News Photo by Darby Hinkley The sign outside Great North Foods is seen on North Industrial Highway on Tuesday.

ALPENA — Several area grocers said they are finding new distributors after being told that Great North Foods will close next month.

Great North, a local wholesale grocery distributor, has been in business 88 years and services more than 600 retailers in Michigan and parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to its website.

Multiple phone messages for Great North Foods owner Jerry Johnston were not returned, and others at the company said they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Among the retailers served by Great North are Perch’s IGA and Neiman’s Family Market in Alpena.

Julie Curtis, owner of Perch’s IGA, declined to comment for this story.

“We use them as a secondary distributor,” said Ray Werda, assistant store director of Neiman’s. “We’ve gone out there to get items if we’re short on something.”

Neiman’s primarily uses Spartan wholesale services for its products.

“We’re sorry to see them go,” Werda said of GNF. “It was nice to have them in town. We will miss the service they provided … They were there for us when we needed them.”

Doug Morrison owns Morrison’s IGA in Hillman.

“I’ve been buying from them for 30 years,” Morrison said of GNF. “It’s too bad that all those employees will lose their jobs, but I know a lot of them have other jobs lined up.”

He said the change will not affect his inventory at all.

“I’ve got wholesalers calling,” Morrison said. “My phone’s been ringing off the hook.”

Darby Hinkley can be reached via email at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or by phone at 989-354-3111 ext. 324.