ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Coborn’s, Inc. announced its acquisition of Marketplace Foods, which owns four grocery/liquor stores in Western Wisconsin.
“By expanding into Wisconsin and adding these four stores into the Coborn’s family, we are experiencing positive, strategic growth for our company,” said Coborn’s President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Chris Coborn. “Marketplace Foods has a history of solid performance and a culture that is well aligned with our culture at Coborn’s. These four stores are beautiful – destination shopping experiences – and I’m excited to include them in the Coborn’s family of stores.”
The four Marketplace Foods stores are located in Hayward, Menomonie, Rice Lake and St. Croix Falls. These stores will continue to operate as Marketplace Foods, with their current leadership and employee team of more than 400 people. Coborn’s will share processes, ideas and best practices to strengthen the entire family of stores.
“We know that we have found a good fit with Coborn’s,” said Jason Betchkal, Marketplace Foods Owner. “Our companies operate with similar values, focusing on appreciating our employees and serving our customers. It’s exciting to see the benefits that our stores will experience by being a part of a larger family company.”
About Coborn’s, Inc.
St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn’s, Inc. is an employee-owned grocery retailer with 8,400 employees and 52 stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods and Save-A-Lot banners. Coborn’s, Inc. also owns CobornsDelivers, an online grocery ordering and home delivery service; and stand-alone convenience, liquor, video and pharmacy locations. To support its 106 retail locations, Coborn’s, Inc. operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center. The company is building two new Cash Wise stores in North Dakota, set to open in spring and summer of 2015. In 2010, Coborn’s, Inc. was recognized as ‘Family Business of the Year for Community Service and Philanthropy’ by Minnesota Business magazine. In 2011, Coborn’s, Inc. was recognized as ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’ by Grocery Headquarters magazine. In 2014, the company’s president and CEO, Chris Coborn, was named the Grocer of the Year by the N.D. Grocers Association.
About Marketplace Foods
Marketplace Foods was founded by Frank and Doris Betchkal 1977 in Hayward, WI. Leading up to opening his first Marketplace store, Frank started in the grocery industry as a teenager, working as a bagger in a Racine store. After high school, he advanced from meat manager to assistant store manager and finally store manager in Milwaukee. In 1970, Frank began working with Easters in Des Moines, IA, as operations manager.
Today, Marketplace Foods boasts more than 400 employees and four strong stores recognized as grocery destinations. Marketplace Foods is well-known for giving back to the communities where its stores operate. They are members of the local Chambers of Commerce and supporters of nonprofit organizations, including food shelves. In 2012, Frank Betchkal was recognized by the Wisconsin Grocers Association for his outstanding contribution to the grocery industry in Wisconsin with its Excellence in Operations award.
Frank and Doris have two sons, Jason and John. Their son, Jason, was named president in 2011 and remains in that role.
Source: Coborn’s, Inc.