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Mitchell Grocery aligns with Ace Hardware wholesaler

Partnership with Emery Jensen boosts GM lineup for independent grocers

Russell Redman

April 26, 2018

1 Min Read
Supermarket News logo in a gray background | Supermarket News

Distributor Mitchell Grocery Corp. is bolstering its general merchandise offerings for independent supermarkets through a partnership with Emery Jensen Distribution, the wholesale division of Ace Hardware.

Mitchell Grocery said Thursday that the alliance will enable it to offer 8,000 grocery-relevant SKUs — and give the company access to more than 90,000 other items — to all of its 200-plus independent grocers in the Southeast.

Through the program, retail customers can add products such as kitchen accessories, hardware and grilling accessories to their store inventory. Mitchell Grocery said customers can order these items for cross-dock on their regularly scheduled deliveries.

Emery Jensen is offering 40 in-aisle planogram sections as well as a clip-strip program and full seasonal programs, Mitchell Grocery reported. Independent grocery customers also will be able to access Hallmark greeting card and Bissell carpet-cleaning rental programs.

According to Mitchell Grocery, the collaboration with Emery Jensen fills a gap in its general merchandise lineup and will help its retail clients offer more convenient shopping. Currently, the Albertville, Ala.-based supermarket wholesaler distributes more than 20,000 items, including grocery, fresh meat, fresh produce, dairy, frozen food, ice cream, health and beauty care, and deli-bakery products.

Related:Giant Eagle to debut Ace Hardware department this summer

"We are extremely excited to announce this partnership, and we have great confidence that this will put our retailers in the best position to compete," Jackson Mitchell, director of store development for Mitchell Grocery, said in a statement. "We believe that Emery Jensen has a superior offering and has created a program specifically compatible with our mission to improve our current general merchandise initiatives for the benefit of our customers."

Emery Jensen, based in Oak Brook, Ill., distributes over 90,000 locally relevant paint, lawn and garden, hardware, lumber and related items to more than 2,000 retail locations nationwide.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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