SEG seeks local suppliers
Southeastern Grocers has joined several retailers in hosting a supplier event that aims to meet with local businesses and expand their selection of local products, potentially leading to private brand partnerships, as well.
Southeastern Grocers (SEG), parent to Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, kicked off a submission process for its Local Supplier Connect program, giving local businesses with SEG’s five-state footprint a chance to get its products on the company’s store shelves.
Like Kroger, Fresh Thyme, Stater Bros, Schnucks and Meijer, other grocers who partnered with ECRM and RangeMe to help source local suppliers, Southeastern Grocers has a submission process open and online with RangeMe where suppliers can submit a product by Dec. 6. If the submissions are chosen, they will be given an opportunity to present virtually at the Local Supplier Connect event in spring of 2022.
A RangeMe spokesperson told Store Brands that seeking private label suppliers is not the main focus of this Local Supplier Connect initiative, “but SEG is asking suppliers to indicate whether the products being submitted are currently private label capable.”
The Local Supplier Connect event follows SEG’s Supplier Diversity Conference in May of this year when merchants met with 85 suppliers that were at least 51% owned, operated and managed by women; Black, Indigenous, Asian, Hispanic, LGBTQ+ People; military veterans or people with disabilities and sell grocery, general merchandise and/or beauty and personal care products. These events are part of SEG’s continued commitment to being a catalyst for lasting change and inclusion throughout the organization, its suppliers, associates, customers and communities, the company said.
Interested businesses in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi with products ready for retail may apply to participate in SEG’s Local Supplier Connect program.
“Our communities are our heart and soul, and we are committed to helping them thrive. The Local Supplier Connect program allows us to expand local offerings in our stores and source products from the very communities we serve,” said Dewayne Rabon, SVP and chief merchant for Southeastern Grocers. “As a grocer in the Southeast, we are proud of our roots, and we strive to share and encourage the culture of our communities by highlighting local products in each of our stores.”