Buehler Food Markets Inc.
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Supermarkets |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | Ed and Helen Buehler |
| Headquarters | Wooster, Ohio, United States |
Number of locations | 14 |
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 | Buehler Family of Wooster, Ohio |
| Parent | E&H Family Group |
| 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.[1]
The company is 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 focus on sustainability is further enhanced through free, year-round community recycling stations, periodic community recycling days for hard-to-recycling products such as computers and motor oil, and "full-circle" composting products that originate from the company's waste generated through daily operations.
The business is currently being run by the third generation of the Buehler family, with a fourth generation just recently entering the company.[2]
Other Business Ventures
Buehler's parent company, E&H Family Group, has recently focused on a number of other business ventures, including owning and operating several (19) Ace Hardware stores. They are also focused on their own full-service coffee kiosks titled Scenic River Coffee Company, located inside seven of their stores. The company also operates a number of in-store, full-service restaurants.
Locations
Today, there are currently fourteen Buehler's locations in the northeast quadrant of 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. The company is held 100% by Buehler family members under the parent company, "E&H Family Group".
Closing of Stores
- On January 4, 2016, Buehler's announced its intention to permanently close its Delaware store, located 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 turn-around initiatives as the main reason for the closure. The store marks the first closure of a store, not relating to a move, in the company's history. The Delaware store officially closed on February 13, 2016, affecting 131 employees.[3] The closing of this store brought the number of stores down in the company from 15 to 14.
- Late in the afternoon on Monday, September 26th, 2016, Buehler's announced in an official press release that it would be closing its Brunswick store, located at 3688 Center Road, Brunswick, Ohio. Buehler's stated that the store had been under-performing for some time in the competitive Medina County market. 125 workers will be affected as a result of the store closing. The last official day of business at the Brunswick location will be October 21st, 2016. Until then, Buehler's states, they will continue to honor all advertised specials. This will bring the total of stores owned by Buehler's to 13, down from 14. [4]
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. (subscription required (help)).
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.
- ↑ Warren, Bobby (28 February 2007). "Slow and calculated growth for Buehler's". The Daily Record. Retrieved 11 December 2014. (subscription required (help)).
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.
- ↑ "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.