Supervalu eats up Associated Grocers, expanding in South Florida region

"PE firms are exhibiting very strong interest in both traditional and specialty / ethnic grocery acquisitions," says Solomon Partners' Moses.

Pipeline Angels investors Seble Tareke-Williams and Lorine Pendleton were among the speakers at Exponent Exchange, an event that brought together 200 women from private equity funds, investment banks, entrepreneur-led startups and M&A advisory firms.

United Natural Foods Inc. agreed to buy Supervalu Inc. for about $2.9 billion, in the latest consolidation in the grocery industry.