The Food Solutions Company celebrates supplier innovation, collaboration and growth with inaugural awards program
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Food solutions company SpartanNash (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: SPTN) showcased its commitment to fostering strong supplier partnerships during its annual Food Solutions Expo last week. The Company honored its top 10 suppliers with an inaugural Impact Awards program, in recognition of their exceptional performance and commitment to delivering value to SpartanNash’s independent grocery retailers and store guests.
The Impact Awards recognized suppliers that have played a pivotal role in the Company’s merchandising transformation, which was discussed at the Company’s Investor Day last November. SpartanNash is leveraging data and insights to drive enhanced category planning, promotional effectiveness and customer-focused innovation, with supplier collaboration at the helm.
“We are incredibly grateful to our world-class suppliers that have partnered with us in propelling our merchandising transformation forward,” said SpartanNash Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer Bennett Morgan. “These suppliers have demonstrated time and again their commitment to creating an outstanding shopper experience and helping independent grocery retailers grow their business. We are proud to celebrate them and look forward to continuing to grow together.”
An award ceremony was held ahead of the SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo at the Amway Hotel in Grand Rapids, Mich. Suppliers were recognized for their outstanding work in digital marketing, category innovation, customer-centric programs, sales growth and overall support of the business. The 2023 Impact Award winners are:
Best in Class:
General Mills
From left to right: Chris Zulfer (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), John Blakey (Customer Account Lead, General Mills, Inc.), Lauren Keys (Customer Account Lead, General Mills, Inc.), Matt Amendola (Senior Customer Manager, General Mills, Inc.), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Mike Richardson (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash)
Rising Star:
Hometown Food Company
From left to right: Chris Zulfer (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Tabatha Bell (Senior Director of Sales, Hometown Foods Company), Anthony Raucci (President of Sales, Hometown Foods Company), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash)
Pioneering Digital Excellence:
Kraft Heinz Company
From left to right: Jessica Wong (Director of Retail Marketing, SpartanNash), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Sarah Buehrer (Associate Director, The Kraft Heinz Company), Savannah Wray (Customer Sales Manager, E-Commerce, The Kraft Heinz Company), Corey Fairbanks (Customer Sales Analyst, The Kraft Heinz Company), Carl Laws (Customer VP, The Kraft Heinz Company), Krista Wells-Wendt (Director of Digital Marketing, SpartanNash), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash)
Excellence in Execution:
Conagra
From left to right: Chris Zulfer (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Dennis Sievers (Customer Business Manager, Conagra) Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Kelly Corty (VP, Sales, Conagra), Adam Brown (Sales Director, Conagra), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash), Mike Richardson (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash)
Chiquita Brands International Sàrl
From left to right: Paul Skorpinksi (Director of Sales, Chiquita Brands International Sàrl), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Jamie Postell (VP Sales, North America, Chiquita Brands International Sàrl), Carlos Lopez Flores (Global President, Chiquita Brands International Sàrl), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Victor Savanello (VP, Produce and Floral, SpartanNash)
Danone
From left to right: Mike Richardson (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Joey Matos (Senior Director of Sales, Danone S.A.), Dave Koncki (Key Account Manager, Danone S.A.), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash)
Tyson Foods, Inc
From left to right: Randy Ries (Senior Director of Sales, Tyson Foods Inc.), Rusty Covington (Director of East, Tyson Foods, Inc.), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Mark Van Ryne (Customer Development Manager, Tyson Foods, Inc.), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Tim Kent (Director, Meat/Seafood Merchandising, SpartanNash), Mike Van Drie (Manager, Category – MDSE Meat, SpartanNash)
Rich Products Corporation
From left to right: Rick Neneman (Regional Sales Director, Rick Products Corporation), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Jackie D’Antuono (Sales Director, Rich Products Corporation), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Pat Parker (Director, Bakery, SpartanNash)
Sandridge Crafted Foods
From left to right: Flavio Bortolotto (Director, Sales, Sandridge Crafted Foods), Kevin VanderMeer (Regional Account Manager, Sandridge Crafted Foods), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Michael Sandridge (VP, Foodservice Sales, Sandridge Crafted Foods), Courtney Klemens (Brand Manager, Sandridge Crafted Foods), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Marianne Schmidt (Director, Deli, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash).
Unilever
From left to right: Chris Zulfer (Director, GFD Merchandising, SpartanNash), Barb Levick Millen (Customer Team Lead, Unilever), Arpen Shah (VP, Merchandising Strategy and Analytics, SpartanNash), Julie Gramlich (Regional Sales Manager, Unilever), Corrinne Voeltz (Regional Sales Manager, Unilever), Tony Sarsam (CEO, SpartanNash), Bennett Morgan (SVP and Chief Merchandising Officer, SpartanNash), Ben Postma (Director of Center Store, SpartanNash), Brandon Pasch (VP, Center Store Merchandising, SpartanNash)
More than 2,000 attendees participated in the 2023 SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. last week. The “Playing to Win”- themed event created a platform for independent grocery customers, suppliers and SpartanNash Associates to share upcoming trends, access incredible deals and network with industry professionals.
For more highlights from the 2023 SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo, see here.
About SpartanNash
SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a food solutions company that delivers the ingredients for a better life. Committed to fostering a People First culture, the SpartanNash family of Associates is 17,500 and growing. SpartanNash operates two complementary business segments – food wholesale and grocery retail. Its global supply chain network serves wholesale customers that include independent and chain grocers, national retail brands, e-commerce platforms, and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. The Company distributes products for every aisle in the grocery store, from fresh produce to household goods to its OwnBrands, which include the Our Family® portfolio of products. On the retail side, SpartanNash operates 144 brick-and-mortar grocery stores, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets and D&W Fresh Market, in addition to dozens of pharmacies and fuel centers. Leveraging insights and solutions across its segments, SpartanNash offers a full suite of support services for independent grocers. For more information, visit spartannash.com.
