KeHE Distributors is the new primary distributor partner for Allegiance Retail Services and will provide support for its members' needs through data-driven information, store-level operational excellence, and superior sales and promotional growth marketing.
ARS provides independent supermarkets with customized retail services to enhance their success. With natural, organic, and specialty business seeing steady growth over the last several years, ARS has focused its efforts on these categories, believing shoppers will continue to increase their purchasing of better-for-you products as they move towards healthier lifestyles.
“We chose to work with the leading distributor in natural, organic, specialty, and fresh products because of their profound understanding of this business segment, deep knowledge of independent retail stores, and expertise in trend analysis, which we believe will help us better serve our members,” said Mike Conese, vice president of center store for ARS, in a statement.
Through this partnership, ARS, a co-op serving communities through over 100 stores and 28 members in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, will open doors to an expanded product portfolio for its independent supermarket members at a reduced cost.
The co-op, which supports banners such as Foodtown, Gristedes, D’Agostino’s, Brooklyn Harvest, and Green Way, will not only develop a partnership with suppliers who are singularly focused on natural, organic, and specialty business through KeHE, but will also receive proactive and data-driven support from the distributor.
“We’re confident that KeHE can serve ARS members with excellent service, value, and industry expertise,” said Jennifer Mihajlov, vice president of Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest independent sales at KeHE, in a statement. “We’re like-minded companies that share a commitment to optimizing the success of the independent grocer with first-to-market, highly-focused assortment, evolutionary marketing, and merchandising expertise while maintaining individual banner identity.”
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