GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — SpartanNash has inked a deal that will make it easier for the company to supply its retailer customers with specialty foods.

SpartanNash and Specialty Food Partners’ (SFP) new online platform, SpartanNash SpecialtyDirect, delivers enhanced offerings and empowers SpartanNash’s 2,100 independent grocer customers to seamlessly browse thousands of newly available product options, place orders and pay consolidated invoices, according to SpartanNash. 

“It’s our promise to continue bringing the best innovation for our customers as shopping habits evolve,” said Bennett Morgan, SpartanNash’s senior vice president and chief merchandising officer. “We’re here to ensure independent grocers have everything they need to respond to their customers’ tastes and preferences, without taking away from their valuable time spent managing their grocery stores, servicing their shoppers and supporting their in-store team members. As a customer-focused food solutions company, this is just another distribution benefit we can offer our independent customers to deliver on the ingredients for a better life.”

SpartanNash worked with SFP to update the back-end system to ensure a seamless technology solution, including proper invoice flow, easy ordering and clearly communicated deliveries. SpartanNash SpecialtyDirect makes SpartanNash-supported independent grocery customers more competitive by increasing access to the specialty, seasonal and local items to tailor their product assortment to meet their shoppers’ appetites.

“I have already begun ordering products from SpartanNash SpecialtyDirect, and I would recommend it to any store wanting to offer unique items,” said Alison Steele, owner of Niwot Market, based in Niwot, Colo. an independent grocery customer of SpartanNash. “I have found some specialty items that I can't procure anywhere else, and I found them easy to order on the website.”