Specialty Distributors & Brokers

Southern Glazer’s Opens Louisiana Distribution Center

Published May 16, 2025

Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits – a global distributor of beverage alcohol – announced the opening of its state-of-the-art distribution center in Geismar, La. The 375,000-square-foot facility, located at 6602 Industrial Drive, will continue to enhance supply chain efficiency and service levels for customers and suppliers.

Designed to support Southern Glazer’s long-term growth in the market, the Geismar facility serves as a strategic anchor in Louisiana, ensuring scalability for the next 30 years. The emerging technology incorporated in the distribution center allows for improved order fulfillment, leading to enhanced delivery service, faster turnaround times, and greater product availability.

“As we continue to invest in our supply chain infrastructure, this facility in Geismar reflects our commitment to providing best-in-class service for our customers and suppliers,” said David Gneo, Vice President, National Operations, Southern Glazer’s. “We are constantly working to strengthen our ability to meet growing demand while also prioritizing sustainability and operational excellence.”

The Geismar facility incorporates several emerging technologies and sustainability initiatives, including:

Upgraded conveyor system with palletizer, improving material handling and order processing efficiency;
Energy-efficient climate control to maintain optimal storage conditions while reducing energy consumption;
LED lighting throughout the facility, enhancing visibility and sustainability efforts; and
A partnership with Dematic, a global leader in supply chain automation, to integrate advanced material handling systems with future expansion capabilities.

“This facility represents a pivotal investment in the future of our Louisiana operations,” said Jason Witty, Vice President, Operations, Central Region, Southern Glazer’s. “By increasing capacity and optimizing technology, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers with greater efficiency, ensuring they have access to the products they need when they need them.”

“Our team is excited to be operating in this high-tech distribution center,” said Juliana Purcello, Vice President, Operations, Louisiana, Southern Glazer’s. “This expansion reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service to our customers throughout the market.”

For more information about Southern Glazer’s and its commitment to operational excellence, visit www.southernglazers.com.

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AAK Completes Divestment of NJ Foodservice Facility

Published January 2, 2025

On Oct. 23, AAK announced an agreement to divest its foodservice facility located in Hillside, N.J. The transaction was finalized on Dec. 31, resulting in a one-time positive cash flow impact of approximately $600 million Swedish krona in the fourth quarter of 2024. The divestment is not anticipated to have a material effect on the company’s profit and loss statement.

In 2024, the Hillside facility represented about 5 percent of AAK’s total volumes and approximately 1 percent of its operating profit. As a result, the divestment is expected to increase the group’s operating profit per kilo by approximately 4 percent, assuming no other changes.

On Oct. 23, the same day the divestment of Hillside was announced, AAK also outlined plans to invest in a new facility to replace its existing foodservice site in Dalby, Sweden. While the plans are still being finalized, the company confirmed that the new site is expected to be located in Staffanstorp, representing a significant step in itss efforts to strengthen and future-proof foodservice operations across Europe.

AAK specializes in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in the products people love to consume. At the heart of AAK’s offering is Customer Co-Development, combining a desire to understand what better means for each customer with the unique flexibility of our production assets and deep knowledge across products and industries.

AAK’s 4,200 employees support its close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers and support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen for more than 150 years.

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FMI: Shoppers Feel Confident About Holiday Grocery Budgets

Published November 25, 2024

Despite ongoing concerns about food prices, shoppers feel more confident in managing their grocery budgets ahead of the holidays, according to FMI —The Food Industry Association’s annual U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends: Holiday Season report. These findings are further supported by FMI’s newly released ninth-annual Power of Foodservice at Retail report, which found that retail foodservice purchases continue to play a key role in shoppers’ meal preparation.

Consumers report a strong sense of excitement and enthusiasm for the holiday season despite concerns about rising prices and grocery budgets. Seventy-three percent of those celebrating holidays report feeling very or somewhat excited about the holiday season. Furthermore, with 85% of shoppers reporting at least some control over their grocery budgets, shoppers are feeling more prepared to tackle holiday shopping this year.

“While consumers remain understandably concerned about the cost of food impacting their holiday meal preparations, we continue to see remarkable resilience and adaptability among shoppers,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “Whether it be shopping deals and sales or choosing store brands, Americans are stocking up and preparing for the holidays early and eagerly.”

The “hybrid” approach to meal preparation – which integrates retail foodservice items like deli-prepared foods into weekly grocery shopping – is also increasingly popular, with shoppers reporting they prepared and ate more dinners at home in 2024 than at any time since 2020. Shoppers recognize that semi- or fully-prepared items from their food retailer are valuable, budget-friendly options to supplement or even stand in for a meal cooked from scratch at home.

In 2024, according to NIQ, sales of retail foodservice prepared foods increased by 1.4% to roughly $50.9 billion. This trend is expected to continue into the holiday season as well, with 13% of shoppers reporting they will purchase more prepared foods from food retailers compared to last year.

Among those who celebrate this holiday season, nearly 60% of shoppers said that enjoying harmonious, quality time with family and friends is the most important ingredient for a successful holiday, followed by 32% who cited creating a great homemade feast. To make these goals a reality, 40% of consumers are preparing for the December holidays more than a month in advance.

FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends: Holiday Season survey also revealed:

Weekly grocery spending has remained consistent this year, with an average of $158 per week.
39% of holiday shoppers are extremely or very concerned about potential out-of-stocks for key ingredients. Among families with children, this concern rises to 44%.
46% of shoppers say they would prepare a familiar alternative dish if their preferred ingredients were unavailable, and 30% are willing to try a new recipe.

FMI’s The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2024 survey also revealed:

Total deli sales reached approximately $450.9 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 1.4% in dollars and 1.2% in units over the past 52 weeks. Shoppers’ desire for convenience and affordability is driving this trend.
70.7% of households buy foodservice at retail products regularly, with an average purchase frequency of 9.5 times per year and an average transaction size of $8.30.
The frequency of shoppers preparing dinner at home at least seven times per week increased slightly this year from 21% to 23%.
63% of shoppers say they put at least some focus into eating nutritious options when buying deli-prepared foods from grocery stores.
59% of shoppers want the opportunity to buy a combination of prepared foods – main course, sides dishes and dessert for a set, discounted price.

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