Sam's Club Unveils New Joint Business Planning Approach for Suppliers

Bentonville, AR -- Sam's Club announced today a new Joint Business Planning approach to foster collaboration with its suppliers across all categories to increase value for its members, provide profitable growth and returns as well as drive innovation for both the company and its suppliers. More than 350 representatives of the company's top and key suppliers attended the event held at the company's new Home Office in Bentonville.

"At Sam's Club, we are passionate about serving our Members, and believe in working collaboratively with our suppliers to develop great quality and brands -- at an amazing value," said Linda Hefner, executive vice president, Merchandising. "Through Joint Business Planning, we can determine how we each invest in opportunities to accelerate growth and ROI."

Sam's Club is focusing its efforts to deliver suppliers more value through insight and innovation beginning with member research. Joint Business Planning tools and processes are near completion, and Sam's Club is leveraging exclusive marketing capabilities such as eValues, which provides its members with personalized digital offers on products sold in the clubs, and loaded right onto membership cards.

Other marketing tools available to suppliers include the new Tastes and Tips sampling program in club, samsclub.com as well as targeted member communications. Sam's Club expects its Joint Business Planning approach to be fully implemented by September 2010.

"We are excited to further collaborate with Sam's Club to best serve their members. Joint Business Planning will maximize our companies' mutual strengths of innovation and quality brand building," said Kathy Casey, Vice President, Customer Development, Kellogg Company Specialty Retail Group.

In addition to Joint Business Planning, Sam's Club representatives reiterated during the meeting the company's commitment to its members to offer a relevant and unique merchandise portfolio, superior value and a preferred in club experience. Sam's Club is making some changes to expand its assortment in Produce, Meat and Baby and to make improvements to its Electronics and Office layout in some locations.