Woodman’s

Founded in 1919 by John Woodman, Woodman’s Markets started as a humble produce stand at the corner of Milton and Sherman Avenues in Janesville, Wisconsin. Originally farmers, the Woodman family shifted to the grocery business after selling their farm due to high land prices during World War I. In 1921, John’s son, Willard, joined him, and together they moved the produce stand indoors, creating Woodman’s Super-Service Grocery Store. Their commitment to offering the best food at the lowest prices led to multiple expansions of the original store.

The growth of the company continued through the decades. In 1956, a larger store was built at 1266 Milton Ave. in Janesville, and in 1966, Phil Woodman joined the family business, taking on management responsibilities. The company expanded beyond Janesville with a new store in Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1971 and continued to innovate by becoming the first grocery store in Wisconsin to use UPC scanners in 1975. Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, the company opened new locations in Madison and remodeled existing stores to the warehouse format.

Today, Woodman’s Markets is a $2 billion company with locations across Wisconsin and northern Illinois, remaining committed to its founding principles of quality and value.