AWG Streamlines Product Discovery Between Suppliers, Retailers

Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has partnered with RangeMe, a platform that streamlines new product discovery between suppliers and retailers, to scale its retail buying efforts in general merchandise, health and beauty, and specialty, natural and organic products for all of its members.

San Francisco-based RangeMe is changing the way retailers and suppliers do business by giving buyers an efficient way to discover innovative products and manage the inbound product submission process. Suppliers are given increased control over the marketing of their products and greater access to retail buyers. In the past year alone, RangeMe has grown to nearly 65,000 suppliers and more than 210,000 active products across all categories.

"The technology and vendor interfacing that RangeMe provides will benefit our members and their customers," said Anna Mancini, AWG's VP, VMC division. "By implementing the RangeMe platform, our category team can quickly locate and identify products that our members want, like organic items, baby, beauty products, or locally relevant items or brands. It saves us time and money, which is passed on to our members."

Added Greg Oldright, AWG executive director, VMC division: "Consumers are seeking and demanding an ever-expanding selection of specialty, organic, local and diverse and innovative array of products. RangeMe simplifies sourcing and allows for our buying teams to have access to a wide range of products at their fingertips."

RangeMe has also recently teamed with such grocers as Ahold USA and Albertsons.

Kansas City, Kan.-based AWG is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving more than3,800 locations in 35 states from 11 full-line wholesale divisions.