Ari Goldsmith, Vice President of Marketing and Digital Media, and Brian Wilkinson, Chief Information Officer, KeHE Distributors
How does KeHE use data to support small business growth?
KeHE provides data and analytics to its supplier community through its proprietary KeHE CONNECT® platform. Within the platform, each supplier can access everything from managing products to viewing their performance on KeHE. The tool gives KeHE’s supplier partners transparency into KeHE’s data and performance, while giving them the tools to take their success into their own hands through the KeHE CONNECT BI™ platform within KeHE CONNECT®.
The KeHE CONNECT® platform is also used at KeHE’s Buy and Sell trade shows, the KeHE Holiday Show and the KeHE Summer Show. Throughout the show, retailers and suppliers are invited to sell and purchase products and negotiate deals through the KeHE CONNECT® platform. This digital sales opportunity allows businesses to grow their business with less investment than attending an in-person trade show.
How does KeHE help suppliers anticipate food trends and prepare for demand?
KeHE provides support and tools to assist with demand planning. Through our supply chain experts, the team works closely with data to identify and forecast demand. KeHE also enables the supplier community to view their data and understand their performance needs through the KeHE CONNECT® platform to identify opportunities and areas for growth.
In food distribution, we use our proprietary technology to become a better partner to suppliers and retailers. 
Which technology solutions are most effective at driving partner growth at sales shows?
The KeHE CONNECT® platform is the proprietary platform for KeHE show ordering, enabling KeHE partners to negotiate and find the deepest deals, uncover innovation and discover hot items throughout the show. This is one of the many ways KeHE connects and grows its business online.
What marketing trends drive trade show sales?
For each of KeHE’s national trade shows, KeHE’s team of experts identifies several trends for the buying season. These trends are shared with the industry to educate retailers and suppliers on what trends to follow during the seasonal holidays. Each show uniquely combines trends with marketing support and creativity for easy activation by retailers, showcasing a broad range of suppliers aligned with identified trends.
How do you think technology will impact the food distribution industry in the next five years?
Technology plays an important role in changing any industry. In food distribution, we use our proprietary technology to become a better partner to suppliers and retailers. Through enhanced reporting, data, analytics and KeHE’s proprietary KeHE CONNECT® platform, our goal is to make business more efficient, transparent and easier to grow our partners’ businesses. We continually improve and develop our technology to strengthen our relationships with our partners and ultimately support their success.
