Giorgio “Matteo” Tarditi has been named president and CFO of Providence, Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), effective April 15, when current President and CEO Sandy Douglas will relinquish the president role but remain CEO. Tarditi succeeds current CFO John W. Howard, who will leave UNFI following a transition period. “Matteo is a proven executive […]
Category: Wholesaler/Distributor News
Posted inCoborn's, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Welcomes Coborn To Board Of Directors
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has appointed Chris Coborn, chairman and CEO of Minnesota-based Coborn’s Inc., to its board of directors. Coborn replaces Jeff Reasor, president of Reasor’s, a division of Brookshire Grocery Co., who recently resigned from the panel. Coborn’s is a corporation of grocery, pharmacy, convenience, liquor and retail stores with online grocery ordering/delivery […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
AWG Brands, Daymon Expand Product Quality Partnership
AWG Brands, the private brands of Kansas City, Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), has announced an expanded partnership with private brand agency Daymon, an Advantage Solutions company. The arrangement will support the quality expectations of each brand within the AWG Brands offerings and include extensive product information in Daymon’s RIVIR platform. Best Choice Family of […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, West, Wholesaler/Distributor News
UNFI Hails New Seasons For Innovation, Market Strategies
Portland, Oregon-based New Seasons Market received three awards during the recent UNFI Circle of Excellence ceremony in San Diego, California. The Circle of Excellence honors businesses for outstanding innovation and market strategies. New Seasons Market received the Regional Chain Performance Award (West Region), as well as Regional Chain of the Year and Overall Customer of […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Southeast
UNFI’s Second Spring, Summer Show Deemed Success
UNFI’s second spring and summer show of the year drew more than 3,300 customers from its U.S. East and Central regions to Orlando, Florida, for two days of networking with suppliers from across North America. “Customers came seeking deals for their shoppers, and suppliers were willing to accommodate them,” said Kelly Sosa, UNFI East region […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Introduces Fresh Marketplace Brand
During its recent 2024 Summer Show, KeHE Distributors unveiled its new Fresh Marketplace brand to connect consumers to more fresh product offerings from around the world. The brand features more than 24,000 fresh products curated by category experts, all focused on helping “make stores worth leaving home for.” “We have long been committed to fresh […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
US Foods Eyes Five CHEF’STORE Openings In 2024
US Foods Holding Corp. is planning to open five new CHEF’STORE locations, including four in the Southeast and one in Oregon, this year. CHEF’STORE offers a one-stop-shop for restaurant operators, food industry professionals, community groups and at-home chefs to stock up or replenish ingredients and supplies by the case and in individual quantities. A quick […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Introduces ‘Finest Reserve’ Private Label Brand
SpartanNash has introduced its new private label brand, Finest Reserve by Our Family. The Finest Reserve line uses fresh and authentic ingredients to create gourmet flavors. The new private label is an extension of Our Family, SpartanNash’s flagship brand, that has captured the attention of the company’s customer base. The collection is a curated offering of […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
SpartanNash Rolling Out Simbe’s Tally At 60 More Stores
SpartanNash plans to add Simbe’s autonomous inventory robot Tally at 60 additional company-operated stores across the Midwest. Simbe’s Store Intelligence platform informs product stocking, ordering, merchandising and e-commerce fulfillment, with real-time inventory insights across every store area. The data precision that Tally gives ensures items are available for SpartanNash shoppers with accurate location and price, […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast
UNFI Wraps Up First Full Assortment Selling Show
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 […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE Summer Show Approaching Fast
KeHE Distributors will feature top trends, merchandising ideas, show-only deals and industry perspectives Feb. 7-8 during the 2024 KeHE Summer Show in Salt Lake City and virtually on its proprietary platform, KeHE CONNECT, from Feb. 1-15. The food trade shows offer in-person and virtual events that allow supplier and retailer partners to connect and discover […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast
UNFI’s Central Region Gains New Leadership
UNFI has appointed JJ Schlangen to central region president, effective Feb. 5, where he will lead one of the company’s three sales divisions and report to Chief Customer Officer Steve Dietz. Schlangen joined UNFI in 2015 as a member of Supervalu’s financial analyst team. During his tenure with the company, he has served in a […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast
UNFI Implements AI-Powered Warehouse Automation System
United Natural Foods (UNFI) has announced plans to implement an A.I.-powered robotic automation system in its warehouse in Manchester, Pennsylvania. This system, manufactured by Symbotic, is the second installation for UNFI and part of its commitment to improve its distribution center network. Once installed, UNFI expects the system to enhance the customer experience, improve quality […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
Newsweek Recognizes SpartanNash For Employee Diversity
SpartanNash has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group for its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. The company received the award based on quantitative data from an employee survey as well as other qualitative scoring methods. “Creating an environment where every associate belongs and feels empowered to […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Health & Wellness, Southeast
AGBR Sponsors Southern University’s Basketball Nutrition Center
Associated Grocers Inc. (AGBR) has partnered with the Southern University Men’s Basketball team to sponsor its nutrition center, becoming the team’s exclusive grocery partner. The station is located within the men’s team locker room and is available to players throughout the season and while they are on campus. “I am incredibly excited and grateful for […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Midwest
SpartanNash Installs ReposiTrak’s Food Traceability Network
SpartanNash has implemented ReposiTrak’s Traceability Network, a food tracking program that advances efforts to create a more transparent supply chain. With ReposiTrak, hundreds of the company’s suppliers that harvest or handle products on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Traceability List will be required to exchange data with SpartanNash and the thousands of retailers […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest
AWG, Hormel Foods Donate 6K Hams To Kansas City Food Bank
Hormel Foods Corp. and Kansas-based Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) donated 6,000 pounds of Hormel Cure 81 hams on Jan. 4 to the Harvesters food bank to help fight hunger. The donation was made possible by the 34th annual Hormel Cure 81 Hams for Hunger program and took place during the holiday season. The donation supports […]
Posted inKeHE Distributors, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE’s New Distribution Center Welcomed In Miami
KeHE Distributors’s new 360,000-square-foot distribution center in Miami began operations in December, allowing for more product innovation and assortment benefiting its retail partners in the Southeast. Operating across five temperature zones, it features an air-conditioned dry warehouse space, freezer and cooler, as well as rooms for ice cream and flex/fresh. “We appreciate the local officials […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Executive News, Midwest
Funk Assumes AWG President, CEO Role Following Smith’s Retirement
Following the retirement of David Smith in December, Dan Funk has now assumed the role of president and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG). Smith joined AWG in 2003 and became president and CEO in 2015. Under his leadership, the company experienced significant growth and success. Smith was instrumental in steering the company through […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Northeast
UNFI Widens Focus For Selling Shows In 2024
UNFI has set the 2024 schedule for its selling shows, which this year will showcase the company’s full spectrum of products and services instead of focusing on natural and organic or conventional items. The shows will support the natural and conventional supplier, as well as all grocery retail customer channels and positioning. “With the start […]