Richmond, Va.-based GPM Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of ARKO Corp., is holding its first “Open Buying Day” in partnership with ECRM & RangeMe, an online product sourcing platform for retailers and suppliers. The virtual event invites emerging suppliers to showcase and sell products to GPM’s approximately 1,400 company-operated stores.
Suppliers across all categories are welcome to apply for a chance to present and sell their products directly to GPM stores across its entire family of community brands. Interested suppliers must be able to distribute to at least 80% of GPM’s stores via Core-Mark, Grocery Supply Co. or through direct store delivery (DSD) and meet all insurance requirements. Suppliers that are currently doing business with GPM or have presented the product to GPM in the last six months are ineligible to participate.
To apply, suppliers can visit www.rangeme.com/gpminvestments for consideration between Aug. 23 and Sept. 5, 2021. GPM will review submissions and notify suppliers selected for the event individually. Qualified suppliers will be invited to attend the event virtually on Oct. 26 or Oct. 27.
“We are looking forward to conducting our first open buying day, inviting suppliers from around the world to showcase their products to the Category Team at GPM,” said Michael Bloom, executive vice president and chief marketing and merchandising officer at GPM Investments. “You never know where the next new item or category will come from. We are always looking for new growth opportunities to meet our customers’ needs.”
Bloom added that partnering with RangeMe allows GPM to streamline the process and build relationships with a wide variety of suppliers. That partnership translates to capturing innovation potentially earlier than others a robust assortment of products for customers to choose from, and ultimately more sales for GPM’s stores, which benefits all stakeholders.
GPM Investments is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ARKO Corp., a family of community brands that operates or supplies stores in 33 states and Washington, D.C. GPM operates approximately 3,000 locations comprised of approximately 1,400 company-operated stores and 1,650 dealer sites to which it supplies fuel.
RangeMe, an ECRM company, is an online platform that streamlines new product discovery between suppliers and retailers. The platform empowers retail buyers to efficiently discover innovative and emerging products, while streamlining the inbound product submission process.