Federated began in 1900 when Smith Michael Flickinger opened his very first grocery store in Buffalo, New York. From this store, our first Red & White brand product (coffee) was born. As Flickinger continued to expand with Red & White stores across the country, the Voluntary Group System was born to serve the growing needs of independent grocers and wholesalers. In 1968, due to FDA label regulations, Red & White prompted a corporate name change to Federated Group.

Our company has developed quite a bit over the last 90+ years. Since Federated was founded in 1943, we've grown to serve hundreds of grocery stores, foodservice members and suppliers around the world.

• 1900 Flickinger's Grocery Store- Smith Michael (S.M.) Flickinger leaves his job as a wholesale grocery clerk in Buffalo, NY to open Flickinger's Grocery Store with his brother.

• 1908 Red & White Brand - decides he needs his own private brand of coffee to compete against grocery chain A&P and its popular private brand coffee. He names it Red & White brand, after the colors of his store shelves. The coffee is a hit.

• 1921 The Voluntary Group System - Flickinger starts up a "Voluntary Group System." He names the voluntary group the "Red & White Stores”. Membership includes site selection, training, discounted fixtures and professional window display for initial opening "to avoid the failure of thousands of corner grocers”. Seeing that this group would be better served with a central distributing warehouse, Flickinger sells most of his retail stores and operates as a full time wholesale supplier to the independent retail industry. Crucial to Red & White success is to "align a willing group of independent manufacturers faced by loss of volume from chain competition" to develop R&W line of products.

• 1926 Chicago's Merchandise Mart - Wholesalers from Canada & the United States begin visiting Buffalo to learn about the voluntary concept. Many get permission from Flickinger to set up similar operations, and they spread quickly from coast to coast. The Red & White group and Flickinger established the Red & White Corporation under New York laws; they set up a central office in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, with a branch office in Buffalo, NY.

• 1928 Red & White Magazine - The "Family" of Red & White stores keeps in close communication via company magazines & newspapers. Monthly Red & White Magazine is launched and is published monthly in Chicago for all Red & White members everywhere.

• 1935 Helping Through the Great Depression - R&W boasts an army of over 25,000 salespeople in the United States. Combined retail volume grows to over $1 billion. Volume buying is a huge factor in helping wholesalers and retailers through the Great Depression.

• 1963 The Hy-Top Brand - R&W Corp acquires National Brand Sales Corp, providing immediate expansion into a more areas of the country, thanks to new brand trademarks. One of these was the Hy-Top brand. Also added during the 1960s were Parade and Fine Fare. Several chains invite Federated to become involved in their private label programs, including Piggly Wiggly (IGA), Hyde Park and others.

• 1968 A New Company Name - New FDA label regulations prompt a corporate name change to Federated Foods as the holding company, made up of 6 divisions. Red & White has a prominent role in two of them. The divisions are: Red & White International Division, Hy-Top Products Division, National Brands Sales Division, Kitchen Products Division, Red & White Foodservice Division.

• 1981 A New Corporate Headquarters - Federated Foods moves headquarters to Arlington Heights, Illinois. The rest of the Federated divisions won't join Federated Foods in this location until 2000.

• 1993 A Logistics & Consolidation Solution - Golden Bay, Federated's consolidation and logistics division, is created to make significant operational efficiencies and supply chain cost savings by consolidating the sourcing, procurement, inventory management and distribution of a broad range of products for wholesalers and retailers.

• 1996 Full-Service Design & Marketing Established - SailPointe Creative Group, Federated's full-service creative agency, is established to provide strategic design solutions and outstanding creativity.

• 2015 Seven Farms Brand Launches – A new brand is created for better-for-you items that is available to all customers.

• 2020 LifeGoods Brand Launches – This new non-food, grocery brand is introduced into the marketplace just before the worldwide pandemic hits, allowing for more availability of paper goods and cleaning supplies.