Meijer has partnered with SHI International, a technology solutions provider, to support the retailer’s behind-the-scenes technology needs, including Microsoft-related services.
The partnership is led by Patrick Grow, who manages key Michigan accounts for SHI and has a personal connection to Meijer that spans decades. Grow grew up in West Michigan, just a few miles from Greenville, where his mother had her first job as a teenager working for Meijer in the 1960s.
“She had to travel to Grand Rapids for bagging and checkout school,” Grow remembered. “That was her first job, and Meijer has been part of our family’s story ever since.”
In the early 1990s, Grow and his friends often ended up at Meijer stores on Friday nights, grabbing snacks before heading to someone’s house to hang out. “We called it going Meijering. It was just part of growing up here,” he said.
That deep connection made it meaningful when Grow started working with Meijer through SHI. Headquartered in New Jersey with more than 7,000 employees worldwide, SHI serves clients across a wide variety of industries and is one of the largest IT solutions providers in the U.S.
Grow’s relationship with Meijer grew quickly, thanks in part to the Meijer Supplier Relationship Management team. “Meijer was incredibly welcoming,” Grow said. “They helped us get started, and that level of support made all the difference.”
Grow now works closely with Meijer team members to help keep systems running smoothly. SHI’s approach is centered on problem-solving and partnership.
“We’re not trying to sell a specific product,” Grow explained. “We want to understand the need, offer our expertise, and help you make the best decision for your business. If the tech works and no one notices it, that’s the goal.”
Grow still shops at the Meijer Hartland, Michigan, store every week and says working with the retailer now feels like everything has come full circle.
“Being part of Meijer in this way is not just another project. It’s meaningful. And I’m proud to support a brand that’s been part of my life from the start,” he said.
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