PRINCETON, N.J. – Market Performance Group (MPG) is launching its first-ever Diverse Supplier Development Program, a newly created Accelerator program 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.

This event comes on the heels of a successful virtual presentation hosted by Jason Reiser, MPG’s president of Sales Strategy & Services, entitled “Winning at the Speed of Retail” delivered on April 6th during ECRM’s Supplier Diversity Week. Jason’s presentation focused on the importance of a diverse and inclusive supplier network and outlined five fundamentals for winning at retail.

“Shifting demographics have prompted widespread retailer engagements, commitments, and accountabilities to create a more diverse supplier base for their shoppers,” said Jason Reiser. “This program allows us to extend our own DEI&B efforts to our client base to do good by doing well. We look forward to leveraging our robust industry experience and expertise to facilitate a more successful outcome for the selected diverse suppliers.”

In collaboration with ECRM, MPG’s Diverse Supplier Development Program’s “shark-tank”-like event will take place virtually on July 14th and will award two diverse suppliers MPG services valued at $100,000. These services will be tailored to each recipient’s need, determined collaboratively through the MPG 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.

A distinguished panel of industry veterans has come together to judge applicants, including:

• Michael Byron, senior director of Supplier Inclusion at Walmart
• 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

Submissions for MPG’s Diverse Supplier Development Program will be accepted through May 19th, 2022. Companies represented across the following categories / industries are welcome to submit, including food & beverage, consumables, general merchandise, beauty, personal care, OTC, and health & wellness.

The two winners will be announced on July 21st and the partnership with MPG will begin in Fall 2022. RangeMe will be used to send and accept applications. A submission link will be sent to the participants of the ECRM Diversity Program on May 3. Interested Suppliers who do not already have a RangeMe account can create one at no cost using this link: https://www.rangeme.com/mpgsupplierdiversity2022.