I represent a charcoal briquette manufacturer in China. Many stores in
the U.S. sell their own "private label" charcoal either under their
own name, (Safeway Charcoal), or some other generic brand name. I am
looking for a list of contacts for the person or persons involved in
contracting with manufactures of private label products. For example,
who do I contact at WalMart to see if they would like to buy our
charcoal briquettes packaged under the WalMart brand name? The
question is, who are the contact people for the top retail companies,
WalMart, KMart, grocery stores, and any other national chains. Please
provide at least 10 contacts including names and telephone numbers.

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 15 Jan 2003 10:19 PST

Hi researchondemand-ga - 

[This is the same as the comment below... I've reposted it as
clarification so that I will be notified when you reply.]

I've made a bunch of contacts, and have stumbled upon an interesting
one in particular.  There's one company that handles the private label
for the following groceries:
 
Foodline 
Hannaford 
Cash and Carry 
Wakfern 
BJ's 
Associated Wholesale Grocers 
Raley's 
Bozzuto's 
 
Jill Lipke at MMI [800-433-2004] is your chief contact for these.  She
is at the corpoate level of MMI, who handles all the private labelling
for the above stores.
 
Will this suffice as the first 8?

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Greetings again -

I've amassed a little more information, sufficient enough to
constitute an answer.

Many large chains use outsourced companies to handle their private
labeling.  Key contacts at these outsourced firms will afford you
multiple opportunities, as the same company can handle negotiation
with many different grocery/consumer retail stores.

As noted in my clarification, Jill Lipke at MMI (800-433-2004) is the
key contact who handles private label dealings with the following
companies:

Foodline 
Hannaford 
Cash and Carry 
Wakfern 
BJ's 
Associated Wholesale Grocers 
Raley's 
Bozzuto's 

In addition, I've located Enterprise Marketing, who also handles
multiple accounts w/ chain stores.  Your contact here is Beth Murphy
at 616-537-2221 Major accounts they handle include:

VG's 
Felpausch
Harding's
Spartan Stores

Additional Links:
http://www.privatelabelmag.com/

Search Strategy:
Predominantly contacted some large chains by phone
Also used these search terms in various combos: grocery private label
suppliers

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Request for Answer Clarification by researchondemand-ga on 15 Jan 2003 16:20 PST

Thanks for the info. However, I live in California and I am not
familiar with any of the stores/franchises that you have listed. I
would be interested in the larger national chains, Lowes, Home Depot,
Tru Value Hardware, Safeway, and other East Coast grocery chains. Do
you think you can find contacts within those larger companies?

Thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 15 Jan 2003 18:13 PST

Hello -

Sure, I will look... just to be sure... you said:

"..would be interested in the larger national chains, Lowes, Home
Depot,
Tru Value Hardware, Safeway, and other East Coast grocery chains."

Being that you live in California, did you mean East coast chains or
West coast chains?

By the way, Home Depot doesn't have a private label.

jbf777-ga

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 15 Jan 2003 18:35 PST

Also, I don't know if some of the chains you've mentioned even have
private labels.  I really don't know who you're familiar with.  Could
you throw up some more names?  Are you familiar with Grand Union? 
Stop and Shop?  Price Chopper?

jbf777-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by researchondemand-ga on 15 Jan 2003 19:17 PST

Here are some grocery chains in California that have private label
brands:
Ralph's
Lucky's
Safeway
Vons
Long's Drugs
Rite Aid Drugs

But any large national chains would be of interest. Yes, Home Depot
does not have private label products, thanks.

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 16 Jan 2003 12:57 PST

Hello again -

Here are some more contacts...

Kroger
Chains include: Ralph's, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons
Gerbes, Owen's Smiths, QFC, Fry's, Food4Less, Foods Co. and
Fred Meyer 
Lance Parsons
(513) 762-4000

Safeway,
Chains/stores:Vons, Pak'n Save Foods, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Carrs
Rob Swaigen
925-847-1077 [direct line]
or
925-467-3000 [ask for him]

True Value
Mike Fagan
773-695-5573 [direct line]
or
773-695-5000 [corporate line -- ask for him]

Long's Drugs 
Ask for Stephanie Stephan
925-937-1170

Rite Aid Drugs
Greg Axtman
717-731-6562 [direct line]
or
717-761-2633 [corporate line -- ask for him]

A&P [Great Atlantic & Pacific]
Scott Csordos
201-571-8047 [direct line]
or
201-573-9700 [corporate line -- ask for him]

Albertsons
Larry Owens
208-887-4114
208-887-4008 [secretary]

Costco
Jim Nelson
425-313-6728
or
425-416-8100 [corporate line -- ask for him]

Stop & Shop
781-380-8000 [corporate line]
Ask for General Merchandising buyer

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Clarification of Answer by jbf777-ga on 16 Jan 2003 20:54 PST

Made some direct contacts with the corporations and maneuvered to the
right department.

Good answers, how did you come up with the telephone numbers?

Hi researchondemand-ga -

I'm posting this as a comment until Google removes my original
clarification-posted-as-answer.

I've made a bunch of contacts, and have stumbled upon an interesting
one in particular.  There's one company that handles the private label
for the following groceries:

Foodline
Hannaford
Cash and Carry
Wakfern
BJ's
Associated Wholesale Grocers
Raley's
Bozzuto's

Jill Lipke at MMI [800-433-2004] is your chief contact for these.  She
is at the corpoate level of MMI, who handles all the private labelling
for the above stores.

Will this suffice as the first 8?

As of today, you might want to steer clear of KMart - they're so busy
closing stores, they might not have time to cut checks :-)