SpartanNash Gathers Thousands of Grocery Industry Leaders in Grand Rapids at Annual Food Solutions Expo

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Aug 05, 2025, 11:00 ET

Expo event brought together nearly 2,000 independent grocers and grocery suppliers from across the country for education, recognition, deals and networking

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Food solutions company SpartanNash^® (the "Company") (Nasdaq: SPTN) turned up the flavor at its annual two-day Food Solutions Expo, bringing together nearly 2,000 grocery industry leaders to dish out trendspotting, deal-hunting and community-building. Independent retailers, suppliers and SpartanNash Associates swapped insights, shared samples, and snagged hot deals at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.

Food solutions company SpartanNash® turned up the flavor at its annual two-day Food Solutions Expo, bringing together nearly 2,000 grocery industry leaders to dish out trendspotting, deal-hunting and community-building.

The Expo concluded with a donation of leftover product to Feeding America® West Michigan, equivalent to providing approximately 45,000 meals to local families in need.

Independent retailers, suppliers and SpartanNash Associates swapped insights, shared samples, and snagged hot deals at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.

"Across the country, independent grocers serve as critical food destinations where neighbors can connect, careers can grow, and family meals and traditions can be created,” Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Amy McClellan said. “We are honored to serve these grocers, supporting the role they play in nourishing our communities.”

SpartanNash showcased curated 2025 Consumer Taste Trends displays, highlighting the top food trends of the year, backed by flavor forecasts and consumer insights. The event also featured supplier and customer award ceremonies and live auctions. The Expo concluded with a donation of leftover product to Feeding America^® West Michigan, equivalent to providing approximately 45,000 meals to local families in need.

Independent grocers represent 33% of retail grocery industry sales, equating to $253.6 billion annually and 1.2% of the United States' gross domestic product, according to the National Grocers Association^®. SpartanNash serves more than 2,100 retail locations, empowering customers with tools to stay fresh, competitive and community-focused.

"Independent grocers are the heart and soul of neighborhood supermarkets, and they bring a distinctive, vital perspective to the industry," SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam said. "The Food Solutions Expo offers our attendees the opportunity to turn shelf space into success stories. They come for the savings and stay for the strategy. Most importantly, it helps SpartanNash, our customers and our vendors find new ways to partner together, ultimately elevating the grocery shopping experience for consumers."

The Company celebrated five exceptional customers and four vendors who have gone above and beyond in the last year to deliver value to independent customers and their communities during the SpartanNash Vision Awards and Impact Awards, respectively.

The 2024-25 SpartanNash Impact Award winners are:

The 2024-25 SpartanNash Vision Award winners are:

Discount Drug Mart^®: The Medina, Ohio-based chain with 79 stores earned the We Serve Award by raising more than $400,000 to support charitable initiatives and community programs in 2024, including funds for Hurricane Helene and California wildfire relief efforts.
Berens Market: This grocer earned the We Have Fun Award by bringing their Milbank, S.D. community together. Berens Market organized impactful – and fun – events for its hometown last year, holding produce truckload sales in the summer and outdoor frozen food sales in the winter.
Harding's Friendly Markets: With 28 locations across Michigan and Indiana, the retailer earned the We Create Solutions Award by launching a new digital platform in April 2025 in response to evolving guest needs. The team introduced a mobile app, digital coupons, a rewards program and weekly deals that transform the shopping experience and strengthen customer engagement.
Neiman's Family Market: The Michigan-based grocer took home the We Win Award for their impressive sales growth in 2025, with deli, bakery, meat and private label sales all seeing double-digit increases. Neiman's Family Market was also named The Shelby Report's Exceptional Independent Award winner for its marketing and technology investments.
Northland Foods: Last year, this northern Michigan-based grocer rolled out additional Our Family^® and other SpartanNash OwnBrands products at its two locations in northern Michigan, increasing private label sales by nearly 25% and earning them the Delivering the Ingredients for a Better Life Award. The stores are also deeply rooted in their community, sponsoring the Kalkaska Trout Festival annually.

"At SpartanNash, our vision is that we see a day when our customers will say, 'I can't live without them,' and these five independent retailers embody that vision in their stores and in their communities," Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Amy McClellan said. "Across the country, independent grocers serve as critical food destinations where neighbors can connect, careers can grow, and family meals and traditions can be created. We are honored to serve these grocers, supporting the role they play in nourishing our communities."

For more highlights from the 2025 SpartanNash Food Solutions Expo, follow SpartanNash on Instagram or visit the event website for full event coverage.

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About SpartanNash
SpartanNash^® (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a food solutions company that delivers the ingredients for a better life. Committed to fostering a People First culture, the SpartanNash family of Associates is 20,000 strong. SpartanNash operates two complementary business segments – food wholesale and grocery retail. Its global supply chain network serves wholesale customers that include independent and chain grocers, national retail brands, e-commerce platforms, and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges. The Company distributes products for every aisle in the grocery store, from fresh produce to household goods to its OwnBrands, which include the Our Family^® portfolio of products. On the retail side, SpartanNash operates nearly 200 brick-and-mortar grocery stores, primarily under the banners of Family Fare^®, Martin's Super Markets and D&W^® Fresh Market, in addition to dozens of pharmacies and fuel centers with convenience stores. Leveraging insights and solutions across its segments, SpartanNash offers a full suite of support services for independent grocers. For more information, visit spartannash.com.

CONTACT:
Adrienne Chance
SVP and Chief Communications Officer
SpartanNash
[email protected]

SOURCE SpartanNash