EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Stockholder of
Community Distributors, Inc.:
 
    We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
Number 333-41281 on Form S-4 of Community Distributors, Inc. of our report dated
September 28, 1998, relating to the balance sheets of Community Distributors,
Inc. at July 26, 1997 and July 25, 1998, and the related statements of income,
cash flows, and stockholder's equity (deficit) for each of the years in the
three-year period ended July 25, 1998, which report appears in the July 25, 1998
annual report on Form 10-K of Community Distributors, Inc. and to our report
dated September 28, 1998 on the related financial statement schedule, which
report appears in the July 25, 1998 annual report on Form 10-K of Community
Distributors, Inc.
 
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                                          PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Florham Park, New Jersey
October 22, 1998

                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
    Our report on the financial statements of Community Distributors, Inc. is
included on page 28 on this Form 10-K. In connection with our audits of such
financial statements, we have also audited the related financial statement
schedule listed in the index on page 27 of this Form 10-K.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be
included therein.
 
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                                          PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Florham Park, New Jersey
September 28, 1998