FINANCIAL WATCH 1999-03-22

ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS, Kansas City, Kan., said last week sales and member patronage hit record levels. Sales rose 19.1% to $3.2 billion, while member patronage increased to $62 million, or 2.35% of qualifying sales, compared with 2.31% a year ago. Doug Carolan, AWG president and chief executive officer, said the sales increase was due to a general improvement in business, while the patronage rose as a result of better expense controls. During the cooperative's annual meeting, shareholders elected two new board members to serve until 2002: Ron Bowes, Belton Food Centers, Kansas City, Mo., and Erick Taylor, Ramey's, Springfield, Mo.