Green Wave Ingredients (GWI) announced at its Annual Supplier Conference during SupplySide West that it would be launching the first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform in the first quarter of 2015. With more than 70 suppliers, customers and media representatives in attendance, GWI described the platform with a focus on customer value and an enhanced sales network. The move comes at a time when GWI is experiencing success in its offline operations, and is expanding into an almost $300 billion e-commerce sector.

The store will offer online ordering and payment, customer service, documentation, freight information, and will include a customer dashboard with order history and market trends. The 24-hour, 7-day-a-week platform, complete with a mobile application, gives customers the convenience and ease of ordering anywhere, anytime. In addition, ingredient suppliers will have the opportunity to showcase new products and expand sales channels worldwide. The e-commerce site will also benefit the media, including Supplier Conference attendees Todd Runestad of New Hope and Steve Myers of Natural Products Insider, gathering real-time customer feedback and the ability to view market updates.

“This added value service will exceed the expectations of our customers, transforming the way raw ingredients will be bought and sold for the industry,” CEO Jim Schultz says. Coupled with GWI’s knowledgeable sales team, the company is poised to offer a comprehensive customer experience, either online or offline.