Associated Food Stores Marks 75th Anniversary

Associated Food Stores is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The Salt Lake City-based wholesaler, which began operating in 1940, supplies products to more than 400 independent retailers in the Intermountain West. As part of the celebrations, AFS and its vendors donated 750 personal care kits to Volunteers of America Utah’s homeless youth unit. 

“We have had an incredible past and look forward to a bright future filled with many more opportunities to serve our retailers and communities,” said Neal Berube, president and CEO of Associated Food Stores. 

The wholesaler began when 34 independent Utah grocers banded together to create a warehouse that gave them the purchasing power to compete with the growing chain stores. Today, that purchasing power extends to independent grocers in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon. In 1999, AFS began operating its own retail stores with 42 stores currently under the Macey’s, Dan’s, Dick’s Market, Lin’s and Fresh Market banners.

Member stores also benefit from store development, retail technology and marketing assistance.