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KeHE unveils KeHE CONNECT Direct digital fulfillment
New service brings grocery retailers access to another 10,000-plus products
Russell Redman
June 17, 2022
2 Min Read
From three new fulfillment centers, KeHE CONNECT Direct can supply retailers with more offerings from categories such as natural and organic, specialty and fresh products, the distributor said.KeHE Distributors
KeHE Distributors is bolstering its distribution capabilities with the launch of KeHE CONNECT Direct, a new fulfillment service that streamlines retailer procurement.
Announced this week, KeHE CONNECT Direct is designed to expand grocery retailers’ assortment options for dry, refrigerated, and frozen items outside of their home distribution center, as well as open up access to thousands of additional new products to buy and bring to their store shelves, Naperville, Ill.-based KeHE said this week.
From three new KeHE fulfillment centers, the service can supply more offerings from categories such as natural and organic, specialty and fresh products, including hard-to-find protein, bakery, bulk and cheese products. KeHE noted that CONNECT Direct also simplifies product ordering, with order minimums or limits to ship and free two-day shipping for orders of more than $50 from KeHE’s distribution centers to anywhere in the contiguous United States.
“We are excited to roll out this new supplemental sourcing service, KeHE CONNECT Direct, as it gives retailers in different regions a chance to obtain thousands of new and innovative products,” Amy Kirtland, executive vice president of innovation and growth at KeHE, said in a statement. “Now KeHE retailers will have access to an array of new product options to choose from, which aligns with the demands of their consumers. Plus, we’ve made the logistic process intuitive and easy, from ordering to shipping.”
Key features of the new fulfillment service include the ability to procure products via the KeHE CONNECT Retailer platform — and soon through EDI — with access to 10,000-plus new products in case, cut case and each quantities, as well as promotions and new-to-KeHE item offerings. CONNECT also provides up-to-date tracking information on shipments, ease of delivery for frozen or special-temperature products, free drop shipment for orders over $50 and sustainable packaging for all shipments.
“Changes in the food and beverage landscape are ever-changing, from consumer preferences to supply chain innovations,” Kirtland added. “The marketplace’s success is rooted in bringing the latest and broadest available selection of natural and organic, specialty and fresh products to shoppers. KeHE CONNECT Direct is our latest digital option enabling our partners to accomplish this and fuel that marketplace need.”
An employee-owned, B Corp-certified company, KeHE supplies natural, organic, fresh and specialty food, groceries and other products to more than 30,000 natural food stores, supermarket chains, independent grocery stores, online retailers, retail pharmacies, convenience stores, foodservice providers and specialty retailers across North America.
