Don’t Miss Tomorrow’s Supply Chain News – Essential Updates and Trends

Book mark tomorrow's briefing now to receive virtual updates from their події and to see how their applications affect your chain. This quick move helps buyers і merchandise teams adjust planning before the april announcement lands.

Tomorrow's coverage centres on concrete numbers: quality metrics for supplier performance, термін виконання замовлення, and stock turns across major channels. The announcement from Meijers shows a 7-day average replenishment window for top 20 SKUs, down from 9 days last quarter, whilst buyers report faster approvals for new vendors through streamlined applications. Expect insights from retailers and manufacturers on how their operations shift when virtual events align with april data cycles, enabling tighter chain orchestration than before. In general, these benchmarks let you compare supplier performance across categories and geographies.

To act on the coming updates, create a 7-day action plan: refresh supplier scorecards with April targets, map merchandise flow for high-velocity categories, align your internal teams with the upcoming virtual events calendar, and test their onboarding applications in a pilot with selected partners. If you work with Meijers suppliers, route the announcement to procurement and set alerts for changes to delivery windows or order minimums. A consideration for procurement teams is to diversify with woman-owned vendors when possible to spread risk across the chain.

Don't Miss Tomorrow's Supply Chain News: Updates and Trends

Register for tomorrow's briefing now to capture precise metrics and practical steps you can apply immediately. The coverage spans nationwide networks and locally operated hubs, with insights from a certified group of practitioners and partnering suppliers.

Also, reserve 60 minutes for a post-briefing debrief with your team to convert insights into action.

What you'll gain, with concrete data you can act on, includes:

• As the year progresses, expect year-on-year gains: inventory turns up 2.6%, on-time delivery to 98.2%, and service levels improving by 1.3 points during peak windows.
• The host Whitsett operation will lead a live Q&A and share case studies from warehouses serving merchandise for consumer brands; prepare a 5-slide brief to align your team.
• Partnering and partnerships: four new nationwide partnerships with carriers and five with packaging firms; leverage these to reduce transit times by 1–2 days and stabilise cycle times.
• Submit your questions and a one-page plan outlining how you'll apply insights to care, wellness, and employee safety across the supply chain, through submissions from suppliers.
• Locally sourced merchandise programmes show 7% faster turn times in regional markets; align locally sourced options to boost service levels across stores and warehouses.
• Summits are scheduled in three regions this year; select sessions highlight star performers and rising trends. Registration is required for access.
• Certified suppliers and service providers will showcase updated certifications and performance scores; use these to refresh your approved vendor list and ensure reliability.
• Wellness and care initiatives across the group support frontline staff and carrier partners, reducing turnover and improving stability over years of operation.

Take these steps now: register for the briefing, assemble a three-page internal action plan, identify locally sourced merchandise options, and set up a partnering review with your group to align on next steps through the first quarter.

Meijer Partnerships, Supplier Diversity Summit, and Local Midwest Sourcing

Register for the virtual Supplier Diversity Summit announced by Meijer this year to connect with disability-owned businesses and build local Midwest store partnerships with grocers and retailers.

Meijers will lead partnering efforts across wellness and environmental product lines, inviting select suppliers to present retail-ready applications that align with store merchandising plans and customer needs.

Events bring together teams from supply, merchandising, and store operations to evaluate products, sample packaging, and also confirm scalability for supermarkets and community grocers, ensuring a smooth path from concept to customers.

Participation targets include disability-owned enterprises, women-owned firms, and environment-focused vendors, with emphasis on year-on-year growth and a steady pipeline for regional stores.

Applications will be reviewed monthly, with feedback loops that help suppliers polish product specs, packaging, and messaging, while Meijer shares best practices and resources to accelerate retail-ready readiness and reduce lead times for local Midwest partners.

Meijer's sourcing firm partnership: goals, scope, and expected impact

Get the sourcing firm onboard now to align priorities, set milestone targets, and expand a diverse roster of suppliers that serve customers across the chain. Rick from Meijer's sourcing team will lead the kickoff and establish a joint roadmap for the year, including milestones for onboarding, quality checks, and merchandising input.

The scope spans categories such as groceries, household products, apparel, and own-label lines, with services that cover supplier onboarding, certifications, quality assurance, and risk assessments. These services put merchandising at the centre of the programme, and the partnership will leverage ecrm analytics and applications to track performance, profiles, and product specifications.

Expected impact includes higher product quality, improved service levels, faster restocking, and greater product availability for customers. The initiative will expand the pool of partners beyond traditional vendors, with a focus on disability-owned suppliers, to strengthen diversity in the supply base and create more inclusive chain-building opportunities. Stars amongst the supplier network will be prioritised for early design reviews and joint product programmes, reinforcing these partnerships across categories.

Announcement timing and targets: Meijer's plans a public announcement within weeks and a 12-month rollout with quarterly milestones. The programme will use ecrm dashboards to monitor on-time delivery, defect rates, and stockouts, and will report progress by year-end. By year-end, the aim is to add 12 disability-owned suppliers to the certified roster and raise the share of certified diversity suppliers to 25%. These metrics will guide supplier development, with Rick and the team providing regular updates to merchandising, operations, and customers, to ensure the products and services meet quality standards.

