C&S acquires New England specialty distributor

In a move it said would broaden product selection and improve service for its customers, C&S Wholesale Grocers on Wednesday said it had signed an agreement to acquire Davidson Specialty Foods, a leading specialty food distributor based in Newington, Conn.

Terms were not disclosed. The sale is expected to close next month.

Davidson provides direct store delivery services for more than 6,000 specialty, kosher, and ethnic products to independent and chain retailers across New England and the New York metropolitan area. Davidson is the largest specialty distributor in New England and has built its brand upon product expertise, personalized customer service, and collaborative partnerships with retailers and manufacturers, C&S said. 

Current owner operators Bob Rowe and Jim Rowe will continue to manage Davidson's day-to-day operations.

“As proven by the success and longevity of Davidson’s premium service model, the Rowe family and the Davidson team are certainly premier operators in the specialty food business,” Rick Cohen, C&S chairman and CEO said in a statement. “This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to invest in new products and services that are increasingly relevant to our customers, delivering on our promise to create braggingly happy customers. We are excited to learn from and grow with Davidson as we build this partnership.”

While Davidson will continue to operate as a separate organization, the newly formed partnership will enrich C&S’s product offering to its existing customers, the company said. Additionally, Davidson’s full-service model adds to C&S’s customer capabilities.

The combination of the two family-run organizations, given C&S’s extensive distribution network, will also enable Davidson to expand its scale to new products, customers, and markets.