GFC

One of the greatest disconnects that I've seen over my professional career is the difference between the commercial buyer and the supplier expectations.     While the supplier should be commended for their hard work to develop innovative products and services, they still are not necessarily going to be welcomed with welcome arms.   Why not?

Generally, the pace of changes in purchasing policies is faster then the innovation of products and services.  Especially illustrated with the fuel cost increases of 2008 and the global economic challenges of 2009.

For that reason, Global Food Collaborative has developed two products to manage the expectations.    Where buyers cannot only clarify what they are looking to source to differentiate their business, but how they want to purchase product.    

Global Food Alaska is the first of our efforts to have an "open mike" exclusively for commercial buyers to express what and how they buy product.   The purpose is to be clear about their expectations (after all they are the buyer).   It also serves as an educational opportunity for suppliers to hear directly from the decision maker on how they can best prepare their products or supply chain solutions to be considered by this market channel or business.  It is an aspect of Global Food Alaska (and its predecessor, the business of seaFOOD) that is most often recounted by participants for years to come.       So what' the value to commercial buyers?    1. It reduces this same discussion to individuals that contact them year in and year out, saving them valuable time getting out their most current policies. 2. It creates vendors who are well prepared to be successful with their company.   3. Perspective vendors know better their end-user customer and what they are trying to accomplish (more/better sales).  They can reach the same goal of end user loyalty and high volume purchasing.   3.  Buyers have an opportunity to influence suppliers.    Should the supplier be choosing this channel for distribution?    Is their company the right fit?    What really are the expectations to be considered as a vendor including the hoops and costs?   Can the suppliers be better prepared to be successful and how?  Bottom line it is a time saver for buyers attempting to do some vendor development.

Global Food Collaborative - Connect (GFC-Connect) is our latest and most sophisticated product that is an outstanding tool for commercial buyers to do some vendor development.       Commercial buyers may confidentially specify what they want to source - either now or far in the future.   They may specify the eco-label, the location, the capacity, price point, packaging, labeling, etc.    Qualified suppliers get a chance to review the anonymous requests that are within their category and determine if they can meet the expectations laid out by the buyer.     The service is designed to manage the expectation of buyer and supplier to most expediently and accurately reach the best-qualified connections.     While this has been done in the past, manually, by GFC - we have recognized the need for a faster pace by both suppliers and buyers.

In my past life in major corporations, a process of vendor development was repeatedly used to create the strongest possible vendors who were fully integrated parts of the buyer's supply chain.      During tough economic times, suppliers were eliminated that simply did not cut the mustard, because they were too costly to maintain on the books.   Most often, it was not the product that was inadequate.  It wasn't even the price.  It was the basic disconnect between the buyer and the supplier of the end game.    Were they both on the same page to source sustainable products?   Provide traceablity?   Make the end user customer happy and coming back?    

Let's face it, with certification and compliance programs topping the basic purchasing needs of commercial buyers, managing the expectations between buyers and suppliers is instrumental in sustainable and healthy supply chains.   Needless to say that requires the participation of both the buyers and their suppliers.   We hope you'll join us in the GFc product format that works best for you, but either way - let's get on the same page to produce superior products and solutions.    

Collaborate. Communicate. Connect.         On-Line at GFC-Connect.Com or June 2011 at Global Food Alaska or both!