MINNEAPOLIS – Supervalu Inc. and The Fresh Market Inc. have reached a long-term supply agreement in which Supervalu will supply The Fresh Market locations with various grocery products including meat, deli, baker, grocery, frozen foods and dairy. The Fresh Market is a specialty retailer based in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Under the agreement, Supervalu will become The Fresh Market’s primary distributor upon the transition of The Fresh Market’s current distributor relationships. Supervalu expects to begin supplying some of The Fresh Market’s stores in the fall with additional stores to come as the transition continues.
“We are excited about this relationship with Supervalu,” Rick Anicetti , The Fresh Market president and CEO, said in a news release. “Supervalu’s experience in wholesale grocery and logistics capabilities aligns well with our strategic vision and will make them a valuable strategic partner for our future. This new relationship will be highly beneficial in enhancing our customer experience, with a focus on providing superior quality and freshness at a greater value.”
Mark Gross, president and CEO of Supervalu, described The Fresh Market as a “terrific organization” with tremendous store base and consumer offerings.
“The stores offer a great shopping experience,” Gross added. “They are extremely well merchandised, meet customer demand with a keen focus on fresh, and provide a wonderful mix of traditional and specialty products.
“This is an excellent example of how our experience, strong distribution network and overall wholesale capabilities can serve larger grocery chains while also being flexible to the needs of specialty-focused retailers.”
Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Supervalu is one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the United States with annual sales of approximately $18 billion. The wholesale grocer serves customers through a network of 3,342 stores composed of 1,773 stores operated by wholesale customers serviced primarily by the Supervalu’s food distribution business; 1,368 Save-A-Lot stores and 201 traditional retail grocery stores.
