Vincent “Bo” Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winner, a two-sport athlete and a businessman with more than two decades of experience, doesn’t take a half-hearted approach to anything if his track record is any indication. And the zealousness that has defined his athletic career also characterizes his more recent business ventures, including VEJ Holdings LLC, a […]
Category: Wholesaler/Distributor News
Posted inOrganic Natural, Home Page Latest News, National, Online Grocery Technology, Specialty, Wholesaler/Distributor News
KeHE’s Website Earns Industry Awards For Design
KeHE Distributors’ new website has received industry recognition for outstanding design from The Communicator Awards, the Davey Awards and the W³ Awards. “We are honored to receive this global recognition for our new website,” said Ari Goldsmith, executive director of marketing at Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE. “The colorful aesthetics, easy navigation and enriched content of our website […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Wind-Down Sale Under Way At Central Grocers
Inventory of Central Grocers, a retailer-owned cooperative that operated as a wholesaler for approximately 400 independent grocery stores before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, is being liquidated “through an orderly wholesale wind-down sale” at the company’s headquarters and distribution center in Joliet, Illinois. More than $20 million of dry grocery products, frozen foods and […]
Posted inNational, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Industry Comes Together For Independents Day Of Giving
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, NGA Research and Education Foundation and Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) recognized June 21 as the “Independents Day of Giving” to help fight hunger and raise community awareness with more than 1,600 independent grocers across the country participating. Shoppers are […]
Posted inNortheast, Beverage News, Grocery News, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Heineken, Molson Coors Sign Import Pact For Sol Beer In U.S.
Heineken and Molson Coors Brewing Co. have signed a 10-year import agreement whereby Molson Coors will import, market and distribute the Sol brand of beer in the U.S. through its MillerCoors division beginning this fall. Sol will continue to be brewed in Mexico. For MillerCoors, the agreement adds an authentic Mexican beer to its portfolio. Combining Sol’s brand […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Siakotos Duo Chooses AWG To Supply Freshline Foods
In 1955, John Siakotos made the long journey to the U.S. from southern Greece. His uncle brought him to America so he could have a shot at a better future. Siakotos began working at his uncle’s fruit market in Chicago and his life did indeed begin to improve. As the fruit market prospered over the […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News, West, Whole Foods, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Amazon To Open Fulfillment Center In Fresno, California
Amazon said June 2 that it will open its first fulfillment center in Fresno, California. The Seattle-based online retailer said the center will “continue its growth in California’s Central Valley” and create 1,500 new full-time jobs. The Fresno center will be Amazon’s fifth fulfillment center in the Central Valley, with three operating fulfillment centers located […]
Posted in, Guest Contributors, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National, Nonfood Items, Shelby Content, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Non-Food For Thought: Are You Ready To Spring Into Warm-Weather Sales?
