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C&S Wholesale Grocers stands ‘well-positioned’ in Ahold deal, execs say

Food distributor to support Ahold Delhaize USA shift to self-distribution

Russell Redman

December 11, 2019

2 Min Read
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Continuing a 30-year relationship with Ahold Delhaize USA companies, C&S said it will serve as the third-party labor provider at the York, Pa., and Chester, N.Y., warehouses.C&S Wholesale Grocers

C&S Wholesale Grocers reiterated its support of major customer Ahold Delhaize USA as the food retailer transitions to self-distribution.

Keene, N.H.-based C&S has agreed to sell Ahold Delhaize three warehouses: two in York, Pa., and one in Chester, N.Y. The retailer also is pursuing a lease for a C&S facility in Bethlehem, Pa. The companies announced the moves yesterday.

Continuing a 30-year relationship with Ahold Delhaize USA companies, C&S said it will serve as the third-party labor provider at the York and Chester warehouses.

“C&S is uniquely positioned for the long-term,” Chairman Rick Cohen said in a statement. “We have a strong leadership team with some of the best industry veterans, an expanding footprint in key geographic areas, innovative technology solutions that enhance the consumer experience, and the most cost-efficient products and services in the market. We are confident about our future.”

On the tech solutions front, for example, C&S in September announced a partnership with Chicago-based FourKites. Using the FourKites predictive supply-chain platform, C&S sends retailers logic-based messages — called C&S Delivery Alerts — to track store deliveries in real time, including when a truck has left the warehouse, when it is about an hour away and when it has arrived. This provides customers “unprecedented visibility” into their delivery status, the distributor said.

Related:C&S Wholesale Grocers hires Miriam Ort as human resources chief

Over the summer, C&S tabbed New York-based AppCard as its new customer loyalty and digital coupons partner. C&S said AppCard’s actionable data, advanced marketing tools and sophisticated promotions and campaign engine will allow the wholesaler to help retailers create a seamless omnichannel experience by weaving loyalty programs and digital coupons into in-store kiosk, website, mobile and e-commerce platforms.

And earlier this year, C&S finalized the acquisition of Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative. The regional distributor served more than 270 independent food retail and convenience stores across New York, Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio, supplying all major product categories as well as providing a range of retailer services.

Last week, C&S announced its expansion of operations into the Pacific Northwest with the addition of a new warehouse in Troutdale, Oren. Plans call for the state-of-the-art warehouse to open by summer 2020. C&S noted that it’s already serving several retail partners in the area with products, services and solutions.

“As the leader in our field, C&S is consistently challenging the status quo and adapting to changes in the market to help our customers win,” commented CEO Mike Duffy. “The pace of change in grocery continues to accelerate, and C&S is well-positioned to support our retail partners, bringing value and innovation to their operations. That has been our trademark for more than 100 years and continues to drive the way we work every day.”

Related:C&S Wholesale Grocers names new supply chain chief

The nation’s largest wholesale grocery supply company, C&S currently supplies more than 7,900 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with 138,000-plus products.

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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