Wakefern seeks more own-brand sourcing partners

Wakefern Food Corp. aims to boost private-label sourcing with its upcoming Own Brands Supplier Innovation Summit.

The virtual open-call event, to be conducted via ECRM’s RangeMe platform, seeks private-brand manufacturers for new and trending food and beverage products for potential addition to the Bowl & Basket and Wholesome Pantry store brands, Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern said this week. Interested manufacturers and vendors can submit their applications through RangeMe from March 7 to March 28.

“Our end goal is to form long-term partnerships with manufacturers to expand our popular store brands.” — Chris Skyers, VP of own brands, Wakefern (Photo courtesy of Wakefern)

“We are excited to announce the official launch of our Own Brands Supplier Innovation Summit,” Chris Skyers, vice president of own brands at Wakefern, said in a statement. “Since launching Wholesome Pantry and Bowl & Basket, Wakefern’s own brands have experienced consistent growth. Our retail banners have our consumers’ trust, creating a need for new and innovative products and line extensions to meet the brand’s rapid expansion and consumer loyalty. To meet this demand, we are searching for new ideas and products to bring to market.”

Wakefern said its own-brand category managers will review the submissions and invite suppliers to a virtual pitch meeting. After selections are made, finalists will be invited to a one-day summit at the retail grocery cooperative’s headquarters in June, where the suppliers will present their products to a panel of Wakefern executives for consideration to join the Bowl & Basket or Wholesome Pantry lines.

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“Our search will cap off with an exciting one-day summit in June, when we will connect and network with manufacturers to learn about innovations at the forefront of the industry,” according to Skyers. “Our end goal is to form long-term partnerships with manufacturers to expand our popular store brands.”

The Bowl & Basket grocery brand debuted at ShopRite with its sister household label Paperbird in late 2019.

Wakefern noted that its premium private-label lines have earned industry recognition, with Bowl & Basket receiving a Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) Salute to Excellence Award in 2021 and Wholesome Pantry garnering two of the PLMA awards in 2017. The cooperative introduced Bowl & Basket in November 2019 and Wholesome Pantry in December 2016.

To be considered for Wakefern’s Own Brands Supplier Innovation Summit, manufacturers must fill out a RangeMe application online. Wakefern said that it’s currently not accepting submissions for nonfood, supplement and nutritional, or baby food products. Applicants must provide a complete, accurate description of their product and product line, including a brand profile.

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Overall, the Wakefern grocery cooperative encompasses nearly 50 members who independently own and operate 360 supermarkets under the ShopRite (about 280 locations), Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage and Fairway Market banners in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.