RecorGroup Announces Expanded Customer Coverage with Kroger

Monday October 14th, 2024 | Boise, ID We are excited to announce our strategic expansion into the Kroger market, marking a significant step in our mission to redefine broker partnerships through a relentless pursuit of results and exceptional service. Leading this initiative is Ryan Wilhelm, the newest member of RecorGroup and our leadership team. With extensive experience in CPG and Kroger, coupled with his strong, culture-driven approach, Ryan is poised to help elevate RecorGroup to new heights. Why Kroger? For years, our partners have been asking us, "Who is the 'RecorGroup' for Kroger?" With such support and the recognition that the CPG landscape continues to grow increasingly complex, we feel the timing couldn't be better for RecorGroup to introduce our streamlined, proactive, and results-driven model to new retailers and markets, starting with Kroger. This expansion not only broadens our customer base but significantly enhances our overall service and value offerings, enabling us to continue delivering lasting results for our partners. In an era where many brokers are more focused on consolidation and profit over partner value, we are thrilled to offer amazing CPG brands a new and refreshing alternative for Kroger. As we expand into the Kroger market, we are excited about the potential opportunities presented by the pending Kroger-Albertsons merger. Our team has been working diligently on a merger and integration strategy to ensure we continue delivering high-value partnerships today and into the future. With this expansion, we are well positioned to thrive regardless of the merger's outcome. What This Means for Our Partners This expansion is not just about growing our network; it’s about bringing more value to our partners. Access to the Kroger market means we can offer our partners: A More Simplified Solution: Our entry into Kroger introduces an alternative broker model that is designed to simplify the customer and drive results. Our 'RecorPod' model cuts through complexities and sharpens strategic focus, allowing our partners to dedicate less time to managing brokers and more time to driving sales. Proactive and Strategic Partnerships: Expanding with Kroger provides our partners a significant advantage in navigating today’s complex CPG landscape. Our proactive, strategic approach focuses on anticipating market shifts and addressing challenges before they become obstacles, maximizing long-term sales growth for our partners. Results-Focused Approach: You hire a broker for a crucial reason: to deliver results. And the bottom line is your broker should be one of your strongest allies in your go-to-market. At RecorGroup, we customize each partnership to address your unique challenges and eliminate barriers to growth, ensuring we don’t just meet your sales goals but we exceed them. "At RecorGroup, our philosophy and partnership commitment is to ‘champion our partner’s business daily, as if it were our own.’ As we integrate into the Kroger market, this commitment remains stronger than ever. We are equipped and ready to take on new challenges, adapt to new market demands, and continue providing the same unparalleled service and results our partners expect from us," Taylor Clute, VP of Partnership & Marketing. Meet Ryan Wilhelm, Kroger Team VP Leading our journey into the Kroger market is Ryan Wilhelm, our newly appointed VP of our Kroger Team. Ryan’s extensive track record in the CPG industry, coupled with his strategic acumen and strong customer relationships, prepares us to successfully navigate and thrive in this complex marketplace. Ryan joins RecorGroup from Death Wish Coffee Company, where he was the Vice President of Sales and led his team to steady growth as the #1 fastest-growing coffee brand in grocery. Ryan's CPG background includes working with great brands like Mezzetta, Keurig, and Nestlé Purina. "I am thrilled to join RecorGroup at this exciting time as we build our Kroger team. Having had the privilege of working with Kroger across numerous categories and with many esteemed brands, I am excited to bring RecorGroup’s standard of excellence to a new market." Bryan Burks, RecorGroup COO, says, “Ryan brings with him a wealth of experience, strong customer relationships, and a proven track record in the CPG space. His leadership, expertise, and customer connections will be instrumental in helping us deliver on our goal to redefine CPG brokerage through exceptional service in every market RecorGroup operates in.” Join us in welcoming Ryan Wilhelm to the RecorGroup team! Looking Ahead We’re excited to mark this expansion as a pivotal moment for RecorGroup, setting the stage for new partnerships, collaborations, and continued success. Our unwavering focus remains on delivering high-impact, tailored solutions to our partners, and we’re energized by the possibilities this new venture with Kroger brings. With a steadfast commitment to exceptional broker services, we’re eager to support both our partners and Kroger teams in driving growth and achieving outstanding results! For partnership inquiries, please reach out to: Taylor Clute, VP of Partnerships & Marketing ☎️ (209) 648-2068 ✉️ taylor@recorgroup.com