UNFI Sets Increased Diverse-Supplier Goal for 2023

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is touting its efforts to expand its work with diverse-owned suppliers. 

The wholesaler said that it doubled its year-over-year spend with diverse-owned suppliers during its 2022 fiscal year, and has set a goal for 3% of UNFI’s annual product spend to be with diverse-owned suppliers in 2023. 

UNFI also gave an update on its ACT initiative, which aims to “apply supplier diversity into UNFI’s everyday business practice, commit to building connections with UNFI customers and simplifying navigation through the UNFI network and transforming the procurement process through greater transparency and accountability.”

The ACT initiative resulted in over $700 million of diverse supplier purchases by UNFI with more than 600 suppliers during the company’s fiscal 2022 year. In addition, during a targeted three-month supplier outreach effort to existing suppliers, UNFI said it uncovered 167 new diverse-owned suppliers who either were not previously identified as a diverse supplier or were not identified and did not have certification.

“UNFI account managers are constantly seeking to understand unique customer needs and proactively bringing strategic recommendations to the table,” said Guillaume Bagal, VP of Diversity and Inclusion at UNFI. “Utilizing a vast network of diverse-owned suppliers not only advances our efforts to help create a more equitable food system, but by actively engaging and introducing diverse-owned suppliers to a broad range of UNFI customers, our retailers are able to unveil new sales opportunities and offer a wider selection of products to meet their consumer’s needs.”

UNFI delivers the fresh, branded, and private label grocery products to more than 30,000 grocery locations throughout North America.