May 02, 2001
Produce Partnership Leads To Increased Sales
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With a year of sales success behind them, Unified Western Grocers and the Food Alliance continue its partnership to meet the ongoing customer demand for environmentally safe products. Results from a Gallup poll taken last year found that 73 percent of consumers preferred products that are better for the environment. With that trend in mind, Unified joined forces with the Food Alliance to better service its broad customer base.
The Food Alliance is a Portland-based non-profit organization that recognizes and rewards Oregon and Washington farmers who produce food in environmentally and socially responsible ways. The Alliance then promotes the benefits of these products to consumers. Key to the program is a seal of approval that is used to distinguish products that have been produced in compliance with the organization’s strict guidelines.
“This is an excellent program for Unified to be involved with because it provides a unique niche in the produce category for our members and customers – something to help distinguish them from their competition,” said Charles Keller, produce director, Pacific Northwest Division.
Unified has been procuring fruits and vegetables from Food Alliance-approved farmers and has been making it available to members/customers. More than 30 Thriftway stores in Oregon and Southwest Washington have offered Food Alliance-approved produce to their customers since May 2000.
“Consumers like this affiliation,” said Keller, “because they have consistently shown that they are willing to pay slightly higher prices for Food Alliance produce.”
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 2000 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.