Wakefern, AWG Top Co-Op List

WASHINGTON — Wakefern Food Corp. and Associated Wholesale Grocers took the No. 4 and No. 6 spots on this year’s list of the largest cooperatives in the U.S., according to an annual compilation released Tuesday by National Cooperative Bank.

The NCB Co-Op 100 listed agriculture cooperatives CHS Inc. and Land O’Lakes as the two largest cooperatives in the country, with revenues in their most recent fiscal years of $40.6 billion and $14.1 billion, respectively. Altogether the NCB Co-Op 100 achieved revenues of $226.4 billion, a 5% increase over the preceding year.

CONNECT WITH SN ON TWITTER

Follow @SN_News for updates throughout the day.

“The NCB Co-op 100 is a great reminder of the substantial impact and important role cooperative businesses play in our national economy across every sector,” said Charles E. Snyder, president and chief executive officer of NCB, in a statement. “As we continue to see improvements in the market, there is an increase in the formation of new cooperatives in urban, suburban and rural setting — offering competitive goods and services to meet the needs of these communities.”

Following Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern, with 2012 revenues of $11 billion, and Kansas City, Kan.-based AWG, with revenues of $7.85 billion, the list of top retail grocery co-ops includes:

• Unified Grocers, Commerce, Calif. (No. 11 overall);

• Associated Wholesalers Inc., Robesonia, Pa. (No. 18);

• Associated Food Stores, Salt Lake City (No. 21);

• Central Grocers Cooperative, Franklin Park, Ill. (No. 22);

• Affiliated Foods Midwest, Norfolk, Neb. (No. 33);

• Affiliated Foods Inc., Amarillo, Texas (No. 36);

• URM Stores, Spokane, Wash. (No. 59);

• Piggly Wiggly Alabama, Bessemer, Ala. (No. 83);

• Associated Grocers Inc., Baton Rouge, La. (No. 92).