AG New England Gets New Retail Pricing Manager
Allan Hulse has joined Associated Grocers of New England as the wholesaler’s new retail pricing manager, succeeding Norm Fortier, who is retiring in July after 25 years.
Most recently a grocery industry consultant with CenterPoint Business Advisors in Littleton, N.H., Hulse brings to AG New England many years of experience at both the wholesale and retail levels of the grocery industry. He began his career with positions including store manager for P&C Market, key account manager for Mueller's Pasta Co. and store manager for Wetterau Corp.'s Retail Grocery Division. In 1987, Hulse joined Wetterau’s wholesale side, where his positions included zone manager, retail merchandiser, and business advisor for independent grocers. Returning to retail, he then became general manager of Farm Fare Markets, where he had responsibility for all aspects of store operations.
Farm Fare eventually grew to 12 locations, over 200 employees and $35 million in sales. After the company was sold, in 1994, Hulse and one of the former owners of Farm Fare bought two ValuLand Food Store retail locations in New Hampshire. After one store was later sold, Hulse took over all operations at the remaining Ossipee location, which experienced solid sales growth until he sold it in 2007.
Owned entirely by independent retail grocers as members of a cooperative, Pembroke, N.H.-based AG New England, the largest retailer-owned, wholesale grocery distribution center in New England, serves independent retail food stores in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the upstate New York/Albany area.
Most recently a grocery industry consultant with CenterPoint Business Advisors in Littleton, N.H., Hulse brings to AG New England many years of experience at both the wholesale and retail levels of the grocery industry. He began his career with positions including store manager for P&C Market, key account manager for Mueller's Pasta Co. and store manager for Wetterau Corp.'s Retail Grocery Division. In 1987, Hulse joined Wetterau’s wholesale side, where his positions included zone manager, retail merchandiser, and business advisor for independent grocers. Returning to retail, he then became general manager of Farm Fare Markets, where he had responsibility for all aspects of store operations.
Farm Fare eventually grew to 12 locations, over 200 employees and $35 million in sales. After the company was sold, in 1994, Hulse and one of the former owners of Farm Fare bought two ValuLand Food Store retail locations in New Hampshire. After one store was later sold, Hulse took over all operations at the remaining Ossipee location, which experienced solid sales growth until he sold it in 2007.
Owned entirely by independent retail grocers as members of a cooperative, Pembroke, N.H.-based AG New England, the largest retailer-owned, wholesale grocery distribution center in New England, serves independent retail food stores in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the upstate New York/Albany area.