Keene, New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 12 Tops Markets stores that have become available due to the Tops Markets merger with Price Chopper/Market 32. C&S will convert these 12 stores to Grand Union supermarkets. 
“With our recent announcement of the purchase of Piggly Wiggly Midwest, this is another very exciting opportunity for C&S to further expand into the retail market,” said Rick Cohen, executive chairman of C&S Wholesale Grocers. “This is an important component of our growth and future success. The Grand Union stores will showcase C&S’s already successful retail strategies and be supported by our strong wholesale supply chain and programs to deliver solid retail performance.”
The Grand Union stores will be in Cooperstown, Cortland, Norwich, Owego, Peru, Rome, Saranac Lake, Sherrill, Warrensburg and two locations in Watertown in New York, and Rutland, Vermont. The agreement is set to close in the coming weeks.
The grand openings are planned for mid-January through mid-February. GU Markets LLC, an affiliate of C&S Wholesale Grocers, will operate these stores. C&S will continue to recognize the union workforce at these locations.
“The Grand Union stores will offer competitive prices on a wide variety of fresh foods and an extensive assortment of brand name groceries, as well as our signature private brands. Each store will contain localized assortments to meet their shoppers’ needs,” said Bob Palmer, CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers. “We are very excited to bring this iconic supermarket back to the communities it has fed for generations and continue our legacy of braggingly happy customers.”
Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with more than 137,000 different products. For more information, visit cswg.com.
See related story, here.
