Dive Brief:

• Product sourcing company RangeMe announced Thursday that it has added the ability for retailers to directly purchase from suppliers on its platform.
• RangeMe's latest update gives buyers a one-button purchasing option, a multi-order add-to-cart feature and access to order details and history. 
• RangeMe noted the new ordering function lets independent and regional U.S. retailers buy close to 1 million products directly from more 200,000 suppliers and manufacturers around the world.

Dive Insight:

The direct purchasing ability builds on RangeMe's efforts to make the sourcing of niche and emerging products less of a hassle for retailers and suppliers. It also comes amid ongoing supply chain challenges and calls for more brand diversity that are prompting grocers to expand their sourcing practices. 

RangeMe claims it is now the world's largest wholesale marketplace for retailers due to its volume of buyers and suppliers using it. A subsidiary of Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM), RangeMe has served as a product discovery tool connecting retailers and suppliers. 

"[T]he checkout feature will increase product speed to market while simultaneously benefiting suppliers with a fully scaled sales channel to increase sell-through and create and nurture new retail relationships," RangeMe CEO and Founder Nicky Jackson said in a statement.

Jackson said the tool will roll out to U.S. retailers and suppliers "across all major CPG categories" on its platform this year. RangeMe counts major retailers like Walmart, Albertsons, Publix and Sam's Club and more among its roster of buyers.

Suppliers on RangeMe can create a B2B digital storefront, open up direct sales channels and fulfill orders with a suite of order management tools. RangeMe is waiving its commission fee for select suppliers in the food, beverage, health and beauty categories during its virtual supplier-buyer event from March 28 to April 1. 

Forager, a product discovering and sourcing tool focused on local food procurement, lets buyers purchase and manage orders on its platform. 

RangeMe is working with several grocers, like Meijer, to expand their supplier diversity and work with minority-, LGBTQ-, woman-, veteran- and disability-owned businesses. In April, ECRM plans to hold two educational and product sourcing initiatives, one focused on sustainability and other on diversity.