SpartanNash Remodels & Rebanners Three Sunmart Stores As Family Fare

Fargo Moorhead is a vibrant metropolitan area that embraces opportunity. Having been ranked in recent years as #1 for finding a job and #3 for the most secure place to live, this area of roughly 215,000 residents and almost 30,000 college students understands change can be good – especially when it is strategic and helps grow and diversify the economy in Cass County, ND, and Clay County, MN.   So when SpartanNash invested $2.5 million to remodel a SunMart store and reopen it as a Family Fare Supermarket in West Fargo in August of this year, community leaders, businesses and customers took notice, and soon asked if future stores would be coming.  

The answer is yes.  SpartanNash has invested $5 million to remodel three of its SunMart stores and is reopening them under the Family Fare Supermarket banner.  To celebrate, ribbon cutting ceremonies and store tours will be held at each new Family Fare location on Thursday, October 30th at 11 am (CT). The community and media are welcome to attend.

“On behalf of SpartanNash we are extremely pleased to be part of the Fargo and Moorhead communities,” said Dennis Eidson, President and CEO, SpartanNash. “Almost one year ago, Spartan Stores based in Michigan merged with The Nash Finch Company, based in Minnesota to form SpartanNash.  As a result of our merger, a total of $9 million has been reinvested in the West Fargo, Fargo, Dickinson and Moorhead communities and has helped sustain 530 jobs.”

Based on the feedback received from customers in the West Fargo Family Fare (and 2 stores in Dickinson, ND), Eidson notes: “Shoppers love Family Fare’s ‘Things are good here’TM commitment to creating a shopping experience that embraces local and state grown/produced products, builds on associates’ commitment to these communities, and delivers freshness and value.  It is a privilege to serve this community, and we are excited to open our newest and seventh Family Fare Supermarket location and first Family Fare Quick Stop in January 2015 in the Dickinson West Ridge Plaza. This store will add 130 new jobs to the Dickinson community.”

Ted Adornato, SpartanNash EVP, Retail Operations, oversaw the stores’ redevelopment and adds: “In the grocery business, any store can sell the products neighbors need, but what makes us different from our competitors is our associates who go the extra mile – not just in delivering fresh, local products and reasonable prices, but who keep shelves stocked, aisles clean, lines short … and always with a smile and willingness to help. That’s why, ‘Things are good here’…not just because of our associates, but because Fargo and Moorhead are exemplary communities.”

Giving back to the community
While customers will enjoy many changes with the new stores, one thing will remain the same: our friendly associates who are dedicated to serving the residents and guests of Fargo and Moorhead. SpartanNash also is committed to giving back to the communities where we live, work and play. Family Fare will continue to engage and support our neighbors. During the grand opening week (October 26-November 4) for every North Dakota Red Potatoes 10 lb. bag purchased, Family Fare will donate 61¢ to the Roger Maris Cancer Center.

During all three ribbon cutting ceremonies, SpartanNash officials will thank the community for their support and continued patience during the remodeling. Representatives from Great Plains Food Bank (NAMES) will receive pallets of backpacks and food to provide children with supplement weekend meals.

Ceremonies will conclude with representatives from the VFW raising the American flag on the newly installed flag pole.

Grand Opening Events at all three locations:

• Friday, October 31- Trick or Treat – 2-6pm
  Bring children in dressed up to trick or treat throughout the store.

• Saturday, November 1- Decorate a Cookie – 11am-3pm
  Bring children in to decorate their own unique cookie.

• Saturday, November 8- Chili Cook-Off! – Starting at 11am
  Join us for $3 lunch and take part by judging which chili is your favorite. Lunch includes chili, corn bread muffin and a bottle of water. Proceeds go to the Roger Maris Cancer Center.

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Reinvestment | Ribbon Cutting Attendees |
=> Moorhead – 2605 8th Street South

• What’s New? The more than $2 million in renovations include:
  o        Remodel included new exterior Family Fare sign, flag pole, and Welcome Center offering popcorn and refreshments
  o        Community Room to offer cooking classes or rental by local groups
  o        New Caribou Coffee Shop in the store        
  o        Improved flooring and energy saving lighting upgrades
  o        Customer Service located conveniently in the center of the store
  o        Expanded produce department with a specialty case for seasonal berries and specials
  o        Expanded floral        
  o        Improved deli offering soups, salad bar and convenience grab ‘n go case
  o        Café seating with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi
  o        Bakery department offing fresh baked breads, cake decorating and new displays for pastries and donuts
  o        Improved meat and seafood department with services
  o        New dairy cases
  o        New Pharmacy consultation area
• Ribbon Cutting Attendees: Tom Swanson, SpartanNash VP, Retail West Division, and associates will join city officials, community leaders and nonprofit partners for the ceremony. City officials include: Del Rae Williams, Mayor, Moorhead; Darren Dunlop, Business Development Manager, Chamber of Commerce; Brenda Elmer, Moorhead City Council, Ward #3; Matt Maslowski, Economic Development Director, City of Moorhead; Mike Hulett, Moorhead City Council, Ward #3; Steve Gehrtz, Moorhead City Council, Ward #4; Rich Duysen, Fire Chief, City of Moorhead; and Moorhead Police.

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=> Fargo – 3175 25th Street South

• What’s New? The more than $2 million in renovations include:
  o        A new exterior Family Fare sign, flag pole and Welcome Center offering popcorn and refreshments
  o        Improved deli offering soups, salad bar and convenient grab ‘n go case
  o        New café seating with a fireplace and free Wi-Fi
  o        Customer Service located conveniently in the center of the store
  o        Improved deli flooring and energy saving lighting upgrades
  o        New Caribou Coffee Shop
  o        Expanded floral department
  o        Expanded produce department with a specialty case for seasonal berries, and specials
  o        New bakery displays and new products
  o        New dairy products

• Ribbon Cutting Attendees: SpartanNash President and CEO Dennis Eidson and associates will join city officials, community leaders, and nonprofit partners for the ceremony. City officials include: Tim Mahoney, Deputy Mayor, Fargo; Craig Whitney, President, Chamber of Commerce; City of Fargo Police Department; Gary Lorenz, Assistant Chief of Support Services, City of Fargo Fire Department.

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=> Fargo – 724 North University Drive

• What’s New? The nearly $1 million in renovations include:
  o        Remodel included a new exterior Family Fare sign, flag pole, vestibule, automatic entrance doors and Welcome Center offering popcorn and refreshments
  o        Centrally located Customer Service
  o        Bakery department has a new frozen cake display, and new pastry and donut cases
  o        Improved deli offering hot soup
  o        Café seating for 30 people and free Wi-Fi
  o        Improved flooring and shelving
  o        Energy saving lighting and freezer case doors

• Ribbon Cutting Attendees: SpartanNash Executive Vice President Retail Operations Ted Adornato and associates will join city officials, community leaders, and nonprofit partners for the ceremony. City officials include: Jim Parsons, Vice President, Finance and Operations, Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Erickson, Fire Marshall, City of Fargo Fire Department; and City of Fargo, Police Department.

About SpartanNash

SpartanNash Company (SPTN) is a Fortune 500 company and the largest food distributor serving military commissaries and exchanges in the United States, in terms of revenue. The company's core businesses include distributing food to military commissaries and exchanges and independent and corporate-owned retail stores located in 44 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Azores, Bahrain and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 165 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, D&W Fresh Markets, No Frills, Bag 'n Save, Sun Mart and Econofoods.

Source: SpartanNash