Ahold looks to bring in local/diverse suppliers for its stores

CARLISLE, Pa. — The U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold is hoping to attract local and diverse suppliers to its stores in the markets in which it operates.

Ahold USA said Thursday that it had its first annual Local/Diverse Business Opportunity Fair last month. The fair attracted participants from more than 140 companies that were given the opportunity to have their products reviewed by Ahold USA procurement teams for placement in more than 750 stores throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.

“At Ahold USA, we maintain a strong commitment to developing business opportunities with women-owned, minority-owned and regional businesses, and supplying their products to our customers,” Ahold USA director of supplier diversity and trade relations James Sturgis said.

Ahold said its Giant-Carlisle and Stop & Shop chains had similar events in previous years, but recent restructuring had provided the opportunity to have an event that would include all the company’s divisions. Ahold operates three supermarket chains — Stop & Shop in the New York metropolitan area and New England; Giant-Landover in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., area; and Giant-Carlisle in Pennsylvania — as well as Peapod, an online grocery shopping and delivery service.