US grocery distributor Unified Western Grocers looks set to snap up Seattle-based food wholesaler Associated Grocers (AG).

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


The two companies have signed a letter of understanding on the deal, which they expect to seal in a matter of months. No financial terms were disclosed.


Unified president and CEO Alfred Plamann said the deal would benefit both parties. He said: “Both companies are structured as cooperatives, both have a long history of successfully serving and supporting the growth of independent grocery retailers throughout the Pacific Northwest and both organizations and their shareholders can greatly benefit from the efficiencies and synergies that will result from a combination of these two companies.”


AG, founded in 1934, provides food to stores throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Pacific Rim.


President and CEO John Runyan said: “Combining AG’s and Unified’s strengths will create a very competitive grocery industry force for independents in the Western United States.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact