A&P, C&S form distribution agreement

MONTVALE, N.J. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. and C&S Wholesale Grocers have signed a new ten-year agreement to combine their separate A&P and Pathmark supply agreements into one partnership. Under this new partnership, the two companies will combine their supply and distribution services into one network.

The two companies said they expect this new alliance to lead to one of the lowest cost distribution systems in the Northeast grocery industry. The added that the agreement will enable both A&P and C&S to implement warehouse efficiency controls to reduce costs and improve store service.

Eric Claus, President & CEO, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., stated, “We are extremely pleased to arrive at this ground-breaking agreement. Our partnering with C&S and its high tech infrastructure combined with our new agreement creates the value that is only derived from a ‘big business model’. This leading-edge agreement will provide cost savings and efficiencies in warehousing while benefiting all parties including, most importantly, our customers.”