Al Plamann to Retire from Unified Grocers

 (Cerritos, CA) —Al Plamann, chief executive officer, Unified Grocers, announced today that he will retire from the company, effective May 1, 2013.  Plamann made his announcement at the Company’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel.

"Through Al Plamann's leadership, Unified Grocers has more than doubled in size and has evolved into one of the premier companies in today's grocery industry," said Richard Goodspeed, Chairman of the Board, Unified Grocers.  "We appreciate Al's commitment to Unified's growth and success, and we wish him well in his retirement."

Plamann has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 1999 when Los Angeles-based Certified Grocers of California, Ltd. merged with United Grocers, Inc. of Portland, Oregon.  Prior to the merger, Plamann served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Certified Grocers of California for six years and also spent four years as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.  Before joining Certified in 1989, he had a distinguished 13-year career with Atlantic-Richfield Company (ARCO) in Los Angeles.  

 “With Bob Ling’s nearly two years of experience as President of the company, an energetic management team in place, a loyal and dedicated group of associates and a strong base of independent retailers, I feel that this is an ideal time for me to step back and let this dynamic group take the Company to new levels of prosperity,” Plamann said.  “I am confident that Unified Grocers is well-positioned for success in the years to come.”

During Plamann’s tenure as CEO, Unified has grown from a Company with $1.8 billion in annual sales to nearly $4 billion.  Additionally, the Company has expanded its customer base to an area that stretches from Mexico to Alaska, as well as to key international points around the globe.

“Al Plamann has been a driving force at Unified for decades, helping our Company to achieve unprecedented levels of success,” said Bob Ling, president, Unified Grocers.  “He has a well-earned reputation as a creative thinker and strategist and his legacy for these achievements and other contributions will endure in our industry for many years to come.”

Plamann currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Twelfth District Economic Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve, as well as the Board of the Food Marketing Institute and the National Cooperative Grocers Association.  In February of 2004, he was inducted into the CGA Hall of Achievement. He is a Board member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town Hall of Los Angeles, a Board of Visitors member of the George L. Graziadio School of Business & Management — Pepperdine University and a member of the Southern California Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors and Weingart Center Association, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the homeless in Los Angeles.

About Unified Grocers, Inc. 
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: www.westerngrocers.com

Unified Shareholders Elect Board of Directors, Goodspeed Re-Elected Chairman of the Board

(COMMERCE, CA) – Shareholders of Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the Western United States, elected 16 individuals to the Board of Directors at the Company’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, held Feb. 20, 2013 in Cerritos, Calif.

At a Board of Directors meeting immediately following the Annual Shareholders Meeting, directors re-elected Richard E. Goodspeed, Principal, Goodspeed & Associates, as Chairman of the Board of Unified Grocers.  Goodspeed has served as Chairman of Unified’s Board since 2010.  Directors also re-elected Louis A. Amen, Chairman of the Board, Super A Foods, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif., as First Vice Chairman and elected Jay T. McCormack, President and Chief Executive Officer, Rio Ranch Markets, Riverside, Calif., as Second Vice Chairman.

In addition to Goodspeed, Amen and McCormack, 13 other individuals were elected by shareholders to serve on Unified’s Board of Directors:

• John Berberian, President, Berberian Enterprises, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.
  
• Oscar Gonzalez, Co-owner, Northgate Gonzalez Markets, Inc., Anaheim, Calif.
  
• Paul Kapioski, President, CAP Food Services Co., Seattle, Wash.
  
• Darioush Khaledi, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, K.V. Mart Co., Carson, Calif.
  
• Mark H. Kidd, President, Mar-Val Food Stores, Inc., Lodi, Calif.
  
• John D. Lang, President and Chief Executive Officer, Epson America, Inc., Long Beach, Calif.
  
• John Najjar, President, Cardiff Seaside Market, Inc., Cardiff, Calif.
  
• Thomas S. Sayles, Senior Vice President, University Relations, University of Southern California., Los Angeles, Calif.
  
