Coborn’s has agreed to acquire Illinois chain Sullivan’s Foods in a deal that will add 11 stores to the Minneapolis-based retailer’s operations and mark its expansion to a sixth state.
Coborn’s said it plans to continue operating under the Sullivan’s Foods banner and intends to hire all the approximately 800 people employed by the family-owned company. Corborn’s also intends to continue Sullivan Foods’ relationship with Associated Wholesale Grocers, according to the announcement.
“The Sullivan family has run their family of stores with great care and is a highly respected retailer,” Chris Coborn, chairman and CEO of Coborn’s, said in a statement. “We look forward to extending the same operating philosophies in these locations that have made us successful for 102 years – investing and training for our people, supporting our communities and investing in our stores to improve the experience for our guests.”
With the addition of the Sullivan’s Foods locations, Coborn’s will include 77 supermarkets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, and Michigan. The retailer, founded more than a century ago, also owns liquor stores, fuel centers, pharmacies, and a franchised restaurant unit.
In 2021, Corborn’s purchased Tadych’s Econofoods, a six-store Michigan chain and in 2018 the company acquired Hornbacher’s from United Natural Foods, Inc.