Gelson's Markets Welcomes Product Pitches at Gelson's Local Discoveries
ENCINO, CA - Gelson’s Markets, is bringing back a successful program to give fruit and veg growers, producers, and distributors a chance to have their products stocked in all 27 of the Southern California-based retailer’s locations. Known as “Gelson’s Local Discoveries,” the pitch event will be held at the Gelson’s distribution center in Santa Fe Springs, CA, on September 10, where 70 Center Store and 15 Fresh department product spots will be up for grabs.
"We are excited to invite local fresh purveyors and add them to our already popular local day,” Paul Kneeland, Executive Director for Fresh Operations, commented. “Some smaller- and medium-size local companies don't have the resources to come to market and we really love helping them! Looking forward to an exciting day and already have several local vendors signed up!”
According to Orange County Breeze, the event will be open to local vendors who operate within 50 miles of a Gelson’s store, which includes locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties. Between 8 am and 2 pm on the day of the event, each vendor will have no more than 25 minutes to pitch their products to senior Gelson’s buyers. The pitches should explain what makes the product special, including special attributes like organic, gluten free, vegan, etc., the news source reports. Winning vendors will not only gain shelf space in the retailer’s stores, but also have their products promoted by Gelson’s through in-store, online, and local media marketing.
The first Gelson’s Local Discoveries took place last year on June 6, and was enormously successful, giving several local vendors further access to consumers. Gelson’s has helped launch many local brands in the past, including Health-Ade Kombucha, Califa Farms, Chica’s Chips, Coolhaus Ice Cream, Groundwork Coffee, and BJ’s Brewhouse Beer.
“The response was so encouraging that we decided to make this a twice-annual event, and will likely hold them in the spring and fall next year,” commented John Bagan, Chief Merchandising Officer. “We look forward to meeting new entrepreneurs and are excited to be introduced to some terrific local discoveries to surprise and delight our customers.”
Which lucky vendors will stand out from the pack and earn a place in Gelson’s Markets stores across the lucrative region? AndNowUKnow will keep you posted.
