C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative Inc. based in Olean, NY. The sale is expected to close in early 2019.

Olean Wholesale, a New York cooperative corporation founded in 1922, is a full-service grocery wholesaler with a variety of food products as well as non-food, household, and personal care items. The company services over 270 independent food retail and convenience stores throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and northeast Ohio.

C&S said Olean has built its business upon its comprehensive product offerings, personalized customer service, and collaborative partnerships with independent retailers and manufacturers. Robert Ketchner, current chief executive officer and president, will continue to manage the day-to-day operations, ensuring consistency for the employees, customers and vendors.

“As proven by the nearly 100 years of success with Olean Wholesale’s premier service model, Bob and the Olean team have established themselves as outstanding operators in the wholesale food business,” said Mike Duffy, C&S CEO. “We have admired Olean Wholesale and the impressive organization its talented employees have built and very much look forward to partnering with the Olean team to continue this tradition and to expand the solutions available to their customers with the additional strength and scale of C&S.”

Olean distributes all major product lines, including produce, grocery, frozen, dairy, meat, general merchandise, and health and beauty care and is also known for its full-service capabilities for its members.

“I am excited about the future and the new opportunities this partnership will offer the Members of Olean Wholesale. I believe that having the opportunity to combine the unquestioned service and dedication to our retailers with the scale and expertise of C&S will only make us better. I have had the pleasure of servicing our members for over 20 years, and I look forward to working with our team for many more,” said Ketchner.