digital coupons, a rewards program and weekly deals that transform the shopping experience and strengthen customer engagement.
- Neiman’s Family Market: The Michigan-based grocer took home the “We Win” award for its sales growth in 2025, with deli, bakery, meat and private label sales all seeing double-digit increases. Neiman’s Family Market was also named The Shelby Report‘s Exceptional Independent Award winner for its marketing and technology investments.
Northland Foods: Last year, this northern Michigan-based grocer rolled out additional Our Family and other SpartanNash OwnBrands products at its two locations in northern Michigan, increasing private label sales by nearly 25 percent and earning them the “Delivering the Ingredients for a Better Life” award. The stores are also deeply rooted in their community, sponsoring the Kalkaska Trout Festival annually.
“At SpartanNash, our vision is that we see a day when our customers will say, ‘I can’t live without them,’ and these five independent retailers embody that vision in their stores and in their communities,” said EVP and Chief Commercial Officer Amy McClellan.
“Across the country, independent grocers serve as critical food destinations where neighbors can connect, careers can grow and family meals and traditions can be created. We are honored to serve these grocers, supporting the role they play in nourishing our communities.”
For more highlights from the 2025 SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo, visit the event website for full coverage.