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Hy-Vee to turn spotlight on local vendors

Midwestern grocer to hold ‘Best of Local Brands’ summits throughout 2021

Russell Redman

December 21, 2020

2 Min Read
Hy-Vee_storefront-exterior_0.jpg
Hy-Vee is seeking 'retail ready' products from local sources in the grocery, produce, deli, general merchandise, frozen, dairy, and health and beauty aids categories.Hy-Vee

Looking to expand and enhance the product mix across its market areas, Hy-Vee next year plans to host quarterly “Best of Local Brands” summits.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee said it’s now accepting submissions from local vendors for the Best of Brand summits online through sourcing partner RangeMe at rangeme.com/hyveelocalsummit. The Midwestern food and drug retailer is seeking “retail ready” products in the grocery, produce, deli, general merchandise, frozen, dairy, and health and beauty aids categories. 

The summits will be organized according to Hy-Vee’s eight-state trade area — more than 275 stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin — and consist of 15- to 30-minute virtual presentations from selected suppliers. 

“An increasing number of Hy-Vee customers would like to be able to purchase from local vendors during their grocery shopping process, whether in-store or via our Aisles Online grocery pickup and delivery service,” according to Darren Baty, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Hy-Vee. “Supporting small, local businesses is important to us, and these quarterly summits will enable vendors in our eight-state region to present their products directly to our purchasing team and in return will ensure our team is aware of all of the incredible, locally made products that we can share with our customers.”

Related:Schnuck Markets launches supplier diversity initiative

Solon, Ohio-based Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM) and its RangeMe buyer/seller platform are helping Hy-Vee source, qualify and connect suppliers with the appropriate buyers. All sourcing and product submissions will be made via RangeMe, and ECRM will qualify suppliers, create curated meeting schedules and facilitate face-to-face meetings with Hy-Vee buyers to introduce new and innovative products, the retailer said.  

Best of Local Brands summit dates are Feb. 10-12, May 11-13, Aug. 4-6 and Nov. 3-5. All meetings will be conducted through ECRM Connect, ECRM’s virtual meeting platform. Hy-Vee said suppliers not selected will still be accessible via RangeMe and may be reviewed by Hy-Vee merchants again in the future.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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