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Former Red Owl executive VP Val Schulz passes away

Before being absorbed by Supervalu in 1988, Red Owl operated more than 400 stores in the Midwest

Michael Browne, Executive Editor

February 12, 2020

2 Min Read
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Red Owl was a supermarket presence throughout the Midwest from its founding in 1927 until the early 1980s.MinotMemories.com

Valdyn “Val” Schulz, a former executive vice president of the Red Owl grocery chain, passed away on Jan. 21 at the age of 90 in his home in Minnetonka, Minn.

Schulz worked for Red Owl Food stores for 29 years, starting at age 15 as a potato bagger. He ended his career with Red Owl as executive vice president and moved to National Tea Company, where he retired as president in 1983 at age 54. 

Red Owl was a supermarket presence throughout the Midwest from its founding in 1927 until the early 1980s, at one point operating more than 400 stores in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and North and South Dakota. In December 1988, the rights to the Red Owl name were obtained by grocery wholesaler Supervalu Inc., along with its warehouse and distribution operations. Supervalu subsequently phased out the Red Owl name.

Val Schulz Obit Picture FINAL.jpg

In a 2018 interview with the Star Tribune in Minneapolis commemorating the 30th anniversary of Red Owl’s demise, Schulz (left) said, “Red Owl was my first and only love in my work life.”

Schulz noted in the interview that Red Owl was impressive because it was an early predecessor of big-box stores. “We were innovators with a larger selection of products and one of the first to introduce self-service packaged meat,” he said.

He is survived by three children, six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two brothers. Schulz was pre-deceased by his wife Esther, to whom he was married for 64 years.

Related:Fry’s Food Stores co-founder Charles Fry dies at 92

A celebration of Schulz’s life and legacy will be held Friday, Feb. 21, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minn. at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hope Lutheran Church in Palm Desert, Calif., or donor’s choice.

About the Author

Michael Browne

Executive Editor, Supermarket News

Michael Browne joined Supermarket News in 2018 after serving in managing and executive editor capacities at leading B2B media brands including Convenience Store NewsLicense Global and Travel Agent. He also previously served as content production manager for print and digital in the Business Intelligence division of Informa, parent company of Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News.

As executive editor, Mike oversees the editorial content of supermarketnews.com as well as the monthly print publication. He also directs all content-based brand-related projects including the annual Top 75 Retailers report, Category Guide, Retailer of the Year, research surveys and special reports, as well as podcast and webinar content. Mike has also presented and moderated at industry events.

In addition to the positions mentioned above, Mike has also worked as a writer and/or editor for special projects at American Legal Media (ALM), managing editor for Tobacco International, special projects editor at American Banker • Bond Buyer, and as production editor for Bank Technology News and other related financial magazines and journals published by Faulkner & Gray.

A graduate of Fordham University, Mike is based in New York City, where he was born and raised.

Contact Mike at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

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