Associated Wholesale Grocers

Last week, AWG celebrated #SupermarketEmployeeDay to honor our teammates who help the grocery industry thrive. Each division support center and the AWG Support Center offered a special treat or recognition to show appreciation for the dedication and passion that AWG employees bring to their work every day. AWG extends a heartfelt thank you to all AWG teammates and member store employees. Your contributions truly make a difference, and we’re grateful for everything you do! ?#SupermarketHeroes #Appreciation #Gratitude #AWGInc

On Wednesday, February 26th, the AWG Inventory Management Department team rolled up their sleeves and headed to the Pet Resource Center of KC (PRCKC) to lend a hand. PRCKC is an amazing organization that keeps pets and people together, relying on the generosity of volunteers and donors to support Kansas City families in need. The team tackled a variety of tasks—from sprucing up the outdoor grounds to cleaning post-surgery kennels, folding laundry, prepping surgical supplies, and organizing the pet food pantry. They even helped portion out cat and dog food into smaller bags for PRCKC’s mobile outreach group to distribute to the community! ?????? Kudos to the IMD team for making a pawsitive impact in our community!

?? Big wins for AWG members at the National Grocers Association Creative Choice Awards! On Feb. 25, several retailers were recognized for their creativity in marketing & merchandising. Top honors went to Harps Food Stores, awarded Outstanding Marketer, while Coborn's, Houchens, and Edwards Food Giant also took home creative awards. AWG shined in the Private Label category too! Our members are leading the way in driving customer engagement, boosting sales, and supporting their communities! #NGA #CreativeChoiceAwards #RetailExcellence #AWGinc

?? Celebrate National Snack Day with AWG Brands! ?? March 4th is National Snack Day, and we've got the perfect treats to make your day extra special. Last summer, AWG Brands introduced a mouthwatering lineup of salty snacks to satisfy all your cravings. From crunchy to savory, AWG Brands has it all! Head to your local AWG member store and grab your favorite snacks today. ??? https://lnkd.in/eAmybbPZ #NationalSnackDay #AWGBrands #SaltySnacks #SnackTime

?? Exciting News from AIM!?? AWG's Advertising & Innovative Marketing (AIM) in-house ad group proudly launched a new ethnic ad group dedicated to serving and meeting the needs of our members’ Hispanic customers. This initiative introduces fully Spanish in-store ads and communication, creating unique deals and promotions that truly stand out to this specific demographic. Through targeted pricing, promotions, and advertising, we're helping our members expand their offerings to the Hispanic market while enriching the communities AWG members serve. This launch is a win for both our members and their communities. Stay tuned for more! #AIM #HispanicMarket #CommunityImpact #InclusiveAdvertising #BetterDeals

On this week's Grocer Pod, AWG Brands Product Manager Tyler Olinger is in the studio with Sean Kosednar to discuss the Q1 new items and what is still to come from AWG Brands this year. Subscribe today and never miss an episode! Grocer Pod is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Grocer Pod on Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/41Apw1S

Let's celebrate our teammate's recent achievements from February! Congratulations and best wishes for continued success and growth in your new role! Interested in advancing your career? Click here to learn more and apply now! >> awginc.com/careers #AWG #AWGProud #BestChoice

The Minnesota Grocers Association held their annual Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol building on Wednesday, February 26th. MGA members were given the opportunity to connect with a variety of state officials and have office visits to raise awareness on key legislation that will have an impact on the independent grocer. AWG was in attendance and we were able to spend some time with Governor Walz and hear from him about the state budget, along with expectations for the upcoming legislative sessions.

We're excited to introduce our newest team members this February! AWG is thrilled to have such talented individuals on board and wish them all the best in their new positions! Make us your best choice and become a part of the team. Click here to learn more and apply now! >> awginc.com/careers #AWG #NewHires #BestChoice

National Floral Design Day, celebrated annually on February 28th, is a day to honor the art of floral design and the people who practice it. The floral team has spent months planning one of the biggest floral holidays of the year: Valentine’s Day. This year we set a new sales record and that is all due to the great work of all our floral sales, merchandising, and buying team along with the great execution within our operations teams. Floral is a highly incremental sales category within retail and continues to grow. In 2024, floral sales nationally outpaced produce growth and outlooks for 2025 are predicted to be the same, providing an awesome selling opportunity for AWG and its members. In honor of Floral Design Day, we’re spotlighting AWG employee Blake Weirich. He is a Floral Merchandising Sales Manager for the AWG Oklahoma City & Gulf Coast Division Support Centers “Starting as a 16-year-old cashier at Piggly Wiggly, I quickly moved to the floral department, where my passion for design flourished. After honing my skills at Kroger, I rose to Corporate Category Manager of Floral, overseeing all 18 divisions. Floral design offers me creative freedom and emotional fulfillment, inspiring me to craft unique arrangements from diverse sources. My motivation comes from meeting customer needs and helping AWG member stores stand out. It's an honor to serve in this role and make a difference every day!”