Strack & Van Til to Partner with Associated Wholesale Grocers, Offer Lower Prices, More Organic
HIGHLAND, IN – As Strack & Van Til continues to sort out its future, the grocer is looking to possibilities like lower-priced items and a broader offering of organics under new distribution.
Associated Wholesale Grocers has struck a deal with the chain, according to NWI Times, bringing the weight of one of the country’s largest wholesalers at $10 billion a year in revenue.
"We will be migrating to AWG. We're very excited about having the backing of a much larger co-op. With that comes better services they can provide us to help us remain competitive, whether it's on a cost of goods nature, marketing and merchandising,” said President and CEO Jeff Strack. “They have an extensive array of private labels in different tiers from a low-end tier to a mainstream to a natural and organic. So we feel that our offerings will be much more impactful than what we used to have with the Centrella Brand."
Amongst the wholesaler’s brand offerings are:
- Always Save
- Best Choice
- Clearly Organic
- IGA
- Superior Selections
The move could also have more supplier opportunities for Strack & Van Til, its executive said.
"One of the things we're looking forward to, now that we're independently owned again, is more opportunity to take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves, whether it's produce from the market, or special deals from vendors and manufacturers," Strack said, according to the report. "We're excited about that, and our customers will be the ultimate winners from that. That's what it takes today for the independents to survive against the big players: being nimble and flexible."
After having declared bankruptcy earlier this year and then showcasing a family and team effort to buy the chain back from auction, will AWG’s support give the brand what it needs for a turnaround in the increasingly competitive retail market?
While Strack & Van Til cautions that it will not be an overnight change, AndNowUKnow will keep you up to date on this and other news that could hold sway in the produce industry.
