Schnucks family to buy Festival Foods, Hometown Grocers

By Patrick Lynn

STEVENS POINT — Festival Foods has a new owner.

Schnuck Markets, Inc. announced Tuesday that its new holding company, the 1939 Group, will buy Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers, Inc., both based in Wisconsin. The deal adds 51 stores to Schnucks’ 113 locations in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, giving the combined companies 164 stores across four states.

Festival Foods CEO Mark Skogen and the company’s employee stock ownership plan are selling their shares as part of the agreement. The sale is expected to close in October, pending regulatory approval.

“Our family is honored to be entrusted with the Skogen family legacy,” said Schnucks Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck. “With this combination, we’re welcoming more than 8,000 associates to our family, unifying two family legacies and redefining what it means to be a regional grocer.”

Festival Foods has 42 supermarkets across Wisconsin. Hometown Grocers includes nine smaller regional banners, from Dave’s County Market to Super Ron’s Food Center. Schnucks said it plans to keep those names in place.

Skogen, who is stepping down, said his family’s focus has always been on treating customers like guests and giving back locally.

“With Schnucks’ shared commitment to nourishing lives, this transition will help expand our impact and continue our tradition of community support across the Midwest,” he said.

The companies will keep separate headquarters — Schnucks in St. Louis, Festival Foods in Onalaska, and Hometown Grocers in Green Bay — but operate under the 1939 Group umbrella. Together, they’ll employ about 19,000 workers.