Our Story
At C&S, our focus is simple but meaningful: we help feed our families, our neighbors and our communities.
From our distribution centers and grocery stores to our corporate offices, every team member plays a role in delivering the food, products and support our customers count on every day.
It’s more than a job to us — it’s our legacy.
For more than 107 years, we’ve helped shape the rapidly changing grocery industry — adapting, innovating and staying ahead of what customers need most. Today, our family of companies delivers innovative supply chain solutions, products and services to chain, independent and military customers from 60 distribution centers across the country. We also operate more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores primarily under trusted banners, including D&W® Fresh Market, Grand Union®, Family Fare®, Martin’s™ Super Markets and Piggly Wiggly®.
Our Journey
1918
Alliance Group is founded by Israel Cohen and Abraham Siegel in Worcester, Mass.
1955
Alliance Group moves to a 35,000-square foot facility; Israel's son Lester joins the company.
1958
Alliance Group wins the Big D Supermarket account, signaling a transition from small independent stores to supermarket chains.
1974
Lester's son Rick, current Executive Chairman, joins Alliance Group.
1981
Alliance Group builds a 300,000-square foot warehouse and distribution complex in Brattleboro, V.T.
1993
Alliance Group purchases a 350,000-square foot warehouse in South Hatfield, Mass. In the same year, Alliance Group opened one of the largest freezers in the world in Westfield, Mass.
1997
Alliance Group opens a warehouse facility in Newburgh, N.Y.
2000
Alliance Group purchases assets of former Grand Union companies.
2003
Alliance Group purchases assets of former Fleming companies, including warehouses in Hawaii and California.
2014
Alliance Group purchases the assets of Associated Wholesalers, Inc. (AWI) and Piggly Wiggly Carolina Co., expanding Alliance Group's independent customer base in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Alliance Group also acquires Grocers Supply in Houston.
2015-16
Alliance Group acquires The Davidson Specialty Food Group, expanding Alliance Group's fresh customer base.
2018
A century of retail excellence and family-driven dedication to the grocery supply chain.
2021
Alliance Group purchases Piggly Wiggly® Midwest.
2022
Alliance Group opens Grand Union stores in New York and Vermont, and one Piggly Wiggly® supermarket in New York state.
2025
Alliance Group, as part of a consortium, purchases SEG.
2025
Alliance Group acquires SpartanNash, further expanding its footprint in the grocery industry.