JOLIET, IL - In the latest move to team up with innovative management solutions company Topco, Central Grocers has announced it has joined as the cooperative’s latest member-owner.

“Central Grocers is pleased to join the Topco family,” shared Ken Nemeth, President and CEO of Central Grocers. “Topco’s innovative approach to finding business solutions in the grocery industry will be of significant benefit to the members we serve in more than 500 independent grocery stores. We envision that their buying power will help us maintain customer-friendly pricing in our intensely competitive markets, while Topco’s expertise in quality assurance, packaging, and sustainability will help us improve overall in-store efficiency.”

Joliet, Illinois-based Central Grocers is a supplier for grocers such as the following: 

• Strack & Van Til
• Tony’s Finer Foods
• Ultra Foods
• Sunset Foods
• Town & Country
• Key Market

Central Grocers will participate in Topco’s Grocery, Dairy/Bakery, Meat, Deli, Produce, and Floral programs as part of its new partnership. According to a press release, Topco expects to have the wholesaler fully-transitioned by first quarter of 2017. 

“I am excited for this strong retailer-owned wholesaler to join our membership,” explained Randy Skoda, Topco's President & CEO. “We look forward to partnering together to help Central Grocers fulfill their mission of serving the true independent grocer in their local market,” he continued.

As explained by the company itself, Topco Associates LLC is an over $15 billion, privately held company that provides aggregation, innovation, and knowledge management solutions for food industry member-owners and customers, which includes grocery retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice suppliers.

Central Grocers Topco