Two of the foodservice industry’s most respected buying groups, NAFED – National Association of Food Equipment Dealers and PCR – PRIDE Centric Resources, are joining forces to create Alignity Group (Alignment and Unity), a dynamic new organization designed to deliver enhanced value, innovation, and market leadership to their combined shareholders and buying group brands.
With a collective 100 years of industry presence and representing more than 150 dealer shareholders with combined annual sales exceeding $2 billion, the new consolidated entity positions Alignity Group as a leader in the foodservice procurement landscape not only in buying power, but also with access to industry leading services and training resources.
“This alliance represents a transformative milestone not only for our organizations, but the entire foodservice distribution industry,” said Greg Ebel, President & CEO of PCR– PRIDE Centric Resources. “This is an exciting venture that brings together two organizations with highly complementary strengths and a shared vision for the future. By combining our resources, talent, and reach with Alignity Group, we’re unlocking new opportunities for growth, innovation, and long-term value creation while maintaining the brands and strengths of PCR and NAFED. Our members will benefit from greater scale, and expanded access to services and tools that help them thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace. We’re confident this partnership sets the stage for a strong future — and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what’s ahead.”
Teresa Brown, Chief Operating Officer of NAFED, echoed this sentiment, stating, “At the heart of this alliance is strong alignment and unity in values, culture, and an unwavering commitment to our shareholders’ success. Both organizations are deeply rooted in service, collaboration, and delivering meaningful results — making this a natural fit.
Together, we’re creating Alignity Group to be a more capable and competitive organization, with enhanced tools, broader expertise, and greater agility to meet the evolving needs of our members. This combination positions us to drive even greater impact and growth in the years ahead.”
Leadership Structure
Don Lipinski, Chairman of the Board for PCR along with Brad Dowse, Chairman of the Board for NAFED have announced the following leadership team to represent both groups in the marketplace through Alignity Group:
Alignity Group will be led by a unified leadership team that draws on the exceptional talent and expertise from both organizations:
– Greg Ebel, President & CEO of Alignity Group, will lead the organization’s market presence and strategic direction, leveraging his extensive experience in value creation and process optimization to drive growth. With a strong industry background, Greg has successfully led above-market growth initiatives through effective commercial strategy, market segmentation, and strong organizational leadership—positioning Alignity Group to deliver greater value in the marketplace.
– Teresa Brown, VP Finance of Alignity Group, will lead strategic operational initiatives and focus on opportunities to provide a seamless conduit between our shareholders and our vendor partners. Teresa has an extensive background in buying group leadership specifically in back office integration and finance.
– Cara Schlarb, VP Vendor Strategy of Alignity Group will engage with vendor partners to represent the combined purchasing power of both groups. Her focus will be on developing integrated strategies that streamline commerce, reduce friction and provide superior returns. Known for her collaborative approach and deep market insight, she has consistently delivered growth and value across the supply chain.
– Lee Zabel, VP, Vendor Support of Alignity Group will also focus on vendor strategy and path moving forward to represent the interest of the combined group. With extensive industry experience across dealerships and buying groups, he has built a reputation for growth and results.
The management will include representatives from both NAFED and PCR organizations, ensuring continuity and balanced governance.
The consolidated entity will deliver significant advantages to stakeholders, including:
– Consolidated purchasing power to support industry-leading vendor program offerings
– Enhanced technology platforms and data analytics capabilities
– Broader geographic coverage and market intelligence
– Streamlined operations and best practice sharing
About Alignity Group
Alignity Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of PCR – PRIDE Centric Resources Inc. and NAFED, National Association of Food Equipment Dealers, is owned and operated by dealers—for dealers. Representing more than 150 independent foodservice equipment and supply distributors across the country, Alignity Group collectively represents $2 billion in annual sales. As a purchasing cooperative, Alignity Group is dedicated to helping its member dealerships achieve growth, profitability, and long-term sustainability. Through consolidated purchasing power, access to industry-leading technology, and enhanced operational resources, Alignity Group equips its shareholders to succeed in a competitive and evolving marketplace.
Website: https://alignitygp.com
About NAFED – National Association of Food Equipment Dealers
Dealer-Owned. Dealer-Run. Dealer-Centric.
A nonprofit buying cooperative, the National Association of Food Equipment Dealers (NAFED) was founded by a group of dealers in 1959, and was formally incorporated in South Carolina in 1981. The organization has always been owned and operated by dealers and for dealers. Our membership’s primary focus has remained food equipment. Focusing on this single core competency maximizes collaboration benefits and business opportunities for dealers and vendors alike.
Website: https://nafedinc.com/
About PCR – PRIDE Centric Resources
PCR is based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and is a dealer-owned cooperative, founded in 1989.
PCR shareholders are industry experts with a passion for providing foodservice equipment and smallwares solutions and product knowledge. Our manufacturers share that same passion, offering our group the widest range of products in the industry.
PRIDE is proud to be a 100% dealer-owned organization comprised of approximately 100 food service equipment and supplies businesses nationwide. Each dealer has an equal ownership voice, and we are managed by a Board of elected PRIDE dealers. Our leadership team offers superior insight to our dealers with over 75+ years of industry experience.
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