Unified Grocers Completes Sale of Insurance Ops

Unified Grocers Inc. has completed the sale of its insurance operations to New York-based AmTrust Financial Services Inc.

The sale, which was first announced in April of this year, includes Springfield Insurance Co., Unified Grocers Insurance Services and related insurance operations (UGIS).

"The sale is in line with our strategy of focusing on our core grocery wholesale operations to better serve our members," said Bob Ling, Unified's president/CEO.

"Our members can look forward to a wider range of insurance programs tailored to the unique needs of the grocery business and underwritten by a financially solid insurance carrier with an 'A' rating from A.M. Best Company," Ling added.

AmTrust has also purchased UGIS's building located in Covina, Calif., and intends to continue to provide insurance services to Unified and its members, the company said.

Commerce, Calif.-based Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States.