• Mimi R. Song, President and Chief Executive Officer, Super Center Concepts, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
  
• Robert E. Stiles, Special Advisor to the CEO, Gelson’s Markets, Encino, Calif.
  
• Michael S. Trask, President, Stanlar Foods, Inc., Granite Falls, Wash.
  
• Kenneth R. Tucker, President, Evergreen Markets, Inc., Greenville, Calif.
  
• Richard L. Wright, Chairman of the Board, Market of Choice, Inc., Eugene, Ore.

All directors on Unified’s Board were elected to one-year terms.

About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States.  Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it.  There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above.  These factors are outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com

Bob Ling Named CEO at Unified

(COMMERCE, CA) – At a meeting held on Feb. 20, 2013, members of the Board of Directors of Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the Western United States, named Bob Ling President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2013.  Ling, who has been President of Unified since June, 2011, succeeds Al Plamann, who announced his retirement earlier at the Company’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.

“Bob Ling is an outstanding administrator and a thoughtful and creative leader,” said Dick Goodspeed, Chairman of the Board, Unified Grocers.  “Having spent 16 years as a top executive at our company, he understands our business, he knows our retail members and customers, he has built strong relationships with the vendor community and he works well with our associates.  We believe that Bob Ling is an excellent choice to lead our company at this point in time.”

“I have all the confidence in the world that Bob Ling will be an effective and dynamic leader for Unified,” said Al Plamann, Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers.  “The succession plan that the Board and Senior Management put in place more than a year ago is now setting the stage for future growth.  I believe the future for Unified is in very good hands.”

Prior to being named President, Ling served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, a position in which he was responsible for the Company’s Human Resources, Labor Relations, Real Estate and Government Relations functions.

Before he joined Unified in 1996, Ling held senior level positions with retail drugstore and supermarket companies.  He was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for MegaFoods Stores, Inc., in Mesa, Arizona and also served as Acting President and CEO of MegaFoods.  Ling also had a similar position with Reliable Drug Stores, Inc., in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Earlier in his career, he was a partner in the law firm of Michael Best & Friedrich in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, concentrating his practice in employment and labor law.

Ling currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Grocers Association and was Chairman of the Board of the California Grocers Association (CGA) in 2009 and recently served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the CGA Educational Foundation for four years.

Previously, he served on CGA's Executive Committee, was a member of the Government Relations Committee and the Association’s Political Advisory Committee.  He is a Board Member and Public Affairs Committee Member of the California Retailers Association.  He also is a member of the California Business Roundtable and the Government Relations Committee of the Food Marketing Institute.

A graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Ling holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School.  He is a member of the State Bar of California and the State Bar of Wisconsin.

About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States.  Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it.  There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above.  These factors are outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com

Unified Grocers Advancing Waste Reduction Efforts

(Commerce, CA) — Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western United States is making significant advancements in its ongoing effort to reduce waste and encourage earth-sustaining practices throughout the organization.

As part of Unified’s commitment to being a good steward of the earth while responsibly growing its business, the Company has assembled a Sustainability Leadership Team that is targeting areas for improvement, developing best practices and encouraging continued advancement in sustainability programs in all aspects of the business. As a result of these efforts, a wide variety of programs have been implemented and are reducing the organization’s impact on the environment.

These programs range from simple conservation measures, such as double-sided copying and pooling office supplies, to recycling paper, cardboard, wood and plastics (bags, wrap and pallets) used in offices, warehouses and retail stores. To help reduce the amount of overall material going to waste, Unified has initiated a food and biodegradable materials composting program throughout its facilities and has donated non-salable products to local food banks on a regular basis.

The Company’s internal website, “Green 365,” educates and informs associates about earth-friendly practices and encourages them to submit additional ideas for green programs. Green 365 also is expanding Unified’s sustainability efforts by encouraging participation in activities such as adopting segments of roads or highways, recycling eyeglasses and home recycling and composting.

“We are very proud of the efforts and accomplishments of our associates and retail customers in working together to help protect our planet and conserve resources for future generations,” said Bob Ling, President, Unified Grocers. “We also know there is much more to do and we look forward to celebrating those successes.”

