SpartanNash Expands Corporate Responsibility Initiatives

As we have continued to report on Deli Market News, company ethics and corporate responsibility are being spotlighted across many retailers’ evolving expansion strategies, especially as they become of greater importance to consumers. SpartanNash has announced that the company is taking part in this shift by issuing a Vendor Code of Conduct that will be distributed within the coming weeks to its more than 13,000 vendors, suppliers, and contractors for compliance and acknowledgement.

“As part of our people-first culture, we hold our family of nearly 19,000 associates accountable for living our core values and adhering to our Code of Business Conduct,” said Kathleen Mahoney, EVP and Chief Legal Officer. “We are committed to operating in a legal, ethical, safe, fair, and environmentally responsible manner, and we expect our vendors, suppliers, and contractors to do the same. By developing the Vendor Code of Conduct, we have created greater transparency for vendors into what our expectations are in working with SpartanNash.”

The new Vendor Code of Conduct elaborates on SpartanNash’s expectations for its vendors and how they do business, according to a press release. All of the retailer’s vendor partners are expected to act in accordance with the code, signing and acknowledging their commitment.

SpartanNash’s Code of Conduct requires its vendors to:

• Act ethically and with integrity
• Avoid conflicts of interest
• Act in compliance with laws and contracts
• Protect privacy and data
• Source minerals responsibly
• Protect human rights
• Support vendor diversity and inclusion
• Adhere to environmental stewardship initiatives

“SpartanNash partners with thousands of great suppliers, food manufacturers, vendors, and contractors to fuel our supply chain and optimize our business operations,” said Lori Raya, EVP and Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer. “Our teams will be reaching out to our partners to share and explain the Vendor Code in the coming weeks. Based on the relationships we have formed as the country’s fifth largest food distributor and a leading distributor of grocery products to military commissaries around the world, we anticipate our partners will appreciate our transparency on conduct expectations.”

In addition to its Vendor Code of Conduct, SpartanNash also provides its associates and the public with a channel to address concerns without fear of retaliation, and may report their concerns to the SpartanNash hotline.

How will this recent move from SpartanNash echo throughout the retail industry? Stick with Deli Market News for the latest.