Last updated on March 25th, 2021 at 07:24 pm
Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) today said that Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) will become a member of the cooperative. The addition of AWG will increase the aggregated total of ROFDA to represent more than $24 billion in wholesale revenue with more than 9,000 independent retail grocers and more than $60 billion in retail sales.
The announcement comes less than a month after AWG said it plans to purchase Affiliated Foods Midwest, which is a member of ROFDA.
“We could not be more excited about Associated Wholesale Grocers joining ROFDA. While AWG’s size is impressive, it is their expertise, perspective and attitude under the leadership of President and CEO David Smith that will bring value to our group. We share the same commitment to bringing more strength to the independents we serve. As such, we are totally aligned in our purpose and mission,” said ROFDA President and CEO Francis Cameron.
Smith added, “AWG is excited about joining ROFDA. It is a great organization, with fine leadership and honorable members, and one that we have had aspirations of joining for many years. We are looking forward to expanding and strengthening our relationship with other like-minded cooperative members and we hope to be able to make a worthwhile contribution to an already strong and vibrant organization.”
Smith will join ROFDA’s board of directors for the first time at the group’s fall conference in San Antonio. Smith also will address conference attendees during the general session.
ROFDA’s origins date back to 1962 when a group of retailer owned distributors founded what was then called the Southeastern Food Cooperative Association. Today ROFDA operates across the U.S. as a cooperative and serves its retailer-owned food distributor members and associates through a shared purpose and mission.
