Retail Business Services recognized for its supplier diversity

Retail Business Services, a company operated by Ahold Delhaize USA that provides services for private brands among other things, has been recognized by the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) as its Supplier Diversity Team of the Year, an award bestowed on an organization or professional for outstanding efforts to increase supplier diversity.

“We’re deeply appreciative of this award,” said Cheryl Smith, manager of supplier diversity for Salisbury, N.C.-based Retail Business Services, who accepted the award at CWE’s Women’s Business Leadership Conference in Framingham, Mass. “We believe that our suppliers should represent the great diversity of customers that shop at Ahold Delhaize USA’s local brands’ stores. This award demonstrates that we’re accomplishing our goal of continuing to engage and empower diverse suppliers, and of that we’re very proud and honored.”

“Retail Business Services has been and continues to be an integral part of our network to further supplier diversity in New England and nationally,” noted Gaby King Morse, president and CEO of Boston-based CWE.

Retail Business Services said it strives to develop mutually beneficial and successful partnerships with diverse suppliers both nationally and locally by incorporating diverse businesses into category reviews and product or service bids.

Retail Business Services provides services to six East Coast grocery brands — Food Lion, Giant Food, Giant/Martin’s, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop —as well as to online grocer Peapod. Some of its private include Nature’s Promise, Taste of Inspirations, Etos and Cha-Ching.