Recently Unified began offering paperless invoicing to all of its retail customers in the western United States. After experiencing positive results from paperless invoicing in its Washington operations, the Company extended the program to enable more retailers to reduce waste and improve ordering efficiencies. When fully deployed, the paperless invoicing will eliminate approximately 40 tons of paper from the waste stream every year while speeding order processing and giving retailers greater visibility to their ordering activity with Unified.

About Unified Grocers, Inc.Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: www.westerngrocers.com

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com

Plamann Inducted into Progressive Grocer Hall of Fame

(Commerce, CA)  — Alfred A. Plamann, former chief executive officer, Unified Grocers was inducted recently into the Progressive Grocer (PG) Hall of Fame. The PG Hall of Fame honors food industry executives whose leadership, guidance and vision have had a profound influence on the U.S. grocery business.

After a distinguished 24-year career with the Company, Plamann, who retired from Unified on May 1, 2013, was recognized with four other incoming members to the PG Hall of Fame Class of 2013. The other industry leaders are: Jack H. Brown, chairman and CEO of Stater Bros.; Steve Burd, chairman and CEO of Safeway Inc.; Dean Janeway, former president and CEO of Wakefern Food Corp.; and posthumously, Eddie Basha Jr., chairman emeritus of Bashas’.

“We want to thank Al Plamann and all of the 2013 PG Hall of Fame inductees for their exceptional career accomplishments and tremendous contributions to our industry,” said Bob Ling, president and CEO, Unified Grocers. “Al’s unwavering commitment to the success and well being of independent grocers everywhere, as well as his extraordinary wisdom and character, are reflected in the tremendous growth and strength of our Company that are the result of his many years of innovative and inspired leadership.”

Among the many career accomplishments that contributed to Plamann’s induction into the PG Hall of Fame was his leadership in doubling the size of Unified Grocers during his tenure with the Company, and his work and success in helping advance the industry and the communities served by Unified. 

In 2004 Plamann was inducted into the California Grocers Association Hall of Achievement. Plamann also serves as Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council of the Twelfth Federal Reserve District, as well as on the Board of the National Cooperative Grocers Association and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). He is a Board member of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town Hall of Los Angeles, a Board of Visitors member of the George L. Graziadio School of Business & Management — Pepperdine University and a member of the Southern California Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors and Weingart Center Association, a non-profit organization that provides assistance to the homeless in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, FMI presented Plamann with the distinguished Herbert Hoover Award for his humanitarian work and contributions.

In addition to publishing a tribute to each of the 2013 PG Hall of Fame inductees in the May edition of Progressive Grocer, an induction ceremony is being planned for later this year.
 
About Unified Grocers, Inc.
Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com

Three Unified Grocers Associates Named Top Women in Grocery

(Commerce, CA)  — Three Unified Grocers associates (Christine Neal, Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer; Marie Lopez, Director, Consumer Insights and Staci Webber, Director, Distribution, Seattle) have been named 2013 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery award winners. 

Since 2007, the Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery awards program has recognized the integral role women play across all areas of the food industry. This year, 230 winning candidates were chosen from a field of approximately 400 nominees from all levels of the food retailer and supplier communities in three categories: Senior Level Executives, Rising Stars and Store Managers. Neal was named a winner in the Senior Level Executives category, and Lopez and Webber were named winners in the Rising Stars category. The award winners were selected based on their demonstrated outstanding leadership and influence in their companies and in the industry, as well as for their specific achievements between Feb. 1, 2012 and March 1, 2013.

Over the past year, Neal, Lopez and Webber have made many significant contributions toward furthering the success of Unified Grocers and independent retailers. For example, Neal oversees Unified’s Finance and Treasury, Credit and Risk Oversight and recently assumed responsibility for the Company’s Talent Resources functions. She also was an executive sponsor of a companywide initiative designed to make Unified a stronger sales-driven organization. Lopez was appointed to lead a major Company initiative to help Unified’s retail customers derive actionable insights from scan data. Using data and consumer insights Lopez was able to assist retailers in achieving double-digit sales increases at their stores. Webber initiated activities that have resulted in reducing on-the-job injuries, accelerating new-hire productivity and advancing Unified’s business continuity and disaster preparedness efforts. Webber also was instrumental in the successful start-up and operation of Unified Grocer’s Market Centre Natural and Organic program.

