TOPCO ACQUIRES BRAINTREE SOURCING

SKOKIE, Ill. - Topco Associates here said last week it has acquired BrainTree Sourcing, a company that specializes in procuring not-for-resale goods and services, from Ahold USA, Quincy, Mass.

bout $1.2 billion in annual volume. That represents about 20% of the total that Topco spends in the not-for-resale category, which includes things like shelving, pallets, office supplies and other products that are used in retail operations.

Topco's sales to its members in this area totaled about $5 billion in 2004, the latest year for which sales figures were available, a Topco spokeswoman told SN.

Topco said BrainTree's current management team, led by Nancy McDermott, senior vice president, and Dave Picarillo, vice president, will remain in place. They will become responsible for a new subsidiary of Topco called TopSource LLC, through which Topco plans to conduct all future not-for-resale transactions, including ongoing procurement for Ahold banners in the U.S. TopSource includes Topco's Equipment & Supplies and Business Services operations.

Topco said it would retain BrainTree's staff of 40, which is based in Braintree, Mass. BrainTree was formed in 2003 to buy supplies for all of Ahold USA.

"The addition of the BrainTree sourcing associates, with their broad range of strategic and industry experience, offers an excellent opportunity to build upon the momentum of Topco's existing NFR programs," said Steve Lauer, president and chief executive officer, Topco.