The Supply Side: Wal-Mart supplier news briefs

• Fujifilm North America gets supplier award
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. tagged Fujifilm of North America as one of its “Vendors of the Year”. The award is given annually at the retailer’s Supplier Summit to suppliers who deliver exceptional services or products that help Wal-Mart fulfill its commitment to its customers.

Fujifilm won the in the photofinishing category for 2012.

“We are honored to receive this award from Wal-Mart since it recognizes our commitment to exceed the expectations of our business partners,” said Joseph Vaughey, vice president of sales and marketing with Fujifilm North America.

“This achievement is only possible through the hard work of our dedicated national account team, supply chain managers and analysts who provide the consistent knowledge and support we need to deliver on our promise to Wal-Mart every day.”

Fuji operates a sales office in Northwest Arkansas for its business with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

• Wal-Mart suppliers team up to fight hunger
Walmart and 10 of its supplier food companies said they will work together on the Fighting Hunger Together initiative.

Campbell’s Soup, ConAgra Foods, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, General Mills, Kraft Foods Group, Kellogg Company, Mondelez International, Nestlé USA, PepsiCo and Unilever are working with Wal-Mart employees this spring to bring much needed food and funding to nonprofit organizations that work to fight hunger.

More than 50 million Americans live in food insecure households, and more than 16 million of those impacted are children. The Fighting Hunger Together initiative will deliver $3 million in grants for hunger programs and generate more than 35 million meals* for local Feeding America food banks and their partner agencies across the U.S.

“An astonishing 1 in 5 children in America are food insecure, not knowing, at some point during the year, where their next meal will come from, and as the nation’s largest grocer, we have a responsibility to help change this reality,” said Julie Gehrki, senior director of the Walmart Foundation.

“With this initiative, we are working to help families across the U.S. by generating meals and awarding grants to local food banks and agencies to support hunger relief programs, including backpack programs providing vitals meals to children when they are out of school, and community gardens teaching families how to grow their own healthy foods.”

The public will have the opportunity to join the fight against hunger and help distribute grants to local communities across the country.

Customers and Walmart associates can visit www.walmart.com/hunger and cast one vote per day for a Feeding America food bank or partner agency in local communities across the country.

The winning 100 organizations, which will be announced in May, will share $3 million in grants to fund hunger relief programs.