By RF Buche, president and CEO of GF Buche Co. I’ve spent my entire life in grocery stores. I am a fourth–generation grocer and president and CEO of GF Buche Co., a family business that has operated in rural and tribal communities for 120 years. Some of our customers are the poorest people in the U.S. and […]
Tag: South Dakota
Buche’s Gus Stop To Open Aug. 8 In Lower Brule, SD
G.F. Buche Co. will hold a grand opening celebration Aug. 8 for a Buche’s Gus Stop in Lower Brule, South Dakota. The event will bring together residents, local leaders and Buche’s employees to herald the new full-service location. In addition to groceries and fuel, the store will feature convenience, hardware, sporting goods and other essential […]
South Dakota Grocers Navigate Uncertainty Amid Economic Shifts
South Dakota’s economy showed a mixed performance in late 2024, and recent data indicates economic stagnation and the need for budgetary adjustments in 2025. The divergence in economic performance between urban and rural areas also is a key factor to consider. While the unemployment rate remains low and revenue for fiscal year 2025 is projected […]
Buche Foods Expands Food Access Through Grocery Lockers
The community of Marty, South Dakota, has welcomed the launch of Marty Food Lockers, a grocery delivery solution from Buche Foods that aims to address the challenges of grocery accessibility in the rural community. In a recent meeting held at the Marty Community Center, residents learned they can shop online at buchefoods.com and select the […]
Market Profile: Distribution A Challenge For Grocers In The Dakotas
by John McCurry/contributing writer While they are two different states, North Dakota and South Dakota share some challenges for their independent grocers. Distribution to retailers in rural areas and labor shortages are common problems for both North and South. Our market profile looks at the economies and state of the grocery industry in the Dakotas. […]
Exclusive: Buche Foods Opens Needed Store On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest (see more photos at end of story) The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is home to the Oglala Lakota Tribe. It is located a little west of Buche Foods’ normal territory, but the grocery company always is looking to grow. Besides, Buche Foods already operates a grocery store on the […]
South Dakota Grocer Launches Meal Kits, Sells Out In Four Days
In late January, Aberdeen, South Dakota-based Kessler’s Food and Liquor introduced co-branded Freshop Chef Kit meal kits in its store, using Facebook to announce the new offering. The Facebook post was “liked” more than 850 likes and shared more than 600 times, and all six meal kit varieties stocked at Kessler’s—120 kits in total—sold out within […]
Born On One Coast & Based On The Other, Cohn Wholesale Serves Small Towns In Between
Editor’s note: This story is part of the Dakotas Market Profile, which can be found in the February 2018 print edition of The Shelby Report of the Midwest. by Terrie Ellerbee/editor—Midwest and Southwest The Cohn name likely is familiar to some in the Midwest, where Cohn Wholesale once operated 20 stores. The family business, however, began in […]
SpartanNash Reopens Two S. Dakota Stores Under Family Fare Banner
As part of its $5 million investment in the Rapid City, South Dakota, community, SpartanNash on Tuesday celebrated the grand reopening of two Family Fare Supermarkets, located at 1516 E. Saint Patrick St. and 751 Mount View. The stores, which previously operated under the Family Thrift Center banner, underwent an extensive remodeling and rebannering process […]
GF Buche Co. Promotes McFayden To Operations Manager
Chris McFayden has been promoted to operations manager for GF Buche Co. He replaces Gregg Drees, who recently retired from the South Dakota grocery chain. McFayden started at the Gregory Buche Foods in 1996 as a carryout and quickly rose up the ranks to store supervisor. From there, he was promoted to store manager of the Gus […]
Drees Retires From GF Buche Co. After Nearly 36 Years
Gregg Drees has worked for three generations of Buches at South Dakota’s GF Buche Co., starting with Bob Sr., then with Robert and finishing with current president RF Buche (pronounced boo-ee). He has praise for all of them. “Bob Sr. had an uncharacteristic thirst for knowledge and understanding of computers when most people his age […]
