For more than half a century, under Burt P. Flickinger, III’s leadership, Strategic Resource Group has stood at the crossroads of commerce and insight — guiding the evolution of retail, consumer goods, and capital investment across the globe. From Fortune 500 boardrooms to the courtroom steps of landmark antitrust rulings and commercial disputes, our counsel has shaped outcomes, redefined strategies, and unlocked billions in enterprise value.
We partner with leading retailers, CPG manufacturers, private equity firms, law firms, labor unions, regulators, and media — not merely to keep pace with a rapidly shifting marketplace, but to define it.
Where others observe, we orchestrate.
Where others react, we anticipate.
We design and refine the architecture of retail — optimizing store networks, accelerating private-label growth, embedding ESG leadership, and realigning operations to thrive through disruption. Every recommendation is anchored in real-world execution.
Learn more →We don’t survey markets — we interrogate them. From micro-geographies to macro-trends, our proprietary methodologies decode trading-area dynamics, pricing models, compensation benchmarks, and consumer behavior with precision and purpose.
Learn more →In high-stakes deals, clarity is currency. SRG delivers commercial intelligence that demystifies risk, enhances valuation, anticipates regulatory hurdles, and guides investors toward confident action — before, during, and after the transaction.
Learn more →SRG has been a trusted voice in pivotal legal matters, delivering expert testimony in antitrust, contract, bankruptcy, merger defense, and regulatory proceedings. Our data speaks. Our experts persuade. Our legacy carries weight in courtrooms and government agencies alike.
Learn more →These are not metrics. They are outcomes.
They are the imprint of strategy aligned with execution.
Let SRG elevate your position, sharpen your strategy,
and deliver results with consequence.
Burt P. Flickinger, III is the best consultant in retail. Period.
Gretchen Morgenson, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist & editor
The New York Times, & The Wall Street Journal
Born in the quiet countryside of Sardinia, NY, S.M. Flickinger enters the world to German immigrant parents.
Orphaned by age two and raised by adoptive farmers, his humble beginnings sow the seeds of resilience and ambition.
Growing up on a working farm, S.M. Flickinger receives limited formal education, leaving school around the eighth grade.
Instead, he learns labor, self-reliance, and the rhythms of the agricultural economy through years of fieldwork and livestock care. These early experiences forge the tenacity and work ethic that will define his career.
As a determined teenager, he leaves rural life behind and moves to Buffalo.
There, he begins working in the grocery trade, earning $7 a week, an early step on his path to national influence.
With grit, savings, and vision, S.M. opens his first grocery store in Buffalo.
From this modest foundation, he builds S.M. Flickinger Inc. a vertically integrated food empire.
Now operating over 375 stores, S.M. expands beyond retail into wholesale, reshaping the supply chain beetwen farm and family table.
He establishes the Red & White Voluntary Group, empowering independent grocers with shared branding, procurement, and merchandising, a visionary leap in retail cooperation.
Red & White is officially trademarked, its reputation echoing from coast to coast as a symbol of consistency, affordability, and independence.
Together with J. Frank Grimes, S.M. co-founds the Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA), a revolutionary franchise model that fuels the success of small grocers nationwide.
During the Great Depression, S.M. is called to national service by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
He shapes food policy, leads the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, and reinforces the industry during its most vulnerable hour.
1939
S.M. passes away at 74, leaving behind more than a company—he leaves a legacy of innovation, integrity, and a grocery network serving millions.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Burt P. Flickinger Sr. is appointed by FDR to lead wartime food distribution.
Without salary, he orchestrates the national logistics that feed both soldiers abroad and families at home.
With visionary drive, Burt Jr., Peter, Tom, and Bill Flickinger transform regional retail—acquiring A&P and ACME stores, and expanding the Super Duper chain into a formidable grocery force.
They pioneer large-format discount grocery stores, decades ahead of the supercenter boom.
Their market share climbs from under 1% to over 80% in key areas.
Burt Jr. is celebrated as Buffalo News’ Citizen of the Year, recognized for his leadership in environmental policy and food industry reform.
The family sells their 1.5 billion annual revenue wholesale business to Metro AG.
The transaction cements their legacy as builders of one of America’s largest food supply networks.
Burt Jr. leads Buffalo’s successful campaign to host the 1993 World University Games, reaffirming the family's role in civic leadership and regional pride.
The Burt Flickinger Athletic Center opens its doors—state-of-the-art and named in his honor. A living monument to sport, service, and vision.
Burt Jr. passes away, remembered not only as a titan of retail, but as a passionate advocate for sustainability, public service, and community.
The Buffalo Raptors bring pro basketball to the Burt Flickinger Center—continuing a multi-generational commitment to sports, youth, and public spaces.
Peter B. Flickinger, a pillar of philanthropy and private-label strategy, passes away. His legacy lives on in markets across the Great Lakes.
Burt P. Flickinger III leads Strategic Resource Group with a blend of heritage and innovation—spearheading fintech, ESG initiatives, in-store banking, and equity in sports with the Toronto Six. The fifth generation, and the story continues.
