C&S Wholesale Grocers partners with Upside to help retailers compete and grow

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 20, 2025 – C&S Wholesale Grocers, one of the largest wholesale grocery supply companies in the U.S., has partnered with Upside, a leading digital marketplace, to help its retailers unlock measurable profit and compete more effectively in today's ultra-competitive landscape.

Through this new partnership, C&S is introducing Upside’s personalized promotions platform to the retailers it supplies, beginning with more than 90 Piggly Wiggly Midwest locations. As the most visited grocery chain in Wisconsin, Piggly Wiggly now serves as Upside’s lead grocery partner in the state.

“Our partnership with Upside continues C&S’s strong legacy of braggingly happy customers and our commitment to providing franchisees, independent retailers and shoppers with a differentiated experience that drives value and loyalty, said Mark McGowan, EVP and CMO at C&S Wholesale Grocers. “It’s a win for retailers and consumers, and we look forward to seeing how this collaboration will deliver meaningful benefits for both.”

That seamless approach is especially important now, as grocers face shrinking margins and rising competition. With Upside, retailers can attract more visits and boost customer spend without changing pricing, staffing, or day-to-day operations.

“Piggly Wiggly Midwest understands something many retailers overlook: small shifts in behavior can lead to big results,” said Nick Worswick, President of Retailer Go to Market at Upside. “As the most visited grocery brand in the area, Piggly Wiggly Midwest is well positioned to influence where and how customers shop in the region. We're proud to support their continued growth and help deliver meaningful business outcomes.”

Upside’s platform is designed to influence shopper behavior in ways that benefit both consumers and grocers. Using anonymized transaction data, Upside delivers targeted cash back offers that drive more frequent visits and higher basket sizes. For retailers, it’s a way to reach uncommitted customers, improve loyalty, and generate incremental profit, all while maintaining control over their existing operations.

Upside’s two-sided marketplace reaches more than 35 million consumers and connects them with over 100,000 gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience retailers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Its platform generates measurable profit for merchants while delivering real value to consumers. To date, Upside has driven $2.5 billion in incremental profit to retailers and delivered $1 billion in cash back to its users.

A limited number of grocers in a given area are eligible to participate in the program. Grocery retailers can learn more about partnering with Upside, by visiting www.upside.com/business/grocery.

ABOUT UPSIDE

Upside is a digital marketplace that connects millions of consumers with brick-and-mortar retailers nationwide. Since 2016, Upside’s personalized offers have empowered individuals to gain greater purchasing power for their essential needs while helping businesses achieve measurable profits. Billions of dollars in commerce run through the Upside platform annually, directly benefiting retailers, consumers, and sustainability initiatives. For more information, visit www.upside.com.