WASHINGTON -- The nation's top grocery cooperatives had total revenues of $28.5 billion in 2000, a 4.5% increase above the previous year, the National Cooperative Bank here said last week.
atives made the Top 100 list, with five figuring in the Top 10: Wakefern Food Corp., Elizabeth, N.J.; Topco Associates, Skokie, Ill.; Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kan.; Unified Western Grocers, Los Angeles; and Roundy's, Pewaukee, Wis.
Commented Thomas K. Zaucha, president and chief executive officer, National Grocers Association here, "In the grocery industry today, we are going though a period of intense consolidation. As a result, the role of the retailer-owned cooperative is more significant than at any other time in the industry's history.
"These companies continue to explore innovative alliances to strengthen their buying clout, distribution efficiency and retail performance.
"Across the country, the retailer-owned cooperative serving independent retail grocers has responded to the competitive challenges of the supercenter and the megachains."
