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| Company type | Employee Owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Supermarkets |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | Ed and Helen Buehler |
| Headquarters | Wooster, Ohio, United States |
| Number of locations | 13 |
| Area served | North-central Ohio |
| Services | Artisan Bakery, Beer, Dairy, Deli, Grocery, Meat, Non-Foods, Pizza Shop, Produce, Sub/Sandwich Shop, Floral, Delivery, Online Shopping, Pick-Up Lane, Curbside Service, Baggers. |
| Owner | Employee Owned |
| Website | www |
Buehler's Fresh Foods, also known as Buehler's, is a grocery store chain founded in 1929 in New Philadelphia, Ohio, US, by Ed and Helen Buehler. In 1932, Buehler's opened its second location in Wooster, Ohio.
Throughout its history, the company focused on local and sustainable products. Buehler's is the largest purchaser of local Amish produce at the Mt. Hope Auction. The company also sources dairy and meats from local and/or sustainable farms. Buehler's commitment to sustainability is further evidenced with its free, year-round community recycling stations, periodic community recycling days for hard-to-recycle products such as computers and motor oil, and "full-circle" composting products that originate from the company's waste generated through daily operations.
On October 18, 2017, Buehler's parent company, E&H Family Group, announced its decision to sell the 13 supermarkets to employees in the form of an employee stock ownership program (ESOP). The ESOP will be operated by the newly formed Buehler’s Fresh Foods, led by an experienced team of Buehler’s veterans, including Dan Shanahan, Buehler’s Fresh Foods president and COO since 2011, Rick Lowe, VP of Human Resources of E&H Family Group since 1977, and Mike Davidson, VP of Store Operations since 2015.
Other Business Ventures
E&H Family Group continues to operate 22 hardware stores in Ohio under the E&H Ace Hardware name. The Buehler's ESOP sale has no impact on E&H Hardware Group.
Locations
There are 13 Buehler's supermarkets in Northeastern Ohio in the cities of: Ashland, Canton, Coshocton, Dover, Green, Massillon, Medina, New Philadelphia, Orrville, Wadsworth and Wooster. Medina and Wooster both have two Buehler's within their city limits.
Closing of Stores
- On January 4, 2016, Buehler's announced its intention to permanently close its Delaware supermarket, at 800 West Central Avenue, Delaware, Ohio. In that release, Buehler's stated that the anticipated closing date would be mid-to-late February 2016 and cited competition in the Delaware market and failed turnaround initiatives as the main reason for the closure. This marked the first closure of a supermarket, not relating to a move, in the company's history. The Delaware store officially closed on February 13, 2016, affecting 131 employees. The closing reduced the supermarkets in the company from 15 to 14.
- Late in the afternoon on Monday, September 26th, 2016, Buehler's announced in an official press release the closure of its Brunswick supermarket, at 3688 Center Road, Brunswick, Ohio. Buehler's stated that the supermarket had been under-performing for some time in the competitive Medina County market. 125 workers were affected as a result of the supermarket closing. The last official day of business at the Brunswick location was October 21st, 2016. This cut Buehler’s supermarket roster from 14 to 13.
References
- Bablak, Jane (21 March 1995). "The family business: Buehler family attributes success to keeping up with the times, old-fashioned service". The Daily Record. p. 1. ISSN 0892-8215. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
The history of the retail chain is a study in longevity. After hiring three clerks in the New Philadelphia store, the Buehlers opened their second store at 120 E. Liberty St., in Wooster in 1932. The store moved to the 100 block of North Market Street in 1947 and to its current location at 336 N. Market St. in 1951. Additional locations were added in Dover in 1941, Orrville in 1959, Medina in 1964 and 1992, Coshocton in 1968, Delaware in 1969 and Wadsworth in 1975. In 1974, the office and warehouse moved from the downtown Wooster store to Old Mansfield Road. The Wooster Milltown store was built in 1980 and expanded nine years later.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - Warren, Bobby (28 February 2007). "Slow and calculated growth for Buehler's". The Daily Record. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
A fourth generation of the Buehler's family recently joined the business. Scott Buehler said while there has been a succession plan put in place for the great-grandchildren of Ed and Helen Buehler, they will not automatically enter the ranks of the company's leadership.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - "Buehler's Fresh Foods to Close Delaware, Ohio Store - Buehler's Fresh Foods". 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-07-28.
- "Buehler's to Close Brunswick Store - Buehler's Fresh Foods". 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2016-09-28.