MAYFAIR SUPPLIER SET FOR YEAR

ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

PARSIPPANY, N.J. -- The 28 Mayfair Foodtown stores acquired by Ahold USA here late last month will continue to be supplied by Twin County Grocers, Edison, N.J., for at least a year, a locally based Ahold executive told SN last week. Although Mayfair units comprise only 28 of the 147 stores Twin County supplies, it is by far the wholesaler's largest-volume customer, accounting for annual sales of $600 million -- approximately 40% of Twin County's $1.5 billion total. According to the Ahold executive, "Under terms of an existing agreement between Mayfair and Twin County, the stores must remain with Twin County for a year after any notification of termination. "We've notified Twin County that we plan to withdraw from the agreement at the end of a year, though we are talking with them to evaluate all possible options." Twin County officials could not be reached for comment last week. As reported, the Mayfair units will operate as part of Ahold's Edwards Super Food Stores division, based in Windsor Locks, Conn.

Observers said it would not be unusual for Ahold to rely on an outside wholesaler like Twin County to supply some of the Mayfair stores. Edwards is supplied by C&S Wholesale Grocers, Brattleboro, Vt. Another Ahold division -- Giant Food Stores, Carlisle, Pa. -- is supplied by Super Rite Corp., Harrisburg, Pa.