Javier Nava started making his own salsa, Javi’s Salsa, six years ago. Now he is hoping to see it on the shelves of Winn-Dixie. For more information on Nava’s salsa, visit Javi’s Authentic Salsa on Facebook.
“A life-changing break.”
That’s how Javier Nava describes the opportunity to put his locally produced salsa on the shelves of Winn-Dixie. Nava is getting the chance to do just that next month when the supermarket giant comes to Tampa courting locally produced goods.
“We started a few years back with just the local farmers markets and small stores,” said Nava, who sold his first jars of homemade salsa in South County and Brandon.
He has already sent a batch of Javi’s Salsa off to Winn-Dixie headquarters in Jacksonville, one of many backyard entrepreneurs from across Central Florida competing in “Winn-Local,” a Winn-Dixie initiative to buy products native to the cities it serves. The event will allow Central Florida suppliers to pitch their products to Winn-Dixie in hope of earning shelf space in more than 150 area stores.
“For the last few years, I have been saying ‘I need a break,’ because it is very hard to get into stores,” said Nava, a retired Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy. “It would be a tremendous break [to get into Winn-Dixie].”
“When we buy local, everyone wins – we want to be able to offer locally made and locally sourced products, so everything is funneled back into the community,” said Nicole Hatfield, Winn-Dixie senior manager of local business. “By featuring local products in each of our stores, we hope to share and encourage the culture of the local community.”
Winn-Dixie is looking for local suppliers to provide products in the finished goods, pre-packaged, general merchandise and produce categories, including:
• Sauces, salsas and marinades
• Packaged mixes, spices and rubs
• Packaged frozen foods
• Bottled, canned or packaged beverages
• Cleaning products
• Health and beauty products
• Pots, pans, brooms, seasonal toys, etc.
• Fresh local produce (fruits and vegetables)
The Winn-Local event will be held July 15-17 at a Tampa Winn-Dixie store. The deadline to apply is July 3.
“Local business owners will be given an opportunity to pitch their products in front of our local buyers at the event,” said Kate Armstrong, Winn-Dixie’s supplier diversity manager. “It’s very entrepreneurial … and a way for local, niche products to make their way into a major grocery store chain.”
“It’s an incredible opportunity,” said Tanya Doran, president of the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, which is spreading the word about Winn-Local among its members. “Imagine doubling or tripling your current production because you now support local distribution through Winn-Dixie stores.”
The Central Florida event is the third for the Winn-Local program, building on the previous successes in Mobile, Ala., and Jacksonville. Winn-Dixie operates 521 grocery stores throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
“We started this program because we are committed to connecting our customers to the highly innovative suppliers that live right in their communities,” said Winn-Dixie’s Hatfield,
“Winn-Dixie stores have been offering locally sourced products for years,” she said, “but we felt there was an even greater opportunity to share and encourage the culture of the local community.”
Vendors interested in learning more about the program, including product specifications, may send an email with complete vendor contact information to: svc_localdsdsupplsup@segrocers.com.
