Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates 90 years of business
Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates 90 years of business
Associated Wholesale Grocers is celebrating its 90th anniversary today. Since its incorporation on March 29, 1926, AWG has grown from a group of 20 independent grocery retailers to serving now more than 3,000 retailers.
“AWG is proud of the growth, revenue and success we’ve seen in our 90-year history,” David Smith, president and chief executive officer of AWG, said in a press release. “We serve our members by reducing expenses, providing resources to overcome competition, and cultivating dedicated employees guided by a strong leadership team.”
AWG was created to provide its family-owned retail member stores the essential building blocks needed to establish themselves in each of their different marketplaces. AWG provides support services, educational programs and financial returns to member retailers in addition to grocery products. The collective strength of the cooperative model has provided ongoing opportunities for independent retailers to develop unique and sustainable businesses. These businesses have grown, despite an ever-changing retail environment.
“Our model has proven successful for 90 years,” added Smith. “Together, we have survived and thrived in a marketplace of big box stores thanks to the passion of our member retailers, board of directors, employees and suppliers.”
From humble beginnings to its record sales of $8.9 billion in 2015, AWG has expanded from one warehouse to nine and serves retailers in 31 states. AWG said this success has proven that independent grocers are stronger together.
