Ex-Marsh Stores Rebranded as Needler’s Fresh Market
Fourteen former Marsh supermarket locations in Indiana and Ohio are being rebannered at Needler’s Fresh Market by their new owner.
The stores are among 15 to be purchased in June out of Marsh’s bankruptcy by supermarket company Generative Growth II LLC, an entity of Fresh Encounter, for about $8 million.
Generative Growth II is owned by third-generation Ohio grocers Michael Needler Jr. and his sister, Julie N. Anderson.
Family Ties
“Needler’s Fresh Market truly represents who we are as a family and as an operator,” said Needler, CEO of Fresh Encounter Inc. and partner in Generative Growth. “My sister, Julie, and I have grown up in the grocery business and look forward to bringing our genuine family values to the former Marsh stores. I know customers will begin to experience the pride we feel serving our friends and neighbors every day.”
The former Marsh stores receiving the new branding are located in New Palestine, Marion, Indianapolis (two), Columbus, Hartford City, Elwood, Tipton, Pendleton, Richmond and Greensburg, Ind., and Troy, Middleton and Eaton, Ohio. The 15th acquired store, located in Van Wert, Ohio, will adopt the already established Chief Supermarket brand.
Fresh and Local
The new exterior and interior store branding will be completed by the end of October. Customers will begin to see the new branding appear on advertising Sept. 15.
“Customers can expect a clean, fresh look with our marketing and communication,” said Anderson, VP of marketing and partner in Generative Growth II.
Needler’s Fresh Market will place added concentration on sourcing local fresh produce, and providing high-quality store-made products in the bakery and deli.
“It’s a real privilege to serve these communities, and Needlers have been doing it in Indiana and Ohio for nearly 100 years,” Needler said.
Indianapolis-based Marsh filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May after closing 19 stores. A subsidiary of Kroger bought 11 stores for $16 million in the bankruptcy sale.
Findlay, Ohio-based Generative Growth owns 25 supermarkets in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Its locations are managed by Fresh Encounter Inc., also based in Findlay, a supermarket management company founded in 1995 by Needler and the late Susan Cheek Needler. The company currently manages 59 retail locations.