A&P Buys Wine Retailer, Hires Co-Founder

MONTVALE, N.J. — A&P here said yesterday it had acquired the five-unit Best Cellars wine chain in New York City and named one of the chain’s co-founders as senior director of A&P’s own beer, wine and spirits division. Joshua Wesson, the Best Cellars co-founder, will report to Rebecca Philbert, senior vice president of merchandising, supply and logistics. Wesson’s “creativity and expertise will be instrumental in elevating the look, feel, quality and value of our beer, wine and spirits offerings,” she said. Best Cellars is known for its customer-friendly merchandising based on flavor profiles. A&P currently operates 19 freestanding wine and liquor stores and has 12-instore departments. A new prototype of A&P’s beer, wine and spirits concept is slated to open in January in Westwod, N.J. Under terms of the acquisition, the purchase price will be paid after four years based on the growth of A&P’s wine and spirits business.

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