Fresh Encounter to Manage 15 Former Marsh Stores

Fresh Encounter Inc. has officially entered into a management agreement with Generative Growth II LLC, an affiliated company, to manage 15 former Marsh Supermarkets locations in Ohio and Indiana, following the sale of the stores to Generative Growth II.

The Indiana Marsh stores now under Fresh Encounter management are in New Palestine, Marion, Indianapolis (two), Columbus, Hartford City, Elwood, Tipton, Pendleton, Richmond and Greensburg, while the Ohio supermarkets are in Troy, Van Wert, Middleton and Eaton.

Indianapolis-based Marsh filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code last month after shuttering 19 stores. Earlier this month, the company sought approval from a bankruptcy court judge to proceed with the sales of a combined 26 stores to Generative Growth II and Kroger subsidiary Topvalco Inc.

"We look forward to introducing Marsh customers to our family-first business philosophy.” said Michael S. Needler Jr., CEO and president of Findlay, Ohio-based Fresh Encounter, which manages supermarkets in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana under the Great Scot, Community Markets, King Saver, Remke, Chief and Sack n’ Save banners. “As my grandfather and father always said, ‘It’s a privilege, not a right, to serve our friends and neighbors.’ Some of our store brands are over 100 years old and still going strong. Concentrating on the basics like extraordinary customer service, community involvement, the freshest products sourced locally and competitive prices are what make us so unique.”

Generative Growth II is a wholly owned corporation that counts Needler among its members.

The newly acquired retail stores will be rebannered on a regional basis in the near future. The combined companies will now operate 59 stores in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, and employ more than 3,600 associates.