AWG Brands Launched 36 New Products to Help Member Retailers Drive Summer Sales

The private brands portfolio expands with new items from Always Save®, Best Choice®, and Pure Wonder by Best Choice™

AWG Brands, the private brands program of Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG), announced a lineup of new grocery items recently launched. This wave of innovation, strategically developed to align with the latest consumer and category trends, is helping member retailers capture sales and gain a competitive edge.

“The AWG Brands items that launched in July are strategically positioned to compete with national brands, offering consumers high-quality, comparable products at a consistently lower price point,” said Emily Detwiler, Vice President of AWG Brands. “Notable additions include new Best Choice® trash bags, Pure Wonder by Best Choice™ wet pet food items in trending formats such as pouches, split cups, and various can sizes, and trending consumer food products like jalapeño stuffing mix and sour gummi candies.”

The new items include:

• Best Choice® Sour Candy (2 items) – The Best Choice Candy Shop line extends with two peggable sour gummi varieties: Sour Gummi Bears and Sour Fruity Gummi Hoops. Gummies are the #1 U.S. candy segment, with sour gummies experiencing rapid growth.
  
  
• Best Choice® Jalapeño Cornbread Mix (1 item) – This boxed mix is a line extension that capitalizes on bold flavor trends with jalapeño outselling all other boxed stuffing flavors so far this year. It cooks in just five minutes, appealing to consumers who want convenience.
  
  
• Best Choice® from the Farm Hot Dogs (2 items) – Available in two varieties, classic and bun length, these new items are just in time for Labor Day and fall tailgating season and expand the new Best Choice® from the Farm lineup.
  
  
• Pure Wonder by Best Choice™Cat Food Portion-Control Cups (4 items) – This new packaging format can be used as a topper to dry food or served as a full meal. It is ideal for pets with multiple daily feedings and provides convenient portion control. Four new flavors include: Chicken, Salmon, Turkey, and Whitefish and Tuna Pates.
  
  
• Pure Wonder by Best Choice™Dog Food Pouches (4 items) – Food pouches are a trending, convenient format in wet pet food. Pure Wonder by Best Choice™ is introducing the top-selling flavors to its lineup, including: Grilled Chicken, Chicken Casserole, Filet Mignon, and Beef, Noodles and Vegetable Stew. Similar to the portion-control cups, these can be used as a full meal or topper to add to kibble.
  
  
• Pure Wonder by Best Choice™Canned Dog and Cat Food (7 items) – Additional value-sized cans of dog and cat food are extending the Pure Wonder by Best Choice™ wet pet food lineup with new flavors and sizes. The dog food comes in four additional flavors in a 5.5 oz size positioned at a price point under $1. The cat food is available in three additional flavors, all in a 13-oz size, making it ideal for multi-cat households.
  
  
• Best Choice® Extra Long Utility Lighter (1 item) – With its 14-inch length, this utility lighter offers better reach and safety for the user. In addition, its child-resistant feature and hanger improve storage safety. It also includes an adjustable flame and visible fuel level.
  
  
• Best Choice® Trash Bags (13 items) – A complete assortment overhaul boasts 13 new items with technology that enhances convenience and odor control. Features such as flex drawstring closures, popular scents with advanced odor control formulas, and assorted sizes and counts all compete with national brand equivalents. Subcategories include kitchen bags, lawn and leaf bags, and heavy-duty contractor bags.
  
  
• Always Save® Trash Bags (2 items) – Small-count value trash bags with flap-tie closures appeal to the value channel shoppers or consumers making quick fill-in trips. These items allow AWG member retailers to offer an ultra-competitive price.

“These product launches are a direct investment in the success of AWG member retailers,” said Tye Anthony, Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer of AWG. “We are strategically expanding into growing segments like innovative pet food formats and enhancing core product lines like our trash bags. Each product is designed to give member retailers a competitive edge and offer their shoppers something new and better.”

AWG member retailers can now order and offer these new items, which are anticipated to be popular additions in stores across AWG’s 33-state trade area.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS, INC.
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving 1,100 member companies and 3,500 locations throughout 33 states from 9 wholesale division support centers. Consolidated sales for AWG in 2024 were $12.1 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, and pharmaceutical products. 

ABOUT AWG BRANDS
AWG Brands is Associated Wholesale Grocers’ private brand program consisting of Always Save®, Best Choice®, Pure Wonder by Best Choice™, Hello World by Best Choice™, Clearly by Best Choice™, and Best Choice® Superior Selections®. The AWG Brands portfolio includes more than 4,100 products from departments across the grocery store including center store grocery, bakery, produce, meat and seafood, general merchandise, and health, beauty and wellness. Learn more at awginc.com/awg-brands.