As Busch’s Fresh Food Market enters its next 50 years, the family-owned Michigan grocer is strengthening its foundation through strategic investment in people, technology and community. The company’s mission remains clear: deliver an exceptional fresh food experience while staying true to the neighborhood-focused culture that has defined Busch’s for generations.
The momentum at Busch’s is built on the legacy created by the Busch family. In 1986, John, Tim and Doug purchased the company from their father, Joe Busch, and began shaping it into the community-focused fresh food market it is today.
John’s decades of leadership established Busch’s culinary identity and commitment to quality. Tim contributed strategic and operational discipline during key periods of growth, and Doug expanded the company’s presence in the community through meaningful outreach and long-standing partnerships. Their combined leadership created a culture that more than 1,600 associates carry forward every day.
Freshness and local sourcing continue to set Busch’s apart in a crowded grocery landscape. About 85 percent of the company’s produce comes through the Detroit Produce Terminal, and many relationships with Michigan growers and suppliers have lasted decades.
These partnerships have strengthened as the company expands its hyper-local strategy, which now includes picking up products directly from small farms and delivering them straight to stores. This approach supports Michigan agriculture and ensures exceptional quality for guests.
Community connection remains central to the brand. Stores like Saline, which recently received a community lifetime award, reflect the multigenerational trust that Busch’s has earned across southeastern Michigan.
Locations regularly support local schools, food banks and community events, demonstrating the belief that every store should act as a true community partner.
Over the past five years, Busch’s has invested heavily in store improvements. These projects are designed to enhance both the guest experience and the work environment for associates.
The Novi location received a complete revitalization that incorporated the former Rite Aid property into an expanded store footprint. The Rochester store remodel delivered immediate gains in fresh department sales and improved workflow for associates. The Ann Arbor Main Street store, which also houses the company’s headquarters, is preparing for a major renovation once city approvals are finalized.
Looking ahead, every location will receive deli enhancements and a return to more in-store scratch baking. These updates will reinforce the company’s commitment to fresh prepared foods and strengthen the culinary identity that has been part of the Busch family vision since the beginning.
Associates remain at the heart of the organization. This year, 35 associates celebrated five-year milestones at the company’s service awards banquet, including many who joined during the COVID-19 pandemic and chose to build long-term careers with Busch’s. Cultural initiatives such as the Fun Ambassador program give each store the time and resources to plan engagement events and recognize team accomplishments.
Alongside store investments, Busch’s is making significant advancements in technology. The company has modernized communication systems, introduced digital collaboration tools and shifted away from paper heavy processes.
These improvements have increased accuracy, reduced manual workload and created greater transparency throughout the organization. Store and department leaders now spend more time on work that supports associates and enhances the guest experience.
Technology also plays an important role in Busch’s vision for growth. Rather than building new stores, Busch’s is prioritizing the acquisition of independent grocers whose cultures and communities align with its own.
This strategy allows the company to retain experienced associates, preserve locally rooted grocery stores and enter markets where technology-enabled operations and a strong fresh food platform can bring new value.
The company expects to expand from 16 stores to about 20 within the next five to eight years, with opportunities emerging in western Michigan, lakeshore communities and the Traverse City region.
Even with expansion and modernization, the organization remains grounded in its core values. Stores maintain their own community involvement budgets and have the autonomy to support the programs that matter most to their neighborhoods.
A leadership development initiative called Fifty and Beyond is helping unify a largely new leadership team around collaboration, accountability and shared purpose.
Across the company, the focus is on building the systems, culture and technology that will shape the next era of Busch’s. As President and CEO
Bobby Turner states, “Our associates are the heart of Busch’s. When we invest in them, trust them and support them, everything else flows from that.”
With a strong team in place and a clear mission guiding the work, Busch’s Fresh Food Market is positioned to remain a deeply local and community-focused grocer for decades to come.
“Busch’s has always been about people, community and doing things the right way,” said Gary Pfeil, former CEO. “As I move into the vice chair role, I could not be more confident in the leadership team and the direction of the company. The future is bright, and I am proud to continue supporting the organization in this next chapter.”