Northwest Grocers on Friday announced that it has formed a new strategic alliance with Unified Grocers, making NWG the exclusive marketing and advertising company for more than 120 of Unified’s member stores in the Pacific Northwest.
Northwest next month will begin managing all marketing and advertising activities for these stores, operating under the Thriftway, Red Apple Markets, Select Markets, and IGA Market Fresh banners. It said the alliance would increase buying power and  synergies created from a "virtual chain" of stores, and would help streamline the group’s administration and marketing activities, optimize member opportunities and promotions, simplify vendor relations, and promote sales growth for all stakeholders.
"Northwest Grocers is excited about this new strategic alliance with Unified. The synergies created with this agreement will strengthen independent grocery retailers’ competitive position in the marketplace,” Stan Trask, president of Northwest Grocers, said in a statement.
“This is great news. Partnering with Northwest Grocers is an important step in solidifying the position our Member retailers hold in the Pacific Northwest,” added Ray VanWetten, Unified Grocers' VP of Sales, Pacific Northwest. “Together, we will be able to help our retailers buy and sell more efficiently, build their brands and ultimately better compete and grow for years to come.” 

Founded in 2004, Northwest Grocers is a group of Unified Grocers retail members who organized a limited liability corporation to perform services in the area of retail marketing, advertising and other retail service solutions. The organization prides itself on being a “retailer driven” company dedicated to the success of their retail operations and the communities they serve.
Unified Grocers is a $4 billion retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western U.S.