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).
Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers have 51 stores throughout Wisconsin. Forty-two of those 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.
The closing is anticipated to be completed in October, subject to customary review and approval for these types of transactions. The purchase will expand Schnuck’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,” Todd Schnuck said.
“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 the transaction’s closing, 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.
Schnucks, Skogen’s Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers Inc. will maintain their corporate headquarters in Onalaska and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and operate as separate, sister companies with shared support by the St. Louis-based 1939 Group.
“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 that operates 113 stores in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana with more than 11,000 employees.
According to Forbes’ 2024 rankings, Schnucks is the 203rd largest privately-owned company in the United States and the 13th largest privately-owned grocer.
The name of the 1939 Group honors the year the family’s matriarch, Anna Donovan Schnuck, opened the first store.
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