UNFI Concludes First Selling Show of the Year
United Natural Foods, Inc. concluded its first comprehensive product and solution regional selling show, reinforcing the company’s customer and supplier-focused strategy. The UNFI show featured the company’s complete range of natural, conventional, fresh, and organic products and total store solutions, all focused on supporting UNFI’s western region customers.
The two-day event brought together more than 5,500 attendees, representing hundreds of UNFI customers, and connected them with UNFI’s extensive network of suppliers offering a comprehensive product assortment, spanning grocery, fresh, natural, organic, and specialty departments. The show also featured UNFI’s Professional Services, which is focused on driving growth and efficiency for retailers.
“We are excited to showcase our wall-to-wall representation of natural, organic, fresh, and conventional products,” said Steve Dietz, UNFI’s chief customer officer. “We’re helping our suppliers expand their product reach while helping our retailers access more of the right products for their markets, at competitive prices. Our suppliers and products span from top-selling national brands to local one-of-a-kind innovators, and are ready to connect with our retailers, whether single store operators, small local chains, larger regional chains, or national accounts. Our professional services team and vendors are on-site as well, to help retailers save money.”
UNFI’s first comprehensive product and solution show included:
- More than 5,500 attendees, including domestic and international retailers and suppliers.
- Over 700 suppliers, covering more than 100,000 square feet, showcasing more than 1,000 brands.
- Hundreds of new products, with more than 40 selected and featured in UNFI’s New Product Showcase Area and several dozen highlighted as UpNext emerging brands.
- More than 60 Certified Diverse Suppliers.
- UNFI Professional Services experts, providing solutions to help retailers drive traffic, save money and time, and enhance their shoppers’ experience.
- UNFI’s unique Pitch Slam competition, where contestants pitched their innovative new products to a live audience. The San Diego winners were Tea Drops, which makes a fair-trade, eco-friendly alternative to tea bags, and Fishwife, which produces premium, ethically-sourced, tinned seafood.
“It was great to see the full range of products and services that UNFI offers all in one show,” said Ryan White, program category manager at New Seasons Market. “We appreciate the way they partner with us and help us identify new trends and bring us new products, assist in supplier negotiations, and source great deals. They are key to our continued growth and success.”
The San Diego show was also the first time the company recognized its customers and suppliers with Circle of Excellence and Customer- and Supplier-of-the-Year awards. These awards honor innovation, market positioning, size, and geography of our customers and suppliers across the country. Following the Orlando show later this month, the company plans to publish the complete list of customer winners from both shows.
UNFI’s upcoming shows:
UNFI’s 2024 Spring and Summer show is scheduled for Feb. 20-21 in Orlando (Central and East). The company’s Holiday and Winter shows are scheduled for June 5-6 in Uncasville, Conn., (East), and Aug. 6-7 in Minneapolis (Central and West), respectively.
For more information on UNFI Shows, customers or suppliers can visit: https://www.unfi.com/shows-events or email events@unfi.com.
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Low-Carb Crisp Power Pretzel-Style Snack to make U.S. Debut in March
If it looks, tastes, and crunches like a pretzel, it’s undeniably one – especially when it’s the protein-packed, low-carb wonder of Crisp Power. Founded by Gilad Zilberberg, the mind behind Dream Pretzels, Crisp Power is gearing up for its U.S. debut in March. As a sister company to Dream Pretzels, Crisp Power brings a snack revolution, where intelligent choices meet extraordinary flavors to power everyone’s day, whether it’s a workout, work or party time.
“We are excited for wellness enthusiasts in search of high-protein, low-carb options to discover Crisp Power. After years of perfecting our recipe, we’re thrilled to present a crunchy snack with the flavor of an everything bagel and the crunchy texture of a satisfying pretzel,” said CEO Zilberberg.
Crisp Power, a brand committed to functional food, has crafted a pretzel that boasts high protein and low carb content, containing a mere 6g of carbs and an impressive 27-28g of plant-based protein per 1.7-ounce pack! Each pack provides a whopping 56 percent of the daily value of protein.
