PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J. — In conjunction with the recent launch of MPG’s first-ever Diverse Supplier Development Program, which is designed to provide pro-bono support for selected diverse suppliers and entrepreneurs as they prepare to engage and sell their products in digital and traditional retail channels, MPG has confirmed their 12 Finalists, who will compete in the accelerator event held on Thursday, July 14^th.

These 12 Finalists were chosen based on numerous criteria, including their inspiring Founder’s stories, opportunities to fill gaps in the marketplace, creating unique value/passions for making a difference, propensity to succeed, and the overall impact MPG services would have on their businesses, and many other factors.  Their products span a variety of categories, including health & wellness, personal care, general merchandise, and consumables.  These suppliers represent a wide range of certifications, including women-owned, veteran-owned, disability-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and ethnic minority-owned.

The finalists are:

• • 3 Cousins Foods, Inc
  • 8 Myles
  • Bea’s Squeeze
  • Birdy Boutique
  • Blisslets
  • Busy Baby LLC
  • dOSA Naturals
  • Household Name Products, Inc.
  • Inclusive Hands
  • Mom Bomb
  • Spero Foods
  • Tosi

MPG has gathered an esteemed panel of judges to host the July 14th competition. The panel consists of:

• Michael A. Byron, Senior Director of Supplier Inclusion at Walmart, Inc.
• Kate Weaver, Manager of Supplier Diversity at Peapod Digital Labs a company of Ahold Delhaize USA
• Christina Fallon, Vice President of Retail Sales – Health & Beauty at ECRM
• Anthony Eagelton, Vice President of eCommerce at Market Performance Group
• Carla Hendon, Director, Supplier Diversity and Indirect Procurement at Meijer

At the conclusion of this one-day competition, the judges will award the two winners $100,000 value in MPG services, which will be tailored to each recipient’s needs, and determined collaboratively through MPG’s onboarding process.  Potential services for suppliers could include strategy and business consulting, sales services representation at retail, business analytics and insights, consumer marketing and retail activation, or 3PL and order to cash services.  The two winners will be announced the week of July 18th.

Market Performance Group is an innovative consulting and sales management services company that specializes in helping manufacturers and retailers define a better path forward to accelerate growth and profitability. For 20 years, the company has developed an extensive track record of driving success for clients by leading them from market strategy to in-market reality. Their approach combines rigorous analytics with an unwavering market focus and the diverse experience base of seasoned executives to deliver innovative strategies and practical solutions for suppliers and retailers.

ECRM and RangeMe are the industry leaders in the product discovery, sourcing, and purchasing experience between top retailers and product suppliers around the world. With 28 years of experience, ECRM brings efficiencies and effectiveness to the buying and selling process by fostering connections between retail buyers and suppliers both virtually and face-to-face. RangeMe, the online platform integrated into the ECRM product offering, enables retail buyers to efficiently discover and purchase innovative and emerging products. The combined offerings empower suppliers to manage and grow their brands with tools, insights, and services. RangeMe and ECRM provide the industry’s most complete sourcing solution across several categories, including food and beverage, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmacy and medical markets, and foodservice.