Supervalu buying California grocery distributer for $114M

NEW YORK – Supervalu Inc. is buying grocery distributor Unified Grocers Inc. for $114 million cash, boosting the grocery store operator’s wholesale business.

Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Supervalu is also assuming $261 million in Unified’s debt as part of the deal. Combined, the companies will operate 24 distribution centers in 46 states, serving over 3,000 stores.

Unified is based in Commerce, California, and supplies independent retailers in the Western U.S., including the Grocery Outlet, Core-Mark and C&C stores in the Spokane-Coeur d’Alene area.

The deal is expected to close during the summer.