Nash Finch Acquires 18-Store No Frills

Nash Finch Co.’s wholly-owned U Save Foods subsidiary has entered into an agreement to purchase 18 No Frills Supermarkets, 14 of which are located in Nebraska and another four that are located in western Iowa.

No Frills owner Fred Witecy, a former Nash Finch employee, will rejoin the Minneapolis-based distributor following the acquisition, which is expected to be completed early in the third quarter of 2012. Nash Finch will own 24 supermarkets in greater Omaha, and 41 in the state of Nebraska.

“I know from personal experience the benefit of what Nash Finch can offer,” said Fred Witecy, No Frills’ CEO. “Combining the purchasing power of the No Frills stores, the Bag ’N Save stores and the Nash Finch corporate owned stores, we will be well positioned to deliver competitive prices and programs to all of our Nebraska and Iowa customers.”

Alec Covington, Nash Finch president and CEO, added that he “looks forward to welcoming the No Frills associates to Nash Finch and in particular, to welcoming Fred back to the Nash Finch family.” Covington said he’s particularly pumped about the “opportunities before us in Omaha and in greater Nebraska, to offer retail experiences that will delight our customers and energize our associates.”

Nash Finch’s core business, food distribution, serves independent retailers and military commissaries in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Azores, Bahrain and Egypt. The company also owns and operates a base of retail stores under the Econofoods, Family Thrift Center, Avanza, Family Fresh, Savers Choice and Sun Mart trade names.