Associated Wholesale Grocers, the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler, is featured in a new USA Today documentary exploring the essential role independent grocers play in communities across America and the cooperative network that helps them thrive.
The film, “How Independent Grocers Continue to Feed America,” was released in July as part of its “America 250” series. It examines the increasingly complex food supply chain that forms grocery retail while highlighting the local stores that remain at the heart of towns and neighborhoods nationwide. Through interviews with AWG leaders and member retailers, the documentary illustrates how independent grocers provide food access, local ownership and community connection in an era of rapid industry change.
“Independent grocers have been serving as the backbone of their communities for generations,” said Dan Funk, president and CEO of AWG. “This film highlights not only the critical role they play in feeding America, but also the power of the cooperative model that allows locally owned retailers to remain strong, competitive and deeply connected to the people they serve.”
Dual milestones
The documentary arrives as America celebrates its 250th birthday and AWG marks its own centennial. Incorporated in 1926 by independent grocers who joined together to increase their collective buying power, the cooperative today serves more than 3,500 independently owned grocery locations in 33 states.
The film also examines how the grocery industry is adapting to challenges including supply chain complexity, severe weather disruptions, labor pressures and evolving consumer 
expectations. AWG leaders discuss how investments in logistics, automation and technology are helping independent retailers navigate these pressures while preserving the personal relationships that distinguish local grocery stores from larger competitors.
From supporting local schools and charities to serving as gathering places during emergencies, independent grocery stores often function as community institutions, family legacies and economic anchors.
“As the industry continues to evolve, our purpose remains the same,” Funk said. “We exist to help independent retailers succeed. When they succeed, communities are stronger, local economies are stronger, and families continue to have access to the food and services they depend on every day.”
Kansas City, Kansas-based AWG serves customers through nine wholesale division support centers and generated consolidated sales in 2025 of $12.2 billion. The company also operates subsidiaries providing real estate and supermarket development services and pharmaceutical products.