Created from a distinctive blend of proteins originated from grains and legumes, the protein-packed pretzel contains all the essential amino acids vital for health and muscle development. With high bioavailability, it has earned FDA recognition as a “Good source of protein” in the diet.
But that’s not all – the pretzels are not only baked, sugar-free, high in fibers (36 percent of DV per pack), and free from artificial colors or flavors, but they also boast an irresistible crunch. It might sound almost too good to be true, but it is.
The patent-pending recipes, abundant in protein, cater to everyone, not just athletes! Ideal for vegans, those following a keto lifestyle, individuals with diabetes and wellness enthusiasts.
The pretzel-style snack is revolutionizing how simple it is to eat between meals. Every bite satisfies the craving for a savory treat yet empowers snackers to get what they need in a new way – beyond protein bars and power bites. Instead, anyone can enjoy the power of the pretzel as a quick snack straight out of the bag or paired with hummus, healthful dips and cheeses.
For those looking to grab a quick bite on the go, fuel up for a workout, or share with friends and family, Crisp Power is designed to fit seamlessly into everyday occasions. In the snack aisles often dominated by empty calorie options, Crisp Power aims to stand out as a beacon of health and flavor. Crisp Power is proud to introduce a product that challenges the norms of the snack aisle and offers a nutritious alternative. By entering the grocery shelves, the new protein pretzels will transform how people perceive snacks, showing that indulgence and health can coexist. Whether nestled among traditional snacks or highlighted in a health-focused section, Crisp Power is set to revolutionize snack time, offering a guilt-free, protein-rich choice for those in search of something better.
Away from the hyper-caloric sweet bars and the usual empty-calorie crunchy snacks, Crisp Power heralds a new era in snacking, where taste and health are no longer mutually exclusive to satisfy those cravings for a crunchy snack.
Crisp Power will be rolling out on Amazon in March and at wholesale grocers later this year.
For more information visit crisppower.com
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eGrowcery Appoints Craig Rosenblum to Board of Directors
eGrowcery, developer of the leading retail food industry e-commerce platform for grocers and other retailers, announced that Craig Rosenblum has joined the company’s board of directors effective immediately. The company also announced Eric Jacobson is transitioning off the board.
“Craig brings a wealth of retail experience and a unique set of skills that will be helpful to our board as we continue to accelerate growth. I’ve known him for many years and have always appreciated his values, his intelligence and ability to help,” said Todd Mitchell, executive chairman of eGrowcery. “At the same time, there are simply not enough words to thank Eric for his tireless support of eGrowcery and the board over the past six year. He has been very helpful, and we have tremendous gratitude for all he’s done for us.”
Pat Hughes, eGrowcery’s CEO, added, “I look forward to working closely with Craig along with the balance of the board. Craig’s experience and expertise will be particularly helpful during this period of growth.”
Rosenblum was most recently vice president of customer success at Inmar Intelligence and previously served as vice president of enterprise retail. He joined Inmar after the company’s acquisition of retail and consumer goods consulting firm Willard Bishop, where he was a partner. His earlier retail industry experience includes vice president of sales at Prescient Applied Intelligence and vice president of business development at Crossmark.
“I’ve been intrigued by eGrowcery for some time. Their reputation in the marketplace is nothing short of excellent. I’ve enjoyed many discussions with Todd, Pat and the team and look forward to assisting the board on this journey,” said Rosenblum.
eGrowcery is the market-leading, white-label, SaaS based eCommerce solution designed to service grocery retailers. The eGrowcery platform is a true end-to-end, omnichannel solution that integrates with back-office/point of sale systems while enabling retailers to personalize their own shopper experience. Serving companies in the United States and abroad, eGrowcery empowers retailers with the ability to personalize their shopping experience while providing the most efficient in-store fulfillment solution in the industry.
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