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C&S to buy Olean grocery cooperative

Regional wholesaler’s CEO to continue overseeing operations

Russell Redman

December 6, 2018

2 Min Read
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C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. plans to acquire regional distributor Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative Inc.

Financial terms of the deal, announced late yesterday, weren’t disclosed. Keene, N.H.-based C&S said it expects the transaction to close early next year.

Olean Wholesale serves more than 270 independent food retail and convenience stores across New York, Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. Plans call for President and CEO Robert Ketchner to continue to manage the Olean, N.Y.-based co-op’s day-to-day operations.

“As proven by the nearly 100 years of success with Olean Wholesale’s premier service model, Bob and the Olean team have established themselves as outstanding operators in the wholesale food business,” C&S CEO Mike Duffy said in a statement. “We have admired Olean Wholesale and the impressive organization its talented employees have built and very much look forward to partnering with the Olean team to continue this tradition and to expand the solutions available to their customers with the additional strength and scale of C&S.”

Founded in 1922, Olean Wholesale distributes all major product lines, including grocery, frozen, dairy, meat, produce, general merchandise and health and beauty aids.

shurfinelogo_0.pngThe company also offers a range of retailer services (such as operations, technology, accounting, advertising, pricing and store development) as well as private label products, including more than 1,400 items under the Shurfine brand. Other private brands distributed by Olean include TopCare, Valu Time, Simply Done, @ease and Paws Happy Life.

“I am excited about the future and the new opportunities this partnership will offer the members of Olean Wholesale,” said Ketchner. “I believe that having the opportunity to combine the unquestioned service and dedication to our retailers with the scale and expertise of C&S will only make us better. I have had the pleasure of servicing our members for over 20 years, and I look forward to working with our team for many more.”

The nation’s largest grocery wholesale company, C&S supplies more than 137,000 products to about 7,700 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and other institutions.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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