Michigan-based SpartanNash, formerly Nash Finch, has agreed to acquire long-time local grocery chain Dan’s Supermarket, the Bismarck Tribune reports. SpartanNash previously purchased the two Dan’s locations in Dickinson.
The transaction is expected to happen in June. For now, the stores will continue operating under the Dan’s Supermarket banner, unlike the previous Dickinson stores, which were re-branded under SpartanNash’s Family Fare banner.
The purchase ends a long history of local ownership for the grocer, which was founded in 1949 when Roy Rockstad & Eugene “Bus” Leary purchased the local Piggly Wiggly and converted it to Bismarck Supervalu. The conversion will also likely end a long history of Supervalu-serviced local grocery stores, despite the major grocery distributor maintaining a local warehouse.
Ironically, Dan’s Supermarket purchased Bismarck’s Central Market in 2013, which was serviced by Nash Finch and operated under Nash Finch’s Econofoods banner from 1988-1998. In addition to Econofoods, Nash Finch also once operated a local warehouse-style grocery store at the corner of Broadway Avenue and 17th Street – the building now home to Conlin’s Furniture – called Warehouse Market.
While not a locally owned company, SpartanNash’s roots do involve North Dakota, founded when Fred Nash opened a small confectionery store in Devils Lake in 1885. After continued growth, the company moved its headquarters to Minneapolis in 1919, where it remained until merging with Spartan Stores in 2013.
Only recently opening a new location at Sunrise Town Centre, Dan’s Supermarket maintains five locations in Bismarck and one in Mandan.
More details are forthcoming.
