Speculation has been swirling for weeks about the future of I & K Distributors in Delphos, especially since they were acquired by a Michigan company, and the news Monday was not good.
Lipari Foods, a Midwest food distributor based in Warren, Michigan announced the purchase of I & K a couple of weeks ago.
Now word comes Monday from the City of Delphos' Greg Berquist that the Michigan company will be phasing out operations in Delphos over the next few months, taking with it 124 jobs.
So there is no confusion. There are two separate businesses related to this operation.
I & K Distributors will be closing, but next door Reser Fine Foods will continue to manufacture its products. They are two separately owned companies.
I & K has distributed Yoders Salad, Reno's pizza and other grocery store products since 1966. Berquist hopes Reser needs the space that I & K will be vacating.
I & K has 4-thousand grocery related customers it serves throughout 6 Midwest states.
A Lipari Food spokesperson, Laura Liras had no comment on the closure, only saying a news release would come out later this week.
