We've helped put food on families' tables since 1926

Reaching a centennial milestone is rare for any organization, and I am proud of what this anniversary represents. One hundred years means AWG has navigated world wars and economic depressions, technological revolutions and industry transformations, changing consumer habits and relentless competitive pressure. We’re still here and thriving because of the people who believed in what we could build together as a cooperative company.

This anniversary belongs to our members first and foremost. Independent grocers are the backbone of the communities they serve, and AWG exists to help them compete, grow, and succeed. The grocers who founded this cooperative a century ago understood that independence doesn’t mean going it alone. It means having the strength of partnership behind you, and that principle still drives everything we do. To every member who has trusted us with your business and joined our cooperative, who has challenged us to be better, and who has built your success alongside ours: thank you.

To our teammates: the more than 4,200 employees who make AWG run every single day and the thousands who came before you – you are the reason our members can count on us. Your commitment and care for the work you do is what makes AWG exceptional.

To our vendor partners who have innovated with us and invested in our members’ success: your partnerships make our members stronger and more competitive, and we are proud to work with you.

And to the communities where we live and work: where our distribution centers operate, where our teammates raise their families, where our members serve their neighbors – thank you for welcoming us. The success of independent grocery stores means local ownership, local jobs, and local investment staying in your communities. When our members thrive, communities thrive. That’s why our work matters.

What I’m most proud of is not just that we’ve survived for 100 years, but how we’ve done it. We’ve stayed true to our cooperative values. We’ve remained focused on our member’s success. We’ve invested in our people, our partnerships, and our purpose. And we’ve proven the power of real, sustainable independence for retailers who want to serve their communities.

As we look toward our next century, I’m optimistic. The grocery industry will continue to change, but the fundamentals that have sustained us won’t. For 100 years, AWG and our members have adapted, innovated, and thrived through every shift in how customers shop and what they expect. Our ability to evolve while staying rooted in our cooperative values is what will carry us forward. The work ahead requires what it has always required: all of us moving in the same direction, showing up as one cooperative team, and committed to the partnerships that make independent retail possible. Our members compete every day against the world’s largest retailers and together, we’re built for what comes next. So here’s to the next 100 years; let’s keep building something worth celebrating over the next 100 years.

Dan Funk
President and CEO
Associated Wholesale Grocers