GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Meijer will hold its first ever Sustainability Supplier Summit, giving vendors nationwide the opportunity to showcase their sustainable products for possible inclusion in Meijer stores. 

The event will be held virtually June 20-23. It comes on the heels of a recent survey Meijer conducted to identify environmental issues relevant to the retailer and its customers. Sourcing from companies with a strong commitment to sustainability, as well as expanding the retailer's offerings of sustainable products, were among the highlights of the survey, according to Meijer. 

"At Meijer, we understand that to be a good company, we must be a good neighbor, which is why we integrate environmental sustainability into our daily operations," said Peter Whitsett, Meijer’s executive vice president of merchandising and marketing. "But so much of what we do in this space extends beyond what customers see on our shelves, which was why we felt it was time to seek out sustainability-focused vendors to help us expand our significant base of sustainable product offerings."  

The summit aims to expand the chain’s sustainable product offerings and will focus on categories storewide. In order to meet its sustainability standards, Meijer merchants are targeting 38 different certifications on vendor products, or their manufacturing and procurement processes. 

For example, seafood merchants are looking at vendors following the Best Aquaculture Practices, and grocery and consumable merchants are looking for vendors who participate in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program that validates standards on forests, climate, human rights and livelihoods.