Upcoming supplier diversity summit: who should participate and how to register

Register now to secure your spot if you lead a diverse supplier programme or you’re exploring new partners for grocery and retail businesses. This virtual summit connects suppliers with buyers, category managers, and procurement teams who value inclusive sourcing, care for partnerships, and products that meet quality standards, while offering practical, time-saving sessions.

Who should participate: small and mid-size suppliers, woman- and veteran- owned firms, and producers with retail-ready offerings. Retailers, wholesalers and online brands will attend to meet new partners focused on diversity and quality products. Bring your best certifications and case studies.

How to register: visit the event page, click Register, and submit your applications. Create a profile with your company overview, product categories, geographic reach, and a short note on how you serve grocery or retail channels. Upload certifications, a catalogue or one-page product sheets, and references. After review, you receive a confirmation and a schedule for virtual meetings with procurement teams.

What to bring and expect: prepare a retail-ready catalogue and packaging specs for grocery items suitable for store shelves, price lists, minimum order quantities, and lead times. Have references from retailers or distributors and be ready to discuss certifications, quality controls, and sustainable practices. You will meet buyers from diverse backgrounds, build relationships and grow their networks with your offerings. Expect 20-minute slots to cover multiple product lines.

Next steps and deadlines: check the event page for registration windows and accessibility options. Sign up early to secure preferred times and the chance to present to teams focused on inclusive procurement and driving better outcomes for suppliers and their communities.

Midlands focus: criteria and outreach for local supplier candidates

Kick off with a 2-week Midwest outreach announced with a simple online form for submissions throughout the region. Publish a concise criteria sheet and invite local companies to apply, emphasising inclusive access and a collaborative review with cross-functional teams.

Define criteria across capacity, proximity, environmental and safety compliance, quality, and service reliability. Require evidence such as annual volumes, site capacity, and lead times; check certifications and testing results. Seek local, food-safe products where applicable and prioritise inclusive and veteran-owned companies. Regional spend stands in the billions, and the aim is to develop partnerships that boost regional supply throughout future procurement cycles.

Key criteria include capacity to scale, proximity to Midwest facilities, and the ability to beat current lead times by at least 20%. Require a scalable plan that shows how to ramp up production, plus a transparent pricing structure and packaging efficiency metrics. Verify environmental compliance, waste reduction practices, and, if relevant, food safety certifications. Collect samples and establish traceability to support a quality review by the collaborative group at the review stage.

Outreach channels leverage local chambers of commerce, regional associations, veterans' groups, and food networks to widen access. Host supplier days and share the submissions portal widely; ensure the review is transparent and conducted by cross-functional teams from procurement, quality, and operations. Track submissions and communicate decisions within 14–21 days, announcing results to the local market.

Event logistics: dates, venue, format, and virtual attendance options

Recommendation: book the venue by 20 April and lock in a hybrid format to maximise attendance from local and regional buyers.

Key details to finalise this week:

• Dates24–26 April; check-in 08:00; sessions 09:00–17:00; expo floor 10:00–18:00; procurement roundtables on day 2; wrap-up by 16:00 on day 3.
• Venue: Certified local convention centre in the city centre; accessible for disability-owned and diverse-owned exhibitors; parking for 1,200 vehicles; 30,000 sq ft expo hall, expandable to 45,000 sq ft; nearby hotels with shuttle service for attendees.
• Format: hybrid model with on-site and virtual attendance; three tracks – procurement strategy, merchandise development, and operations – plus 12 live product demos and 8 panels; Rick will host sessions; stars from buyer networks will join.
• Exhibitors and merchandise: booths designed to be retail-ready; include merchandise and service offering; expect 100+ exhibiting companies including disability-owned and diverse-owned businesses; curated aisles to boost discovery.
• Virtual attendance options: live streaming with real-time Q&A; virtual booths and 60-day on-demand library; captions and screen-reader friendly navigation; attendees can join from anywhere and also network via matchmaking tools.
• Audience and ROI: over 4,000 participants anticipated; buyers, procurement executives, and local business leaders will connect with over 50 1:1 meetings per hour; an announcement will be released 5 April with logistics updates; the event will also highlight a billion-dollar procurement ecosystem.
• Local impact: locally owned businesses will have prioritised access to show floor demos and buyer matchmaking; locally sourced vendors prioritised; over 250 regional buyers will attend, driving spend and partnerships.

Recommended Reading: curated reports and trend analyses for planners

Start with the quarterly Buyers Trends Review and the Supplier Diversity report to align products with shelves and merchandise mix for the next quarter. It highlights margin leaders, stock turn, and items that hog shelf space, guiding ordering and allocation decisions through clear thresholds.

Add curated trend analyses on diverse-owned companies and certified diversity programmes. Look for woman- and veteran-owned suppliers to broaden the supplier base, and compare offerings across chain partners to identify new services and wellness categories.

Review category data showing wellness growth, seasonal merchandise, and how buyers respond to shifts in demand. Note which regions favour certain brands and how Meijer's shelf strategies translate into in-store performance across storefronts.

Apply the findings by setting quarterly targets for supply and buyers alignment, and by prioritising partnering with certified diverse-owned suppliers. Track progress with a simple dashboard that flags top products by margin and the items requiring replenishment.