“We want to congratulate all of the women honored as 2013 Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery, and extend our greatest appreciation for their contributions to our industry,” said Bob Ling, President and Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers. “Having three members of our team recognized as part of this elite group of women speaks highly of their individual talents and hard work, as well as our Company’s ongoing efforts to help all of our associates grow and achieve success in their careers.”

Meg Major, Editorial Director, Progressive Grocer,  said, “Over the years that we have solicited nominees for our annual Top Women in Grocery honor, our editorial staff has never ceased to be amazed at the level of dedication, talent, expertise and sheer determination demonstrated by our finalists.”

All of the Top Women in Grocery winners will be recognized in the June 2013 issue of Progressive Grocer and will also be honored at a gala awards celebration that will take place in late 2013.

 
About Unified Grocers, Inc.Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: www.westerngrocers.com

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on Management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com

Unified Grocers and Charlie’s Produce Team Up to Grow Sales

(Commerce, CA) — Unified Grocers announced today that it has named Charlie’s Produce as its exclusive partner in all produce categories for Unified’s independent retail customers operating stores in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. This new venture will significantly enhance the overall produce offering available to Unified’s customers in the Pacific Northwest.

Bob Ling, President and Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers, said, “We are proud to partner with Charlie’s and look forward to leveraging our combined strengths and the many growth opportunities our new relationship provides. This new program enables our independent retailers to compete more effectively and differentiate their stores through a wide variety of quality, fresh produce. It also simplifies billing by consolidating statements and providing incentives for our retailers’ continued purchases through Unified and Charlie’s.”

Retail customers of Unified in the Pacific Northwest will now have more than 5,500 fresh produce items available, as well as a broad assortment of specialty and prepared produce, floral and home meal replacement products. Charlie’s extensive line of organic and local produce enables Unified’s customers to better meet shoppers’ growing demand for quality organic offerings. Charlie’s daily delivery service ensures that Unified’s independent retail stores have the freshest produce available at all times. Independent SQF Certification of Charlie’s processing facilities assures buyers that items are produced, processed and handled according to the high standards they expect. To better serve their customers’ needs, Charlie’s is also reinvesting in their business through significant expansions and/or remodels for their facilities in Spokane, Seattle, Portland and Anchorage.

Charlie Billow, Chief Executive Officer, Charlie’s Produce, said, “At Charlie’s, we pride ourselves on developing long term partnerships that are built on trust and guaranteed customer satisfaction. Combining the strength of the largest retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor in the western United States, with the largest produce company on the West Coast, creates a new innovative, dynamic force in the marketplace. We are confident that Unified and its retailers will prosper from our relationship and the high level of service and quality that have made Charlie’s — and our customers — successful for more than 35 years.”

Retailers will begin to reap the benefits of this exciting new program early this summer. Many of Unified’s current produce employees will remain on Unified’s staff — or may join Charlie’s organization — to ensure continued customer satisfaction and excellent service to Unified’s retailers. Unified will continue to service Cash & Carry stores in the Pacific Northwest from the company’s Portland, Oregon produce facility.

About Charlie’s ProduceCharlie’s Produce is an employee-owned, full service produce company that supplies grocery stores, restaurants, institutions and the marine industry with a full range of conventional, organic and specialty produce, floral items and a large assortment of fresh-cut and custom-cut produce. Charlie’s operates full-stocking distribution centers in Seattle and Spokane, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Anchorage, Alaska. For more information about Charlie’s Produce, visit:http://www.charliesproduce.com.

About Unified Grocers, Inc.Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offers independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: www.westerngrocers.com

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on management’s assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in Unified’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

www.westerngrocers.com