Navigation

Coborn’s Acquiring Tadych’s Econofoods

St. Cloud, Minnesota-based company is a 100-year-old, employee-owned grocery retailer

Grocery retailer Coborn’s has signed a purchase agreement to acquire six Tadych’s Econofoods grocery stores in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and eastern Wisconsin, including the store in Sturgeon Bay. The Tadych family operates all six of the stores under the Tadych’s Econofoods banner. 

“The Tadych family has run its family of stores with great care and is a highly respected retailer,” said Chris Coborn, the chair, president and CEO of Coborn’s. “We look forward to extending the same operating philosophies in these locations that have made us successful for 100 years: investing and training for our people, supporting our communities and investing in our stores to improve the experience for our guests.”

The three eastern Wisconsin stores are located in Sturgeon Bay, Clintonville and Brillion, and the three Michigan stores are in Marquette, Iron Mountain and Houghton. 

“This is our first entry into the state of Michigan, so we have some things to learn, some added distance to figure out and to onboard their team into our organization,” Coborn said. 

The transaction is expected to close in early December, subject to customary closing conditions. The approximately 800 people who work in the six locations will all be hired by Coborn’s, but the stores will continue to operate under the Tadych’s name.

James Tadych, owner and founder of T&C Markets, began his grocery career as a young man working in his father’s family store. He purchased his own first store in Brillion in 1968 upon returning from U.S. Army service. From there, he continued to add additional locations to serve the region, always operating with customer satisfaction as a core value.

“This sale makes perfect sense for our family and for our employees, said Mike Tadych, Jim’s son and current owner. “Coborn’s has long been a highly respected company, and we felt perfectly aligned with their values, operational standards, support of the communities they operate in and, most importantly, the company culture and commitment to their employees,” he said. “We are grateful to all of our customers and employees who have helped us build our business over the past five decades. I know our communities and employees are in good hands as we make this transition.”

With this acquisition and the opening of a new Coborn’s Marketplace store in Buffalo, Minnesota, next month, the Coborn’s portfolio of grocery stores will expand to 66 locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota and Michigan, employing nearly 9,300 people. 

Coborn’s operates its other stores under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Marketplace Foods, Hornbacher’s and Tadych’s banners. Coborn’s also operates numerous fuel, liquor and pharmacy locations, as well as its own central bakery, dry-cleaning facility and grocery-distribution center.