W HOLE B ODY C ATEGORY R EVIEW AND N EW I TEM S UBMISSION P ROCESS
Below is an overview of the Global Whole Body new item review process. Please follow these guidelines when submitting a nutritional supplement, personal care, Lifestyle items (apparel, BCM, gifts, toys, etc.) and Housewares (cookware, kitchen tools, etc.) for launch at Whole Foods Market.
Review the Supplier Guidelines, 2016 Global Category Review Schedule and Global Free Fill Policy, located on the Whole Foods
Market Vendor site below; to help facilitate process. Note all deadlines for submission and in store land date on the review schedule. http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/vendor/vendor
Password: wholefoods
· We are looking for the best you have to offer in terms of innovation, differentiation and quality. We will prioritize exclusives, speed to shelf innovations as well as seasonal first to market new items.
· We will be prioritizing offerings that are Premium, Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified, and want to continue growing our selection of dedicated Fair Trade goods (the higher the Fair Trade ingredient content, the better).
· We have committed to support GMO transparency. Suppliers have the options of either pursuing Non GMO
Verification and/or Organic production. For more information please http://www.nongmoproject.org/
· We want suppliers to push the envelope on packaging sustainability, such as compost ability and recycled content.
We need to create a circular, regenerative economy with packaged goods.
· A major focus for us continues to be developing local and regional suppliers into bigger partnerships.
· We want to partner with creative, inspired and purpose driven suppliers, who share our commitment to win-win partnerships.
· Please note the changes to the category schedule o Again this year, there are a few categories that will be reviewed twice this year o We are open to look at On Trend and First to Market Submissions that are presented Off Cycle. o Housewares and Lifestyle categories are all part of the WB review schedule.
Submission Process:
· Complete both New Item Forms (xls & ppt). Incomplete forms will be returned.
· Rename both forms; (Your Company Name Round) FY16 Global New Item Submission Form.
· E-mail submissions to: wholebody.newitems@wholefoods.com
in the subject line of the email include o Vendor Name, the Round, Whole Body Global New Item Submission
· Send samples to global and regional buyers by the submission due date.
· Mark all sample parcels “W HOLE B ODY G LOBAL C ATEGORY R EVIEW ROUND?”
· Copies of the submissions can be inserted in the parcel.
· WFM Quality Standard Coordinators must receive product samples, pdf’s of full labels for all product submissions and supporting paperwork, where applicable.
· The QS reviews may take up to two weeks, please account for this when submitting; this does not include any revisions needed.
 Supplements and Oral Care : jody.villecco@wholefoods.com
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 Body Care and Premium Body Care Applications : julie.holloway@wholefoods.com
 Organic submissions and certifications : joe.dickson@wholefoods.com
· In order to support our Green Mission, we do not accept samples packed in Styrofoam (PS) peanuts. Please see the packaging guidelines in the Supplier Guidelines.
The category review call is collaborative decision with all regional buyers, below are the results after careful consideration:
Global Launch:
· Team agrees that the product(s) are viable for a national launch and therefore we will accept free-fill to land on our next approved launch date. Free-fill policy is as follows:
Body Care 6 free fill for items under $10.00 WFM Landed Cost / 3 free fill for items $10.00 WFM Landed Cost and above
Items in display cases such as lip balms 1 display box free fill
Supplements 6 free fill for items under $10.00 WFM Landed Cost / 3 free fill for items $10.00 WFM Landed Cost and above
Energy/Single Shots – 1 display case / caddy free
All items that arrive to stores in display case (single shots/lip balm) – 1 display box free fill
· By submitting products for review globally you are accepting these free-fill terms.
· Whole Foods Market’s free-fill policy is in place to help offset the labor & costs associated with placing new items in our stores.
· This policy is not negotiable and is required of all of our vendors.
· Please include a zero invoice that references the actual product cost with a 100% discount.
· For Global Plus Out items, 2 samples of each must be sent here to:
Whole Foods Market
Attention: Nancy Dagnall ~ Global Whole Body Buyer
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703
One scannable product sample should be sent to The Space Planning Team and the completed Space Planning Form, emailed to louie.reina@wholefoods.com
:
Whole Foods Market
Louie Reina ~ Space Planning Team
550 Bowie Street
Austin, TX 78703
Not a Global Selection:
· Team determines that the product(s) are not viable to be launched in all stores at this time.
· Suppliers can work directly with a region to discuss interest and opportunities in their stores.
Not Interested:
· New Item Team or Quality Standards decided that the product(s) are not suitable for sale in Whole Foods
Market stores at this time.
· If your product(s) receive a rejection status you should not continue to pursue placement of said product with
Whole Foods Market either globally or regionally.
D ISTRIBUTOR V ENDOR PROCESS THROUGH UNFI
Below is a timeline for vendors who distribute their products via UNFI to Whole Foods Market stores.
· 1-2 weeks out following New Item call: WFM confirms accepted items to vendors and to UNFI.
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· Within 1week of WFM notification of New Items request: UNFI WFM Account Representatives will request new product set up from UNFI Supplier Relationship Managers on all items not set up. UNFI Supplier
Relationship Managers will request from the supplier new item paperwork to be completed. New item paperwork must be completed and returned to the UNFI requesting Supplier Relationship Manager no later than one week from original request.
· UNFI Buyers will receive First PO suggestions which includes auto ship amounts and back stock from UNFI
National Account Specialist at least 6 - 8 weeks prior to the first auto ship, sometimes sooner if new items are set up sooner- depends when new items are set up as PO’s can’t be placed until items are set up.
· 4-6 weeks out: UNFI buyers place PO's with vendors. Vendors should be prepared to ship immediately upon receipt of UNFI PO's. PO’s MUST land in UNFI DC’s no later than 2 weeks prior to first auto ship
· 3 weeks out- WFM regions submit PO’s for auto ships and UNFI customer service begins entering the plusout orders (UNFI cannot enter plus out orders for auto ships until WFM sends PO’s.)
· Auto Ship- UNFI begins shipments of plus out orders.
· N OTE : All free fill shipments must be delivered via UNFI for distributor vendors.
· When following up with UNFI on Global new item plus outs, please follow up directly with The UNFI
Supply Relationship Manager for New Item Paperwork questions, the UNFI Buyers for PO’s or Gerry
Davila gdavila@unfi.com
Gerry manages the coordination of the UNFI Purchasing teams and Customer
Service Account Rep teams for all WFM New Item Launches through UNFI of all WFM new item launches through UNFI.
Thank you for submitting your new items for launch at Whole Foods Market. We hope that this document provides clear and concise direction so that you are able to work with our buyers as efficiently as possible. If you have any additional questions regarding submitting new items to Whole Foods Market please e-mail them to: wholebody.newitems@wholefoods.com
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