#36083 FW: ACTION NEEDED: KROGER SPRING 2026 BEER IMF REQUEST-DUE UPON RECEIPT

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Good morning Peet. Hope you are well. I am forwarding ou this email because I need to be able to fill out this excel sheet for the Kroger’s chain. I have a PC laptop at home that is under 7 years old, but I have been unsuccessful in the past in getting this form filled out on it. And I am unable to do so on this Mac that I use. I used to be able to do it on Petrilli’s desktop, but his will not enable the macros on the spreadsheet any longer. What do you recommend? New lap top? I need to get this done quickly as well. Thanks for your help!

Mike Mahns,Certified Cicerone®

National Accounts Manager

Big Sky Brewing Co.

406-544-3191

From: Beer Item Setup <[email protected]>
Date: Friday, October 10, 2025 at 6:17 AM
To: Mike Mahns <[email protected]>
Subject: ACTION NEEDED: KROGER SPRING 2026 BEER IMF REQUEST-DUE UPON RECEIPT

Valued Beer Supplier Partners,

Please review the following email thoroughly as this is a request for IMF submittal for the items listed below regarding your Kroger SPRING 2026 Beer Update Submission. Please note this isnot a confirmation for placement.

- Deadline: DUE UPON RECEIPT
- Submit one separate IMF form (attached) for each UPC. In the form, the most important key points:

- Download the IMF form to your desktop before starting.
- Submit only for the divisions requested below.
- Select "No" on Page 3 - this specific request is not a Division Request it is Corp.
- Type "MATT PENNINGTON" as the "Requestor's Name" on Page 5.
- Type "BEER SPRING 2026 RESET" as the Request Reason on Page 5.
- Be sure to include the package type abbreviation "CAN" or "BTL" at the end of your Item Description on Page 10. For example: BOB'S BREW CAN or BOB'S BREW BTL.
-  Triple check your UPC and check it against the actual product container/sell sheet. NO CHECK DIGITS!
- Clicking the “Finish” button does not yet finalize your request. You must read andfollow the instructions to download the finished file and email it.

- If you do not receive an automated confirmation email within 3 hours after you click "Finish"and follow the remaining instructions, your form was not received.
- Refer to the Sample IMF Template attached for further guidance.
- If you continue to have issues with submitting the IMF form, please try the following tips but please understand that we are not a help desk.

- Try a computer with Microsoft Office software, as there is a known compatibility issue with the form on Macintosh systems.
- Do not use a model number.
- Contact your distributor for assistance, if applicable.

IMF's Requested:

DIV ITEM

706 BIG SKY CAMPFIRE VARIETY 12/12C

701 BIG SKY SUPER EASY IPA 6/12C

706 BIG SKY SUPER EASY IPA 6/12C

[embedded image]

Kroger Beer Item Setup Team

300 Dave Cowens Drive, 10th Floor

Newport, KY 41071

[plmarketing.net](https://plmarketing.net/)

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Joe and Mike,

This .xlsm file uses some fantastically out of date/inherently insecure macros and depricated ActiveX. Considering your comouter is 7 years old, a new one might be worth while, but not as a solution to this issue. If the only requirement for Windows is to create an XML formated request for Krogers from this .xlsm, then subscribing to a month of a cloud instance of Windows for $40ish when it's needed is a good solution, or use a PC at the brewery.

This Microsoft article describes the steps required to significantly lower the security of your Microsft Office to be able to run he unsigned embeded ActiveX.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/activex-controls-are-disabled-by-default-in-microsoft-365-and-office-2024-9cae60f8-478c-42c6-978c-eca072525d64

Please, immediately revert this setting after you've finished editing this document. A company with the resources of Kroger's should very not require disableing basic security features to interact with them and I would recomend asking when they'd be offinging a solution that doesn't require disabling safeguards on your computer.

I did notice that the version of this excel document is about 5.5yrs old is this the current version?

Here are the instructions from the link above.

Steps to enable ActiveX controls if you are confident the file is safe

While enabling ActiveX controls is not recommended due to security concerns, you can enable them through the Trust Center if necessary.

Caution: Changing ActiveX settings will apply to all files in Office applications: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio – not just the file in which you make the change.

-
Select File, then Options.

-
Select Trust Center, then the Trust Center Settings button.

-
Select ActiveX Settings, then make sure Prompt me before enabling all controls with minimal restrictions.

-
Select OK, then OK again to save your settings and go back to your document.

For optimal security, Microsoft strongly encourages leaving ActiveX controls disabled unless absolutely necessary.

Cheers.Peet

Thanks Peet, I will attempt all this tomorrow on my home PC laptop. This version that I sent you is the current version from Kroger’s. I have zero say in how Kroger’s runs its business. I am guessing that at some point, other much larger suppliers will complain and get real changes made, in the mean time, I will work on this tomorrow morning as I am in Helena today. Thanks for the detailed instructions!

Mike Mahns

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 14, 2025, at 1:15 AM, Artichoke Support - Peet <[email protected]> wrote:



Totally understand about your place with Kroger’s IT. I only stress it to you because if they never get push back for doing something thats ... suboptimal? less than secure?

Regardless. Did you get it worked out?

Cheers.Peet

Automation AutoResolve-Waiting for Customer ran on this ticket. Actions: Change Status to Resolved