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L&R Distributors Inc., a non-foods specialty distributor based in New York, will acquire the non-foods and general merchandise business of United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), according to June 10 statements from both companies. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

UNFI, based in Providence, R.I., entered the non-foods business when it acquired Millbrook Distribution Services Inc. in 2007. "After thorough analysis, we came to the conclusion that general merchandise and non-food products are not strategic to our business,” Steven Spinner, president and CEO of UNFI, says.

As part of this acquisition, the privately held L&R will become UNFI's non-foods distributor of choice. According to a statement from L&R, “this alliance brings together the largest specialty general merchandise distributor (L&R) with the largest distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods in North America (UNFI).”

The acquisition continues L&R's strategic growth within the supermarket trade both nationally and regionally. L&R has more than 30,000 items in cosmetics, general merchandise and health & beauty aids and has more than 7,000 points of distribution.

Source: L&R and UNFI