Thursday, November 20th, 2014
Fresh Encounter buys Chief Supermarkets
By Shelley Grieshop
Customers will notice few changes at area Chief Supermarkets following a buyout of the company by Fresh Encounter on Wednesday.
The name and general operations of the 11 Chief stores in Northwest and West Central Ohio - including those in Coldwater and Celina - will not change, according to Eric Anderson, vice president of marketing for Fresh Encounter.
"There'll be no changes at this point in our stores. We're keeping the same great service and pricing," Anderson told the newspaper this morning.
Chief stores also operate under the names Boots BBQ, Chief Kitchen and Chief Smokehouse.
Details of the buyout for the privately owned companies were not disclosed.
Anderson noted no employee changes are planned at any Chief stores. The combined companies will employ about 2,200 people, a press release stated.
Fresh Encounter, based in Findlay, operates 25 stores in Ohio and Indiana under the names Community Markets, Great Scot and Sack 'n Save. The closest stores to the Grand Lake area are in Wapakoneta and Cridersville.
Anderson said Fresh Encounter and Chief Supermarkets use the same suppliers so the brand name products sold in each will not change.
"That's the great part about putting these two family-owned businesses together," he added.
The stores also don't overlap in any regions so they do not compete for business, Anderson said.
Only one adjustment is likely: Chief's current headquarters in Defiance will move to Findlay, he said.
Chief officials say the partnership is a good match.
"Fresh Encounter is an obvious succession plan for our organization," said Stephanie Skylar, president and CEO of Chief. "We have been colleagues for many years and respect their approach to the challenging, yet rewarding grocery business."
Fresh Encounter was founded in 1995 by Michael Needler Sr. and the late Susan Needler after the acquisition of CWC Companies from Carroll Cheek. The chain of grocery stores this year celebrated 50 years in business.
Chief was founded in Defiance in 1951 by Ted Hench, Karl Hench and John Nolan, and has remained family-owned for more than 60 years. The name Chief was chosen because the owners wanted their modern supermarket to be a community leader, according to company officials.
