FINDLAY — A regional food distribution company will now own many of the area’s supermarkets where it delivers its goods.
SpartanNash, of Grand Rapids, Mich., announced Monday afternoon it bought Findlay-based Fresh Encounter Inc., which owns 49 supermarket stores in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, including the Chief, Community Market and Save a Lot brands locally. Fresh Encounter’s brands had been food distribution customers of SpartanNash and its predecessors for 58 years.
“We are proud of the business our family has built and look forward to advancing our relationship with SpartanNash,” said Fresh Encounter CEO Michael Needler Jr. in a press release. “As their customer, we have seen firsthand the ‘People First’ culture at SpartanNash, and we appreciate the career opportunities and growth this will unlock for Fresh Encounter team members.”
Fresh Encounter owned Chief Market, with locations in Celina, Coldwater, Delphos and Van Wert and two stores in Lima. It also owned Save a Lot, which has two locations Lima, as well as stores in Kenton and Van Wert.