Volume 3 / Issue 3
INTESOURCE
5045 W. Baseline Rd. A105-478
Laveen, AZ 85339
602.445.2200
INTESOURCE PARTNERS
Newsletter Q4 2026
Fall is here! Welcome to our quarterly newsletter from InteSource Partners. In this newsletter you will find recent wins from InteSource customers, market news and trends, as well as product news and updates. The content of this newsletter will be curated by customer feedback, so please, feel free to provide ideas, requests, or areas of improvement to your account manager.
INDUSTRY TRENDS AND INSIGHTS
A collection of articles from around the web providing information and insights in the retail, restaurant, and manufacturing industries.
EU Set to Receive no Crude for Refining from the Saudi Arabia
While the conflict in Iran continues to destabilize the Middle East, U.S. fuel prices and the cost of goods and services will likely rise, as already seen in the European Union.
Walmart Electronic Shelf Label Rollout
“We price the product, not the person.” Walmart is working to ease public concerns that companies could use personal data and emerging technologies to charge individual shoppers different prices based on their profiles or purchasing behavior.
Inside Krogers Push for AI Recommendations Purchases
The Kroger Co. is looking beyond whether shoppers try its AI shopping assistant to whether they return, purchase recommended products and explore categories they typically buy elsewhere.
Cyberattack on Grocery Retailers
While this incident occurred overseas, a similar scenario could happen anywhere. How well protected are you and your suppliers against these types of threats? Now may be the time to ask how your suppliers and service providers are adapting to the evolving risks posed by traditional cyberattacks—and what the emergence of rogue AI could bring next.
Ohio-based grocery retailer has confirmed it will reduce its corporate workforce by 3,000 roles in the next three years.
RECENT SUCCESSES: A SNAPSHOT OF RECENT WINS
Every day, people are finding new ways to get more out our InteSource. See below for events completed in the last quarter. Think about completing this categories for your organization or challenges our team with categories that are giving you pains during these unpredictable markets
Catch up on the latest updates
From Supplier Data To Actionable Intelligence (A.I.)
Data → AI analysis → Strategy → Competition → Negotiation → Savings →
Award recommendationSupplier analysis isn’t limited by a lack of data, but by the time it takes to turn information into insight. With hundreds of data points in supplier responses, finding the full picture can mean weeks of spreadsheet analysis.
How can using the integrated AI tool within the InteSource process help bridge that gap?
Traditional analysis findings: “Supplier A offers $2.45 per unit with quarterly promotional allowances.”
AI-generated supplier summary:
-
Net cost: $3.18/unit — third lowest
-
Promotional funding: $54K annually, requiring five end-cap commitments; only three are supported
-
Distribution: 77% store coverage, with gaps in the south region
-
Risk: Unclear peak-season capacity
-
Assessment: Better suited as a secondary supplier
AI can bring costs, promotional requirements, distribution gaps, capacity risks, and negotiation opportunities into one clear picture.
In Practice: Retail Seafood Category
A grocery retailer needed two suppliers for a holiday category. InteSource AI evaluated every feasible combination in minutes, identifying the best supplier pairing and comparing it with the next-best combination , as well as a single-supplier option.
Rather than spending weeks comparing spreadsheets, a stakeholder could review the alternatives, weigh the financial trade-offs, and make an informed award decision.
The takeaway: AI can help turn complex supplier data into clearer decisions, faster analysis, and measurable savings.