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EatWell gives Schnuck Markets ‘a great learning platform’

Russell Redman

July 20, 2020

12 Slides
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Schnuck Markets

St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets is targeting customers prioritizing health and wellness, natural and organic foods, and “the occasional splurge” with its new “EatWell, A Natural Food Store by Schnucks” concept.

The 42,000-square-foot EatWell store, opened June 24 in Columbia, Mo., in a former Lucky’s Market location, offers a mix of better-for-you and locally sourced products along with an array of prepared foods and beverages that customers can take home or enjoy on-site as they shop.

Among the EatWell store’s highlights are grass-fed beef, sustainable seafood cooked in-store, deli meat that’s fresh-roasted in the store, and fresh-squeezed juices and infused waters. Also, customers shopping at the store can drink a local draft beer, root beer, kombucha, glass of wine, specialty coffee or other beverage whipped up by the on-site barista, as well as get lunch or dinner at the sushi & ramen bar and counters for fresh-made pizza and made-to-order sandwiches.

Departments and services in EatWell include bakery, bulk foods, a cheese shop, dairy, deli, floral, frozen foods, grocery, liquor, meat and seafood, natural living and, of course, fresh produce.

“It is not the first time that we’ve launched a specialty store concept. Over our history, we have experimented and tried different formats. I would point to our Culinaria store in downtown St. Louis, which has more of a foodservice orientation, and you can do your full [grocery] shop,” Schnuck Markets Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said in an interview. “Going back over the years, we did some warehouse stores. And back in the mid-1970s, when we went from a traditional supermarket to a combination food and drug store. So experimenting and trying new things is really in our DNA.”

Related:Podcast: Schnuck Markets CEO Todd Schnuck says EatWell hits the spot

Though EatWell focuses primarily on natural and organic products, Schnuck noted that the store also carries a selection of traditional groceries to help provide a more convenient shopping experience.

“One thing that we did was add some traditional product, because it was our understanding after talking to the teammates in the store that customers would come in and be looking for something like Cheerios or Campbell’s mushroom soup that they could use in a green bean casserole, or something like that,” he explained. “But we were very judicious in choosing products. I actually reviewed every shelf set myself to make sure that we were being true to the natural food store concept.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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