KeHE, INFRA Team Up to Serve Indie Natural Food Stores

KeHE Distributors announced plans to partner with the Minneapolis-based Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA) -- a purchasing cooperative owned and governed by natural and organic food retailers -- to service participating members in the Northeast United States.

According to KeHE, this strategic alliance will enable participating INFRA members in the Northeast region to improve their purchasing position in the market and have a platform that is flexible enough to support innovation.

“We view independent natural food stores as a vital part of our industry, and are excited to partner with INFRA and its members to provide more distribution options and to support the continued growth and success of these stores,” said KeHE president and CEO, Brandon Barnholt. “This strategic partnership could not come at a better time, as we have significantly expanded our product selection and service offerings to retailers in the Northeast region. In this instance, what’s good for KeHE and for INFRA will also be good for the independent channel at large."

The program launches in September and is designed to drive further growth and development of both independent natural food stores and the INFRA organization itself.

KeHE plans to continue rolling out innovative distribution options to support the success and sustainability of independent natural food retailers and to leverage its unique leadership position in the industry to provide new programs and services that will grow the sales of the independent retail channel.

Romeoville, Ill.-based KeHE Distributors provides natural and organic, specialty, gourmet, international, multicultural and fresh products to over 35,000 retail outlets throughout North America.