The 1939 Group Inc., owned by the Schnuck family, will purchase 100 percent of the shares of the Wisconsin-based parent company of Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc., according to an announcement by Todd Schnuck, chairman and CEO of Schnuck Markets Inc.
The purchase includes shares held by Mark Skogen, CEO of Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc., as well as the shares in the trust held by associates in their Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
The 1939 Group is owned by the family that owns Schnuck Markets Inc., whose name honors the year the family’s matriarch, Anna Donovan Schnuck, opened the first store in St. Louis, Missouri.
Skogen’s Festival Foods’ and Hometown Grocers’ 51 stores are located throughout Wisconsin.
Forty-two stores operate under the Skogen’s Festival Foods banner, while Hometown Grocers includes nine banners: Dave’s County Market, Denny’s Supervalu, Don’s Quality Market, Lake Mills Market, Lakewood Supervalu, Super Ron’s Food Center, Thompson’s County Market, Thorp Supervalu and Wittenberg Sentry Foods.
Upon the sale’s closing, the 1939 Group will maintain the stores’ existing banners, all of which are well-known and respected in the communities they serve.
The purchase will expand the family-owned grocery company’s footprint to 164 stores in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
“Our family is honored to be entrusted with the Skogen family legacy, one that began serving Wisconsin communities in 1946 and continued for decades under the leadership of Dave and Barb, and later, under Mark as CEO,” said Todd Schnuck.
“Schnucks, Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers share a strikingly similar set of core values, tracing our success to decades of consistently focusing on the communities we serve, the values we share and the ongoing quest for excellence in grocery retail. With this combination, we’re welcoming more than 8,000 associates to our family, unifying two family legacies and redefining what it means to be a regional grocer.”
Upon closing of the purchase, Todd Schnuck will become chairman and CEO of the newly-formed 1939 Group and also will lead a workforce of more than 19,000 as chairman and CEO for Schnuck Markets Inc., Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers.
Upon completion of the purchase, Schnucks, Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc. will maintain their existing corporate headquarters and operate as separate, sister companies with shared support by the 1939 Group.
The 1939 Group and Schnucks are based in St. Louis, Missouri, and Skogen’s Festival Foods’ and Hometown Grocers’ offices are located in Onalaska and Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The closing is anticipated to be completed later in October, subject to customary review and approval for these types of transactions.
“It’s been a privilege to serve Wisconsin communities and continue the legacy my grandparents began in 1946,” said Mark Skogen, outgoing CEO of Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc.
“Our focus has always been on treating every customer like a guest, supporting the growth of our associates who make that experience possible and giving back to the communities we serve. With Schnucks’ shared commitment to nourishing lives, this transition will help expand our impact and continue our tradition of community support across the Midwest.”
About Schnucks
Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets Inc. is a third- and fourth-generation, family-owned grocery retailer. Schnucks operates 113 stores, serving customers in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and employs more than 11,000 teammates. According to Forbes’ 2024 rankings, Schnucks is the 203rd largest privately-owned company in the United States and the 13th largest privately-owned grocer.
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