C&S Wholesale Grocers debuts Sol Select, its newest private label brand, bringing over 250 affordable everyday products with a bold Hispanic-inspired identity to grocery shelves nationwide.
The food retail industry continues its private label surge. Store brand sales hit a record $271 billion last year, with dollar and unit shares climbing to all-time highs.
C&S moves aggressively into that momentum.
The company added Sol Select to its OurBrands portfolio, which already includes Best Yet and Our Family. The new line targets shoppers who want quality without paying premium prices.
CEO Eric Winn says the brand solves a real problem for independent grocers. “Sol Select is the perfect addition to C&S’s private label portfolio,” Winn said. “C&S is dedicated to ensuring that our local hometown grocers are the destination of choice for our communities.”
250-Plus Products Span Frozen, Dairy, and Center Store
Sol Select covers the entire store. The line includes frozen foods, dairy, center store staples, and household essentials, all under one cohesive brand identity.
That breadth matters for independent retailers. It gives them a single, shelf-ready solution across multiple categories.
Mark McGowan, EVP of Franchise and Retail Solutions and Chief Merchandising Officer at C&S, says shoppers no longer accept trade-offs.
“Families are looking for brands that don’t force them into a trade-off between paying higher prices or trading down to save,” McGowan said. “Sol Select is made for shoppers who only want the best.”
Hispanic Design Influences Drive a Bilingual Brand Experience
Sol Select stands apart visually. The brand draws design inspiration from the sun and traditional Spanish Talavera tiles.
That aesthetic choice reflects a strategic intent. C&S built the brand around daily routines and family traditions.
Every product features colorful, bilingual labels. That decision directly addresses the growing demand among Hispanic shoppers for culturally resonant products they feel proud to buy.
The brand name itself reinforces the vision. “Sol,” meaning “sun” in Spanish, signals warmth, energy, and everyday brightness, qualities that C&S weaves throughout the product line.
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Sol Select Rolls Out Across Key Retail Banners
C&S makes Sol Select available immediately at select company-owned retail locations. Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly stores now carry the brand, alongside independent retail customers in the C&S supply network.
A broader rollout follows this summer. D&W Fresh Market, Family Fare, and Martin’s Super Markets will stock Sol Select starting in the coming months.
C&S also acquired SpartanNash in a deal that closed in September 2025, significantly expanding its retail reach. All SpartanNash independent retail customers will also gain access to Sol Select this summer.
Strengthening the OurBrands Portfolio for Independent Grocers
Sol Select reinforces C&S’s broader strategy. The company operates more than 200 corporate-run grocery stores under banners including D&W Fresh Market, Grand Union, Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, and Piggly Wiggly.
Private label growth drives profitability across that network. Store-brand dollar sales across all outlets grew four times faster than national brands’ last year. C&S positions Sol Select to capture that trend directly. The brand gives independent grocers a competitively priced, culturally inclusive option that keeps shoppers loyal and keeps them coming back.