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Pattison Food Group to buy Roth’s Fresh Markets

Deal marks Canadian retailer/wholesaler’s first U.S. acquisition

Russell Redman

October 14, 2021

3 Min Read
Roths Fresh Markets store.png
Roth’s Fresh Markets operates nine stores in Oregon and, with the acquisition by Pattison Food Group, will retain its retail banner and operations.Roth's Fresh Markets

Canadian food and drug retailer/wholesaler Pattison Food Group plans to acquire Oregon grocer Roth’s Fresh Markets, its first acquisition outside of Canada.

Financial terms of the deal, announced late Wednesday, weren’t disclosed. Vancouver, British Columbia-based Pattison said it expects to close the transaction on Oct. 26, pending regulatory approval.

Roth’s Fresh Markets, based in Salem, Ore., operates nine stores in Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. With the sale of the chain, plans call for Roth’s Fresh Markets to retain its retail banner and operations and for President Michael Roth to retire and be succeeded by Tim Jennings, a long-serving member of the grocer’s senior leadership team. Jennings will report to Ben Harrack, senior vice president at Pattison Food Group. 

“This is a very exciting time for our company. Having built a relationship with this group over the past several months, I am confident the values and culture at the Pattison Food Group are well aligned to ours at Roth’s,” Michael Roth, son of late founder Orville Roth, said in a statement. “While I am thrilled to be retiring effective Oct. 26, I am equally thrilled for Tim to take Roth’s to new heights with support from the Pattison Food Group.” 

Save-On Foods store-Pattison Food Group.jpg

Pattison Food Group's retail network includes Save-On Foods, one of Western Canada's largest grocers with about 185 stores.

Founded in 1962, Roth’s specializes in fresh and prepared foods, including custom cake centers and catering, as well as locally sourced products. Pattison said it will support the banner’s grocery model and build on its best practices in operations, marketing, purchasing and people services.

Related:Raley’s to buy Bashas’ Family of Stores

“I am very humbled to accept the role of president at Roth’s Fresh Markets,” Jennings commented. “We are like a family at Roth’s, and now as part of the Pattison Food Group, we have more opportunities than ever to take Roth’s to the next level while maintaining the culture, services and, of course, the amazing teams that make Roth’s the grocer of choice for so many Oregonians.” 

Part of Canadian conglomerate Jim Pattison Group, Pattison Food Group has more than 30,000 employees and a retail network of nearly 300 food and drug stores. Its retail grocery, pharmacy and wholesale banners include Save-On-Foods, Buy-Low Foods, Quality Foods, Choices Markets, Everything Wine, Pure Integrative Pharmacy and Imperial Distributors Canada Inc., as well as other Jim Pattison Group specialty and wholesale operations. Surrey, B.C.-based Save-On Foods operates about 185 stores and is one of Western Canada’s largest grocery retailers. Pattison’s wholesale division serves about 2,000 independent grocers across Canada.

Related:C&S Wholesale Grocers to acquire Piggly Wiggly Midwest

“We are extremely excited to welcome Roth’s to the Pattison Food Group family of companies as we embark on our first venture outside of Canada,” stated Darrell Jones, president of Pattison Food Group. “Roth’s legacy of a customer-focused shopping experience with the best fresh offering in the market is something all Pattison Food Group companies share, and we are just so thrilled to have these fine folks join our team.”

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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