INFRA announced today that the association “split the business” and signed two additional and final regional supply agreements with UNFI and Nature’s Best Powered by KeHE, in the Southeast and Southwest respectively.

Five years ago, the INFRA board of directors voted to negotiate regional supply agreements with primary distribution and internally assigned this goal as Strategic Priority No. 1. “In order to improve member competitiveness in the marketplace, INFRA will negotiate and implement joint purchasing agreement(s) with primary supplier(s) by December 2015 that provides benefits for all member stores and leaves no member store in a lesser position.”

This regional structure not only speaks directly to the marketplace differentials of local economies, unique product sourcing, and sustainable activities, yet significantly supports the future work of INFRA in terms of product procurement and regional assortment.

“As a community of independent retailers, we committed to a process that would focus on regional and local opportunities with our primary suppliers,” says INFRA CEO Corinne Shindelar. “These final agreements illustrate our continued belief that as a purchasing cooperative of retailers, we are best served to work together to affect the success of specific warehouses versus the overall distributor company. Patiently taking this strategic course provides INFRA and its members the opportunity to be anchor accounts in specific
warehouses across the country”.

INFRA has been called “a thriving, dynamic, influential cooperative” by Natural Foods Merchandiser. INFRA is a purchasing cooperative owned and governed by natural and organic food retailers of all sizes working together to forge a sustainable future. INFRA’s retail members enhance independents' position in the marketplace through a collaborative brain trust equaling years of industry experience. As one of the fastest growing key accounts in the natural channel, INFRA has captured the attention of the natural food industry.