KeHE Uncovers Product Innovation Through Its Virtual TrendFinder™ Event
Naperville, IL– November 23, 2022 – KeHE Distributors (KeHE), one of the largest natural, organic, specialty, and fresh distributors in North America, is committed to cultivating product innovation and bringing emerging brands to the competitive retail marketplace.
In October, KeHE hosted a virtual TrendFinder™ event, giving over 120 suppliers the chance to pitch their products one-on-one with KeHE’s Category Management team. The team actively reviews products and brands, through KeHE’s TrendFinder events, to determine which ones will best fit KeHE’s innovative product portfolio and ultimately presents them to its retailer partners.
During the event, brands were evaluated on ingredients, innovation, taste, scalability, packaging, purpose, and passion. KeHE trend and innovation experts identified and awarded 23 suppliers with a ‘Golden Ticket’ indicating they have been selected to join KeHE’s robust assortment.
As ‘Golden Ticket’ winners, the 23 selected brands will gain exposure to over 30,000 retail locations and support the distributor’s retail partners in bringing innovation and new products to their consumers. Along with assisting the selected brands with navigating distribution, KeHE will provide supplier promotional programs free of charge.
“We are not only passionate about innovation, but KeHE is taking strategic steps to curate the best item assortment for our retail partners, keeping them relevant, fresh, and ahead of the pack,” shared Rachelle Radcliffe, Director of Brand Development at KeHE. “We also understand the challenges brands face as they enter the market, which is why we do what we can to set them up for success.”
Below are the 23 trendsetting Golden Ticket winners to watch:
SNACKS/COOKIES/BARS/TEA
VITAMINS MINERALS & SUPPLEMENTS
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
FROZEN DESSERTS
CANDY/CONFECTIONS
REFRIGERATED DIPS
SHELF STABLE DRINKS
MARINADES & SEASONINGS
JAMS & SPREADS
The next TrendFinder event will occur virtually from January 16 – 27, 2023, focusing on uncovering diverse-owned brands. Brands must be certified as women, minority, LGBT, Veteran, or disability-owned businesses and must be a new KeHE supplier. Applications for the Diversity TrendFinder event are open and close December 23, 2022, visit our website for more information www.kehe.com/2023-diversity-trendfinder
About KeHE
KeHE Distributors, LLC (KeHE) is the largest, pure-play distributor of natural & organic, specialty, and fresh products to more than 30,000 natural food stores, chain and independent grocery stores, e-commerce retailers, and other specialty products retailers throughout North America. With over 6,800 employee-owners, KeHE, a Certified B Corporation, drives its mission of serving to make lives better and bringing the next level of goodness, crazy GOOD™, throughout all aspects of its operation. For more about KeHE, visit KeHE.com or check out our social media channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook,& Twitter.