Sponsored By

Coborn’s to buy Tadych’s Econofoods stores

Acquisition to expand regional grocer’s footprint into fifth state

Russell Redman

October 19, 2021

3 Min Read
Tadychs Econofoods-Clintonville WI.jpg
Coborn's purchase of the six Tadych’s Econofoods stores in Michigan and Wisconsin will give it 66 stores overall in five Midwestern states.Tadych's Econofoods

Upper Midwest grocer Coborn’s plans to acquire all six Tadych’s Econofoods supermarkets in eastern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region.

St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn’s said Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Econofoods stores in Sturgeon Bay, Clintonville and Brillon, Wis., and in Marquette, Iron Mountain and Houghton, Mich. All of the locations are operated by the Tadych family, doing business as T&C Markets, based in Brillion, Wis. The transaction is expected to close in early December, pending customary closing conditions.

With the deal, Coborn’s — which marked its 100th year in 2021 — will expand into its fifth state, Michigan. The chain currently operates 59 supermarkets stores across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods and Hornbacher’s banners. Next month, a new Coborn’s Marketplace is slated to open Buffalo, Minn., and including that location and the acquired Tadych’s stores, Coborn’s will grow its retail network to 66 grocery stores.

“The Tadych family has run their family of stores with great care and is a highly-respected retailer,” Coborn’s Chairman, President and CEO Chris Coborn said in a statement. “We look forward to extending the same operating philosophies in these locations that have made us successful for 100 years: investing and training for our people, supporting our communities and investing in our stores to improve the experience for our guests. We look forward to having the entire Tadych team join our team to learn more about their operations and communities.” 

Related:Associated Wholesale Grocers to become Coborn’s primary distributor

Coborns_Marketplace_storefront.jpg

Coborn's plans to open a new Coborn’s Marketplace in Buffalo, Minn., in November.

Plans call for the acquired stores to retain the Tadych’s name and all of the 800 employees to be hired by Coborn’s. “This is our first entry into the state of Michigan, so we have some things to learn, some added distance to figure out and to onboard their team into our organization,” Coborn added.

Coborn’s retail operation also includes stand-alone convenience stores, liquor stores and pharmacies, for a total of about 130 outlets. The company, too, operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center.

T&C Markets was founded by James Tadych, who started his grocery career as a young man working in his father’s family store and then went on to buy his own first store in Brillion in 1968 after returning from service in the U.S. Army. From there, he continued to open additional stores to serve the region. 

“This sale makes perfect sense for our family and for our employees,” stated current T&C Markets owner Mike Tadych, the son of James Tadych. “Coborn’s has long been a highly respected company, and we felt perfectly aligned with their values, operational standards, support of the communities they operate in and, most importantly, the company culture and commitment to their employees. We are grateful to all of our customers and employees who have helped us build our business over the past five decades. I know our communities and employees are in good hands as we make this transition.” 

Related:Coborn’s focuses on fresh with updated store formats

Econofoods currently is listed as a retail banner on the website of grocery distributor SpartanNash but has seen its store count dwindle, including via conversions to other company banners, such as Family Fare. Aside from the Tadych’s stores, current Econofoods locations include Wahpeton, N.D., and Breckenridge, Minn., as well as Somerset, Wis. 

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based SpartanNash said on its website that it now owns and operates 146 supermarkets in nine states, under the banners Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket, Family Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods/Ada Fresh Market, Fresh Madison Market, No Frills, SunMart, Supermercado Nuestra Familia and Dillonvale IGA. The stores are located in Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and Ohio.

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

Stay up-to-date on the latest food retail news and trends
Subscribe to free eNewsletters from Supermarket News

You May Also Like