MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE:SVU) and THE FRESH MARKET, INC. today announced they have reached a long-term supply agreement for SUPERVALU to serve as a grocery wholesaler and distributor to The Fresh Market. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, The Fresh Market is a specialty retailer focused on providing delicious and healthy food and a high level of service to its customers.
“The Fresh Market is a terrific organization with a tremendous store base and a great consumer offering,” said SUPERVALU President and CEO Mark Gross. “The stores offer a great shopping experience. 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.”
“We are excited about this relationship with SUPERVALU,” said The Fresh Market President and CEO Rick Anicetti. “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.”
In its role as grocery wholesaler, SUPERVALU will supply The Fresh Market with traditional and signature grocery products across a range of categories including meat, deli, bakery, grocery, frozen foods and dairy. The parties intend for SUPERVALU to become The Fresh Market’s primary distributor upon the transition of The Fresh Market’s current distributor relationships. SUPERVALU anticipates it will begin serving some of The Fresh Market’s stores in the fall and will take on additional stores as the transition continues.
About The Fresh Market, Inc.
Founded in 1982, The Fresh Market, Inc. is a specialty grocery retailer focused on providing high-quality products in a unique and inviting atmosphere with a high level of customer service. The company currently operates 176 stores in 24 states across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.thefreshmarket.com.
About SUPERVALU INC.
SUPERVALU INC. is one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the U.S. with annual sales of approximately $18 billion. SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of 3,342 stores composed of 1,773 stores operated by wholesale customers serviced primarily by the Company’s food distribution business; 1,368 Save-A-Lot stores, of which 896 are operated by licensee owners; and 201 traditional retail grocery stores (store counts as of June 18, 2016). Headquartered in Minnesota, SUPERVALU has approximately 40,000 employees. For more information about SUPERVALU visit www.supervalu.com.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.
Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, particularly those pertaining to SUPERVALU’s expectations, guidance, or future operating results, and other statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including uncertainties as to the timing and scope of the transition of The Fresh Market stores and the resulting business impacts of this new supply agreement. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Unless legally required, SUPERVALU undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
