Schnuck Markets Purchases a Dozen Seessel’s Stores

Craig D. Schnuck, chairman and chief executive officer of Schnuck Markets, Inc. announces its agreement to acquire 12 Seessel’s stores. The properties were purchased from Albertson’s, Inc., which sold 10 stores in Shelby County, Tenn. and two in Desoto County, Miss. The transaction should be finalized by Monday, June 3.

The Seessel’s stores range in size from 26,000 to 68,000 square feet. Six were opened within the past three years, nine have in-store pharmacies and six of the newer ones operate full-service gas stations, a new venture for Schnucks.

Schnuck says his company first looked at Seessel’s in 1992. “This is the third time we have expressed interest and our second attempt to buy the stores. The fact that we keep coming back signals how much we want to become a part of the Memphis community.”

Moderator Comment: Will Schnuck Markets succeed with
the Seesel’s locations where Albertson’s didn’t?

We don’t know the full details of Schnuck’s plans in
the Memphis market. But, this organization is first class and we wouldn’t bet
against them, just as we wouldn’t bet against our other personal grocery favorites,
Wegman’s, Harris Teeter, HEB, Meijer, Marsh Supermarkets or Ukrop’s. [George
Anderson – Moderator
]

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Elise Lauterbach
Elise Lauterbach
17 years ago

Five years later, in Memphis, Schnucks is only now beginning to rectify the errors of the Albertsons-owned stores. As a Memphian, I’ve been surprised how little and how slowly improvements have come, especially to what was the flagship Seesel’s store in midtown Memphis. The local take tends to be, ‘We hate Schnucks, but there is nothing better,” especially within the city limits. Customer service, however, has noticeably improved in the last 6 months at my local store, and some organic options are trickling in, but in my experience Memphians, especially those who have lived in communities with Publix or Harris Teeter, are hungry for a more upscale grocery.

Aaron Spann
Aaron Spann
15 years ago

I cannot agree more with the post above mine. I moved to Memphis from a much more competitive grocery market and I am constantly searching for a better store. I can’t do all of my shopping at Fresh Market (the hands-down winner in quality food products) nor do I like the Wild Oats assortment (or prices).

In the past 6 months, Schnuck’s has become decidedly more down-scale and generic. It’s a bad thing to watch and an even worse experience to shop. The only thing going for them is cleanliness and friendliness.