Central Grocers files for bankruptcy, will sell Joliet warehouse – Chicago Tribune

Almost 100 years after it incorporated, Joliet-based Central Grocers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it continues to work toward a sale of its Strack & Van Til stores, the company announced Thursday.

Central Grocers is a grocery cooperative that has long operated as wholesaler for more than 400 independent grocery stores in the Chicago area, distributing private-label Centrella products as well as produce, meat and dairy. It's also the parent company of Strack & Van Til and Ultra Foods stores in Illinois and Indiana, which will be included in the bankruptcy filing. Last month, Central Grocers announced plans to sell 22 Strack & Van Til stores while closing nine "underperforming" Ultra stores.

The company said in a news release Thursday that it also intends to sell its vast warehouse in Joliet.

"In light of the increasingly difficult environment for independent supermarkets and retailers, we have been working tirelessly to achieve an outcome that is in the best interests of our stakeholders. We are using this court-supervised sale process to provide us the time and flexibility to conduct an orderly sale of the Strack & Van Til stores, while we work to sell the warehouse in Joliet and wind down our wholesale distribution operations," CEO Ken Nemeth said in the news release.

More to come.

gtrotter@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GregTrotterTrib

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Central Grocers files for bankruptcy, will sell Joliet warehouse - Chicago Tribune