Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. is expanding the Imported from Italy line within its Superior Selections by Best Choice brand, adding bronze-cut pastas and pasta sauces as the cooperative marks nearly 20 years of partnership with its Southern Italian suppliers.
AWG has worked with the same Italian family farm for almost two decades on a “farm to bottle” olive oil program, a collaboration that has grown from a single olive oil offering into a multi-tiered category. The full range of olive oil products is now rolling out to member stores, with the pasta and sauces launching later this fall.
“The heart of this program is our nearly 20-year history with our Italian partners,” said Emily Detwiler, VP of AWG Brands. “By sourcing and bottling directly in Southern Italy, we ensure that our independent retailers are offering their customers authentic products that provide their shoppers an elevated experience.”
For the new items, the Kansas City, Kansas-based cooperative is partnering with an additional Italian supplier. The five pastas, all crafted with gold amber durum wheat semolina, include bucatini, medium shells, rigatoni, trottole and fusilli bucati. The eight sauce flavors are arrabbiata, tomato basil, cacio e pepe, tomato ricotta, classic alfredo, five cheese alfredo, pesto and marinara.
“Our category research shows Italian cuisine ranks among the top three fastest growing global food trends,” said Tye Anthony, chief merchandising and marketing officer. “With 60 percent of shoppers choosing authentic, regional foods over generic brands, our Superior Selections by Best Choice Imported from Italy products deliver exactly what they crave.”
The program is supported with in-store signage, digital marketing content and digital coupons to help member retailers capture market share in the category.
AWG is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations in 33 states from nine wholesale division support centers. Consolidated sales in 2025 were $12.2 billion.
Related: AWG Rebrands, Expands Best Choice Brand With Superior Selections Line