Mac’s Market to get new owner 

Staff report

Mac’s Market is under contract with a new owner. 

The family-owned grocery store, with locations in Woodstock, Stowe and Essex, is in the process of being acquired by the Associated Grocers of New England.

“We’re under agreement with them,” said Mike Violette, the president and CEO of Associated Grocers. “Our plan right now is, we’re looking toward purchasing the stores and closing Nov. 7.”

Associated Grocers, based in Pembroke, New Hampshire, operates 12 stores, with five locations in New Hampshire and seven in Vermont, including the Jericho Village Market, Newport Village Market, Londonderry Village Market, Shelburne Village Market, Richmond Market and Beverage and Village Market in Waterbury. 

Associated Grocers is also the supplier for 600 supermarkets and convenience stores in New England. 

“We’ve been a supplier of Mac’s for a number of years,” Violette said. “It’s a good growth opportunity for us.” 

Violette said the company is also under agreement to purchase a grocery store in Johnson, Vermont, which was damaged by flooding. 

Violette said they plan to keep all the current employees at Mac’s.

“I’m sure we’ll look to reinvest in the stores and incorporate what we do with the other stores,” he said. “Most of (the employees) are pretty familiar with us— that will provide them with a great degree of comfort with what the future is.” 

Mac’s Market was family owned and operated for about 30 years by Sherman V. Allen, Inc., in Rutland. Global Partners LP acquired 13 Mac’s Market locations in 2021. 

The purchase of the Mac’s locations came after a Mac’s Market in Rochester closed in March of this year, leaving the community without a local convenience store briefly until the building was purchased by a new owner.