Unified Grocers Training Future Leaders for Superm

LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fifty-one high school students are learning how the supermarket industry works, thanks to a unique Summer Youth Employment Program sponsored by Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western United States.

During the seven-week program (July 1 through Aug. 16) the students are working in various jobs throughout the organization and participating in hands-on instructional activities focused on building job skills and developing their knowledge of the many aspects of the food industry. Some of the many learning experiences the program offers include tours of wholesale operations, retail grocery stores, food manufacturing facilities and farms.

The students, 27 from the Los Angeles metropolitan area, 8 from Northern California (Livermore and Stockton area), 6 from Portland, Oregon and 10 from Seattle, Washington are either attending or are recent graduates of local high schools. They were selected for the program after completing an extensive application and interview process.

Bob Ling, President and Chief Executive Officer, Unified Grocers, said, "Our entire organization benefits from the energy, enthusiasm and fresh thinking that our Summer Youth Employment Program students bring to our Company each year. It is always a pleasure to see the growth of these bright and talented students during their time with us and then later learn about their continued career development and success."

Unified's Summer Youth Employment Program students also have an opportunity to win scholarships from Unified to help further their education. The scholarship winners are announced at graduation ceremonies held in each region of the Company at the conclusion of the program.

About Unified Grocers, Inc.

Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified, which generated approximately $3.8 billion in sales during fiscal 2012, offers independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry. For more information about Unified Grocers, visit: http://www.unifiedgrocers.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of Unified Grocers based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of information currently available to it. There are a variety of factors that could cause actual and future results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made above. These factors are outlined in Unified's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Furthermore, Unified undertakes no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Bob Hutchins 206-763-7966