by Naomi Sleeper/director of business development, Imperial Distributors In honor of Father’s Day coming up in June, our May non-foods thoughts focus on products for male consumers. With grilling tools and gadgets—as well as camping gear and summer beer accessories—on display in stores now, supermarkets offer a variety of giftable seasonal general merchandise suitable for men […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Equipment & Technology, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, Organic Natural, Specialty, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Partners With RangeMe To Scale Growth Across All Categories
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) is partnering with RangeMe, an online platform that streamlines new product discovery between product suppliers and retailers, to scale its retail buying efforts for general merchandise, health and beauty and specialty, natural and organic items for all of its members. “The technology and vendor interfacing that RangeMe provides will benefit our members and […]
Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Unified Blames Bulk Of Poor Financials On Pending Supervalu Merger
Wholesale grocery distributor Unified Grocers experienced a difficult quarter financially, reflected in the Commerce, California-based company results for its fiscal 2017 second quarter ended April 1. It blames most of its losses on “substantial transaction costs and other expenses associated with preparations for the execution of a definitive merger agreement with Supervalu,” which was announced in […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Chicago’s Food Market La Chiquita Joins AWG
Alfredo Linares’ first major life change happened in 1964 when he and his family ventured from a small town in Mexico to Chicago, Illinois. He was 9 years old at the time, and it was a true culture shock. He was struck by the many different nationalities that live there, the cold and the snow. […]
Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Former Certified Grocers CEO Dies At 85
Mr. Everett William Dingwell II, who served as president and CEO of Certified Grocers—now Unified Grocers—died April 11 at his home in Sacramento, California, surrounded by family. He was 85. Mr. Dingwell was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Everett and Esther (Van Scoyoc) Dingwell. He was the oldest of five children. When he was […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Associated Grocers Baton Rouge Hosts Spring Food Show
Associated Grocers Baton Rouge recently held its Spring Food Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana, drawing more than 800 vendors, retail members and store representatives. The show’s theme was “Best Picks on Route 66.” This year, the wholesaler recognized J.H. “Jay” Campbell Jr., former CEO and then executive chairman, on his retirement after […]
Posted inStore News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Supervalu Reveals ‘Beef Stampede’ Winners, Karns Quality Foods Takes Grand Prize
Karns Quality Foods in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, took top honors in Supervalu’s 2016 national “Beef Stampede” contest. The annual merchandising contest is a month-long program held each fall to showcase beef as a dinner plate staple. More than 120 grocery retailers nationwide served by Supervalu’s independent wholesale distribution business participated in the contest. “Supervalu applauds all of […]
Posted inGrocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, International Foods, Midwest, Perishables, Specialty, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Ramps Up Kenosha D.C. With New Chicago Retailers On Board
Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. (AWG) has begun serving additional Chicago-area supermarket retailers, the Kansas City, Kansas-based wholesaler said May 5. With the new Chicagoland business coming on board, AWG is ramping up full-scale deliveries out of its Kenosha, Wisconsin, division—acquired following its merger with Affiliated Foods Midwest (AFM) last October—which will be the main distribution center […]
Posted in, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Topco Promotes Hooks To EVP
Topco Associates’ Chris Hooks, SVP of center store, fresh and supply chain, has been promoted to EVP, expanding his responsibilities to include Topco’s marketing and national brands teams in addition to center store, fresh programs and supply chain. “Over the past three years, Chris has driven Topco’s strategic business objectives with his expertise, which extends […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Northeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Garber Bros. Shuts Down Operations, Leaving C-Store Customers Scrambling
by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Garber Bros., a greater Boston convenience store distributor, abruptly closed its doors on April 10 and has ceased operations. Calls and emails to the business and its president, Amy Garber, have gone unreturned. A security force now patrols the Stoughton, Massachusetts, headquarters building. The company’s website remains online. Sources say the company is […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Supervalu Reports Wholesale Gains, ID Store Sales Take Hit
Supervalu on Tuesday reported fourth quarter and full year fiscal 2017 results, achieving gains in its Wholesale segment but taking a hit on same-store sales in its Retail organization. “We finished fiscal 2017 with momentum in our Wholesale business and an improved balance sheet resulting from the sale of Save-A-Lot,” said President and CEO Mark […]
Posted inDeli News, Bakery News, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Harvest And Sherwood Food Distributors Merge
Harvest Food Distributors and Sherwood Food Distributors have merged to form a nationwide protein and perishable food distribution network, servicing independent food retailers, regional and national chains, cruise lines and foodservice distributors from coast to coast. The merger of Harvest Sherwood brings together two family-owned companies to serve as a single, trusted partner for producers and […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southwest, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Affiliated Foods CEO Encourages Independents To Try Something New
Out in West Texas, deflation has hit the oil patch as well as the grocery business. In addition, the independent grocer now is being tasked with adjusting its tactics for a new generation of consumers: Millennials. Randy Arceneaux, president and CEO of Affiliated Foods in Amarillo, talked about these challenges and the opportunities they represent during his […]