Gristedes to Buy Wakefern Products

JON SPRINGER

NEW YORK — Gristedes stores here have joined Wakefern Food Corp.'s burgeoning wholesale business, the companies said last week.

A new supply deal between Gristedes, a division of Red Apple Group here, and Wakefern, the Elizabeth, N.J.-based cooperative, brings more than 7,000 ShopRite private-label goods, as well as branded nonfood and health and beauty items, to Gristedes' 40 stores in metro New York.

“We were looking for a supply agreement that would allow us to be more competitive in today's environment,” John Catsimatides, chief executive officer of Red Apple, told SN. He said the company could continue to buy White Rose products from wholesaler Associated Grocers of Robesonia, Pa.

Catsimatides said the agreement with Wakefern would provide some cost savings, but he declined to be specific.

Wakefern formally established a wholesale division last year, but has long provided supply services to various independent retailers, according to Karen Meleta, a spokeswoman for Wakefern.

Wakefern said Gristedes stores will feature ShopRite's organic and specialty imported items.