Save Mart touts its worth in meeting with suppliers
Save Mart touts its worth in meeting with suppliers
Modesto, CA-based Save Mart Supermarkets Inc. has launched a campaign to help its suppliers recognize the size and scope of the chain and advantages the chain may have to offer.
The independently owned chain of 123 stores operates under the banners Save Mart, S-Mart and Food Maxx. All its stores are in California, serving the major markets of Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, East Bay, Sacramento, Northern California and the coastal region. Yosemite Wholesale, a Save Mart-owned distribution center located in Merced, CA, supplies the chain's stores with fresh produce.
Since 1995, the Save Mart chain has acquired 46 stores, built 16 new stores, remodeled 24 stores and closed 24 stores.
On July 13, executives of the chain held a meeting with key suppliers to kick off a new supplier planning initiative that is an integral part of its ongoing implementation of category management business principles. The meeting focused on planning for Save Mart and Food Maxx in 2006 and set in motion a formal process for how Save Mart will manage its business with suppliers going forward.
One of Save Mart's goals from the meeting was to communicate to its supplier partners the size and importance of the Save Mart and Food Maxx banners to Central Valley consumers.
Rick Smith, Save Mart's director of procurement and floral, said that the produce vendors on hand included Fresh Express, Grimmway Farms, CDS Distributing (apples, pears and cherries) and both Sun Maid and Sun Sweet for dried fruits. There also was local brokerage representation on hand in addition to the nationwide brokerage Advantage.
According to Randy Slentz, senior director of merchandising for Save Mart, the chain was concerned it might be perceived as a small regional operation based on its multi-faceted distribution sources rather than what it is -- the 24th largest grocery retailer in the country with over $2.5 billion in annual sales.
Privately held Save Mart does not publish its sales numbers and the forum allowed the company to re-emphasize to its suppliers the chain's position in the industry. The chain's growth has been with its Food Maxx stores, at a pace of which some suppliers may be unaware, Mr. Slentz said.
"Food Maxx has grown from 15 stores to 44 [box] stores in less than three years," Mr. Slentz said. Save Mart has had 79 conventional grocery stores for several years, but two new Save Mart stores are coming on-line this year.
Mr. Slentz said that the chain distinguishes itself from some of its competition in that it is nimble enough to make changes in a timely fashion and with relative ease. He said that when the company "makes a commitment to a manufacturer, it's going to happen.
Major suppliers such as Kraft, General Mills, Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Kellogg's attended the meeting. The 400-plus attendees heard senior management of Save Mart and Food Maxx give presentations that detailed company financial and growth plans, key promotional events, promotional opportunities and other partnership marketing opportunities for its suppliers' brands.
A key goal of the meeting was to create a partnership that will leverage the resources of Save Mart and its suppliers in order to create a synergy that will build sales, grow profits and reinforce brand image, Mr. Slentz said.
Working together on a detailed annual calendar will help move product through stores, Mr. Slentz said. "Suppliers need to tell us when national programs are in place to help us allocate resources, he said.
Partnering with each other, Save Mart and its suppliers will align strategies, systems, processes and people to reduce the cost of conducting business -- a "win-win for everyone, especially the consumer, Mr. Slentz said.
Save Mart handed out CD-ROMs to participating suppliers and will follow up with workshops with them in upcoming weeks. In late July or early August, Save Mart will sit in with category managers of its suppliers. Save Mart plans to utilize the same planning mechanism in future years, Mr. Slentz said.
"The concept is to get suppliers to lay out plans so they become our plans, Mr. Slentz said. "In June, July and August of 2006, we'll work on 2007.
The forum was a chance for Save Mart to re-emphasize its market presentation and growth. "We've had a ton of positive feedback, Mr. Slentz said.
The independently owned chain of 123 stores operates under the banners Save Mart, S-Mart and Food Maxx. All its stores are in California, serving the major markets of Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Stockton, East Bay, Sacramento, Northern California and the coastal region. Yosemite Wholesale, a Save Mart-owned distribution center located in Merced, CA, supplies the chain's stores with fresh produce.
Since 1995, the Save Mart chain has acquired 46 stores, built 16 new stores, remodeled 24 stores and closed 24 stores.
On July 13, executives of the chain held a meeting with key suppliers to kick off a new supplier planning initiative that is an integral part of its ongoing implementation of category management business principles. The meeting focused on planning for Save Mart and Food Maxx in 2006 and set in motion a formal process for how Save Mart will manage its business with suppliers going forward.
One of Save Mart's goals from the meeting was to communicate to its supplier partners the size and importance of the Save Mart and Food Maxx banners to Central Valley consumers.
Rick Smith, Save Mart's director of procurement and floral, said that the produce vendors on hand included Fresh Express, Grimmway Farms, CDS Distributing (apples, pears and cherries) and both Sun Maid and Sun Sweet for dried fruits. There also was local brokerage representation on hand in addition to the nationwide brokerage Advantage.
According to Randy Slentz, senior director of merchandising for Save Mart, the chain was concerned it might be perceived as a small regional operation based on its multi-faceted distribution sources rather than what it is -- the 24th largest grocery retailer in the country with over $2.5 billion in annual sales.
Privately held Save Mart does not publish its sales numbers and the forum allowed the company to re-emphasize to its suppliers the chain's position in the industry. The chain's growth has been with its Food Maxx stores, at a pace of which some suppliers may be unaware, Mr. Slentz said.
"Food Maxx has grown from 15 stores to 44 [box] stores in less than three years," Mr. Slentz said. Save Mart has had 79 conventional grocery stores for several years, but two new Save Mart stores are coming on-line this year.
Mr. Slentz said that the chain distinguishes itself from some of its competition in that it is nimble enough to make changes in a timely fashion and with relative ease. He said that when the company "makes a commitment to a manufacturer, it's going to happen.
Major suppliers such as Kraft, General Mills, Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Kellogg's attended the meeting. The 400-plus attendees heard senior management of Save Mart and Food Maxx give presentations that detailed company financial and growth plans, key promotional events, promotional opportunities and other partnership marketing opportunities for its suppliers' brands.
A key goal of the meeting was to create a partnership that will leverage the resources of Save Mart and its suppliers in order to create a synergy that will build sales, grow profits and reinforce brand image, Mr. Slentz said.
Working together on a detailed annual calendar will help move product through stores, Mr. Slentz said. "Suppliers need to tell us when national programs are in place to help us allocate resources, he said.
Partnering with each other, Save Mart and its suppliers will align strategies, systems, processes and people to reduce the cost of conducting business -- a "win-win for everyone, especially the consumer, Mr. Slentz said.
Save Mart handed out CD-ROMs to participating suppliers and will follow up with workshops with them in upcoming weeks. In late July or early August, Save Mart will sit in with category managers of its suppliers. Save Mart plans to utilize the same planning mechanism in future years, Mr. Slentz said.
"The concept is to get suppliers to lay out plans so they become our plans, Mr. Slentz said. "In June, July and August of 2006, we'll work on 2007.
The forum was a chance for Save Mart to re-emphasize its market presentation and growth. "We've had a ton of positive feedback, Mr. Slentz said.
