UNFI Restructures Commercial Wholesale Organization
UNFI has announced they are re-aligning into two product-centered divisions, conventional grocery products and natural, organic, specialty and fresh products.
Louis Martin will lead UNFI’s conventional grocery products division as well as be the chief commercial officer of the company for all the enterprise commercial capabilities, and Mark Bushway will lead the natural, organic, specialty and fresh products division, but he will continue to also be the chief supply chain officer.
UNFI Procurement Update
UNFI has announced an important update to the procurement model they introduced in August 2024. After listening to feedback and evaluating their approach, UNFI is making an adjustment that they believe will streamline and enhance your experience while maintaining the operational benefits of a regionalized focus.
Beginning in February, UNFI’s natural procurement team will transition to a region-based model for their Natural business. Under this refined structure, suppliers will work with up to three regional natural buyers (one buyer for the East, one for Central, and one for West), instead of up to ten DC-based buyers in the current model. The Natural business, with its differentiated supplier base, lower average SKU counts, and higher purchase order volume, is uniquely suited for this new region-based model, which simplifies suppliers interactions while ensuring that UNFI buyers maintain strong connections to DC operations and forecasting. These changes will not apply to UNFI’s conventional business, where the existing DC-based model remains the best fit. For suppliers serving both Natural and conventional DCs, you will work with a maximum of three natural buyers, and your conventional buyers will remain the same.
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