May 30, 2022 – Across the U.S. many people and businesses celebrated Asian Pacific Heritage Month throughout May. Within the U.S. about 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders trace their origins to more than 20 countries throughout East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, or the Indian subcontinent – all with their own unique histories and cultural practices. As a result, the U.S. has greatly benefited from this rich diversity with contribution to its economic and cultural life and cuisine!
Food businesses founded by immigrants or children of immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands have been booming for years. They proudly sell items rooted in and inspired by their heritage, like jars of chili oil, spice blends, frozen dumplings, kimchi, imported coffee beans and teas, and ice cream. And several of Ahold Delhaize’s U.S. brands have had the pleasure to sell them – and there’s more than food and beverages, there are beauty products too.
To learn more about supplier diversity and Asian-owned brands in particular, we had the opportunity to speak with Kate Weaver, Supplier Diversity Manager at Peapod Digital Labs.
“While it’s always worth supporting Asian-owned brands, during this month is an especially great time to support them—and the community at large. In the same vein as ‘voting with your wallet’, shopping from Asian-owned companies is an impactful way to make a difference in this community.” Said Kate.
How supplier diversity increases opportunity for all suppliers
Kate comments that too often, diverse-owned suppliers are overlooked for procurement opportunities. To level the business playing field, retailers such as Ahold Delhaize’s brands, have specific programs or initiatives that help their purchasing decision makers make connections with these traditionally underserved businesses. Beyond providing more equitable opportunities, supplier diversity commitments are beneficial for a business’ bottom line. Working with diverse-owned suppliers widens the pool of available channels, increases competition and can also generate new innovations, services or products.
Building a more diverse and equitable marketplace to drive business performance
Within Ahold Delhaize’s global diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments, inclusive marketplace growth is one of the key pillars which supplier diversity directly relates to. A few Ahold Delhaize U.S. brands also have marketplace and supplier diversity as one of the core pillars of their DEI strategies. Kate mentions that we must remember that when we are speaking about DEI within the context of retail, it is a 3-legged stool: the diversity of our associates (workforce), the diversity of our customers (workplace) and the diversity of our Suppliers (marketplace). The marketplace perspective – bringing the customer and community into the strategy – is often overlooked and is a powerful way to connect diversity and inclusion to the business case, and drive business performance.
