North American food distributor KeHE serves more than 31,000 natural food, grocery, and specialty stores via its 19 distribution centers. With so many moving parts and players, KeHE relies on electronic communication in the form of electronic data interchange (EDI) to ensure the products they need from suppliers are where they need to be when they need to be there. From order management, to fulfillment, to invoicing, it all runs on EDI transactions.
In its simplest form (i.e., neither party has any changes), KeHE’s EDI communication with suppliers goes a little something like this:
KeHE sends an EDI 850 (purchase order; PO) to the supplier.
The supplier responds by sending an EDI 855 (purchase order acknowledgment) to KeHE.
The supplier sends an EDI 753 (ready to ship notice) to KeHE.
The supplier sends an EDI 856 (advance ship notice; ASN) to KeHE.
The supplier sends an EDI 810 (invoice) to KeHE.
The workflow hasn’t always looked like this. KeHE only started requesting the EDI 753 on July 1, 2026. As a KeHE supplier, getting this workflow exactly right isn’t just important for keeping things running smoothly (including your relationship with KeHE). It’s also important for your margins, as KeHE’s EDI compliance program (and its associated fees) went into effect on July 1, as well.
In this article, you will learn about:
Changes to KeHE’s EDI workflow that went into effect July 1, 2026
KeHE’s new EDI compliance program
How SPS Commerce automatically adjusts to changing distributor EDI requirements to protect your bottom line
KeHE’s New EDI Document Requirements
It’s not uncommon for distributors to tweak and refine their EDI requirements to improve efficiency and accuracy. On April 9, 2026, KeHE notified suppliers on the KeHE CONNECT Supplier® portal of new EDI document requirements that would go into effect July 1, 2026.
EDI 855
The EDI 855, also called the purchase order acknowledgment, is sent from the supplier to KeHE as a formal confirmation that the supplier intends to fulfill the PO request. KeHE suppliers must send an EDI 855 within 48 hours of receiving an EDI 850 from KeHE.
Prior to the recent update, KeHE required suppliers to send a second EDI 855 ready to ship (RTS) notification to request routing information. As of July 1, 2026, free on board (FOB; also called KeHE Pick UP) suppliers must submit an EDI 753 instead.
EDI 753
The EDI 753, also called the RTS notice or request for routing instructions, is sent from the supplier to KeHE. Here are the basic steps suppliers must follow:
Fill out the EDI 753, including details like what’s being shipped, when you plan to ship it, and where it’s supposed to go. If you are unable to fill the PO as written, you can provide exception codes to indicate the difference. Note that pricing changes aren’t allowed.
Once the form is complete, send it (digitally) to KeHE. It must be sent three business days prior to the day the shipment is ready for pickup.
KeHE will use the pickup date you provided to schedule transportation. You will not receive a return document.
Note: KeHE will continue to use the first EDI 855 as normal, and you can also send additional EDI 855 documents if your ability to fill the PO as written changes.
Related Reading: KeHE EDI Requirements for Suppliers: What Documents You Need and When to Send Them
KeHE’s EDI Compliance Program
The April CONNECT Supplier portal announcement outlined that beginning July 1, 2026, all KeHE suppliers must be able to send and receive the following EDI documents:
EDI 850 (purchase order; PO)
EDI 860 (purchase order change)
EDI 855 (purchase order acknowledgment)
EDI 753 (ready to ship; request for routing)
EDI 856 (advance ship notice; ASN)
EDI 810 (invoice)
EDI 812 (credit/debit memo)
KeHE’s EDI Compliance Program also went into effect on July 1. And despite the long list of necessary documents above, the current program explicitly names only two specific EDI transactions so far:
Transaction | Compliance Program |
EDI 856 | A 2% compliance fee will be applied to the amount of noncompliant purchase orders. |
EDI 810 | A $150 process fee will be applied to any invoice that KeHE doesn’t receive via EDI. |
Related Reading: KeHE’s Compliance Program: Inbound Routing Guide Overview
SPS Commerce is KeHE’s Preferred EDI Provider
Getting an EDI solution in place is foundational to working with KeHE, and having the right EDI solution in place is key to growing and avoiding costly compliance fees.
As KeHE’s preferred EDI provider, SPS Commerce:
Gives your team one place to manage orders, documents, and updates
Stays on top of ever-evolving distributor requirements, reducing uncertainty and protecting your bottom line
Automatically rebuilds workflows as your business grows, scaling your business without scaling complexity
And if you do experience invalid chargebacks, SPS Revenue Recovery for KeHE can help with that too.
Related Reading: Common KeHE Deductions and How To Minimize Them
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EDI 855 at KeHE?
The EDI 855, or purchase order acknowledgment, is an electronic document sent from the supplier to KeHE in response to a PO. The EDI 855 signals that the supplier intends to fulfill the PO request as written.
What is an EDI 753 at KeHE?
The EDI 753, or ready to ship notification, is an electronic document sent from the supplier to KeHE that requests routing instructions for KeHE Pick Up (FOB) orders. All ready to ship notifications must be submitted via EDI 753.
What is the effective date for KeHE’s new EDI requirements?
On July 1, 2026, KeHE stopped accepting a second EDI 855 RTS as a ready to ship notification and began requiring an EDI 753 instead. This is also the date on which KeHE’s EDI Compliance Program goes into effect, which applies fees to noncompliant ASNs (EDI 856s) and invoices (EDI 810s).
Why did KeHE change its EDI requirements?
KeHE describes the EDI 753 as an industry standard that improves supply chain efficiency by streamlining and modernizing the routing process for ready to ship orders.