Why are Bottom Dollar Food, Hannaford, Food Lion and Sweetbay changing their supply chain processes?
Bottom Dollar Food, Food Lion Family of Brands, Hannaford and Sweetbay banners of Delhaize Group, are building an integrated, consumer-driven supply chain to support all banners of U.S. operations. When the supply chain project is completed in 2011, All banners will be able to leverage common data across all of its operations. One supply chain will support all of Delhaize America, while each operating company maintains individual go-to-market strategies.
This project, which we call our "Supply Chain Master Network" project, is a multi-year initiative designed to:

• Integrate the supply chain systems and processes of all Delhaize America operating companies
• Leverage existing and new technology to enable process improvements
• Better utilize the expertise of our operations

Does the Supply Chain Master Network offer any benefits to vendors and brokers?
Absolutely! Vendors and brokers will appreciate the Supply Chain Master Network's simplified process for submitting new items and/or new pricing and promotions. As part of our master network, we are creating a center of excellence to manage item and vendor setup. We refer to this center of excellence internally as our Master Data Management (MDM) organization.
When the realignment goes live in mid October, vendors will be able to submit an item and/or pricing and promotion changes to Bottom Dollar Food, the Food Lion Family, Hannaford and Sweetbay simultaneously. An internal shift, which you as vendors and brokers may notice, is that item setup and item maintenance for Fresh will be based in Scarborough, Maine, for both companies, while all item setup and maintenance for Center Store/Dry will be based in Salisbury, NC. Each banner will continue to have its own go-to-market strategies, and your banner-specific contacts will remain the same.

What other changes being made as part of the supply chain project will affect vendors and brokers?
To implement a common Supply Chain Master Network, the Delhaize America operating companies must migrate to common vendor and common item numbering systems. Having common numbers gives us visibility to supply chain activity throughout our U.S. operations. This conversion to common vendor and item numbering will change some of the ways suppliers correspond with the Food Lion Family and/or Hannaford Bros. Co.
A small percentage of our vendors will receive new vendor numbers. Most vendor numbers will stay the same. We will also make changes to some of the forms suppliers use. However, suppliers should use our existing forms and processes until they are notified otherwise.

How will I know if my vendor number is changing?
Most of the vendors whose numbers are changing have already been contacted. You can check this list to see if you are among the vendors receiving new numbers.

What about the other numbers I use when I correspond with Food Lion or Hannaford?
Your broker number, partner ID and the corporate ID you were issued by Hannaford accounting or Food Lion accounting will not change.

When will vendors and brokers learn about changes coming as a result of common item numbering?
Specific changes that will take place when we convert to common item numbering communicated in January. Please continue watching this site for updates.

How will item set-up be different after the conversion?
Item set-up will begin following a common process across all operating companies, using one form. That form is in development and will be provided to you by your category representative in early February 2010.

How will I know if my vendor number is changing?
Most item numbers for products sold at Hannaford and Sweetbay are changing. Please click here to access our Item Number Conversion Worksheet.