(LOS ANGELES) — In the first 26 weeks of the fiscal year (October 1, 2001 to Sept. 30, 2002), Unified Western Grocers, Inc. added 37 retail grocery stores to its food distribution network. These stores are expected to generate approximately $63 million in annual sales for the Los Angeles-based wholesale grocery cooperative.
The new stores represent either new members who have joined the cooperative, or, existing members who have opened new stores since the beginning of the fiscal year. Twenty-two of the stores are located in Southern California, three are in Northern California, six in Oregon, three in Nevada, two in Arizona and one is located in Colorado.
The $63 million mentioned above is in addition to approximately $60 million in new business gained when Unified was awarded the general merchandise/health and beauty care products purchasing business from Associated Grocers, Seattle, Wash. This transaction was announced last fall and commenced in October, 2001.
"The independent grocer in the Western United States is alive, well and thriving at Unified Western Grocers," said Chuck Pilliter, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "We believe our wide product selection and service offerings are exactly what independents are looking for in a supply channel partner. In short, they are seeking an organization that will contribute to the success of their retail operation."
Unified Western Grocers, Inc. is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery cooperative that supplies independent retailers throughout the Western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3 billion in sales during the 2001 fiscal year, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in today's supermarket industry.
This press release contains forward-looking statements with respect to benefits expected to be derived from the proposed acquisition. There are a variety of factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements above. These factors are outlined in Unified's Form 10-Q and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.