A POPULAR grocery chain praised for being cheaper than Walmart has unveiled a huge takeover to offer 51 new stores.
Its ambitious plans will result in the family-owned business expanding across four states.
A Missouri-based grocery chain will expand in the United States, it has been announced[/caption]
Schnucks’ owner has announced the purchase of Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc., – both regional grocers.
The Missouri-based firm is set to expand across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, it added on Tuesday.
The deal has been sealed by a newly formed Schnucks family holding company dubbed 1939 Group, Inc.
Todd Schnuck, Schnucks’ boss, said the aim was to “serve local communities.”
Upon completion of the purchase, 1939 Group will operate the three sister companies with a 164-store footprint across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
It will employ a workforce of around 19,000.
Family-owned Schnucks is a smaller retailer compared to Target and Walmart.
But it has won praise for offering shoppers good deals compared to its high-profile competitors.
One fan asked on social media, “How is Schnucks the cheaper option?!?
“I eat an extremely strict diet, so I eat the same foods every week.
“Now, how the hell is Schnucks cheaper than Walmart on groceries? I almost never go to Walmart anymore.”
And another shopper posted on Reddit that as they were “real poor” their cash was spent stocking up at their local Schnucks.
They added that the branch was “good for their specialty departments. Bakery, deli, butcher, etc.”
Schnucks is uniting with Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers[/caption]
Another shared that they shopped at, “Walmart for the name brand, Schnucks for meats/produce/deals and Costco for everything else.”
Schnucks’ boss will become chairman and CEO of 1939 Group and lead all three grocery chains, reported industry website Grocery Dive.
The deal is expected to close in October, it added.
The CEO said the deal involved the purchase of 100% of the shares of the Wisconsin-based parent company of Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc.
RESPECTED
Skogen’s Festival Foods’ and Hometown Grocers have a total 51 stores throughout Wisconsin.
A breakdown shows there are 42 stores operating under the Skogen’s Festival Foods banner, while Hometown Grocers – with small market grocery stores – has nine banners.
These are: Dave’s County Market; Denny’s Supervalu, Don’s Quality Market, Lake Mills Market, Lakewood Supervalu, Super Ron’s Food Center, Thompson’s County Market, Thorp Supervalu and Wittenberg Sentry Foods.
Schnucks said, “Upon the sale’s closing, the 1939 Group is committed to maintaining the stores’ existing banners, all of which are well-known and respected in the communities they serve.”
More on Schnucks
It was founded in St. Louis in 1939
Schnucks is a third and fourth generation, family-owned grocery retailer.
The chain currently operates 113 stores, serving customers in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
It employs more than 11,000 people.
The family’s matriarch, Anna Donovan Schnuck, opened the first store in St. Louis in 1939.
Schnucks has announced the purchase of Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc via 1939 Group Inc., its newly-formed holding company.
Following completion in October 2025, 1939 Group will operate the three sister companies.
The expansion will result in a 164-store footprint across Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, with around 19,000 employees.
Mark Skogen, outgoing CEO of Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, said, “It’s been a privilege to serve Wisconsin communities and continue the legacy my grandparents began in 1946.
“Our focus has always been on treating every customer like a guest.”
LEGACY
Todd Schnuck said the family was “honored to be entrusted with the Skogen family legacy.”
He said the Skogens had been “serving Wisconsin communities since 1946.”
Schnuck added that “Schnucks, Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers share a strikingly similar set of core values.
“With this combination, we’re welcoming more than 8,000 associates to our family, unifying two family legacies and redefining what it means to be a regional grocer.”
Schnucks, Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc. will maintain their existing corporate headquarters.
They will operate as separate, sister companies with shared support by the 1939 Group.
The 1939 Group and Schnucks are based in St. Louis, Missouri.
Skogen’s Festival Foods’ and Hometown Grocers’ offices are located in Onalaska and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Some shoppers have praised Schnucks for being ‘cheaper than Walmart’[/caption]
