Chief Super Market has been sold.
Chief was acquired by Fresh Encounter Inc. of Findlay on Wednesday. Fresh Encounter CEO and President Michael Needler JR, released a statement saying that the Chief locations will increase the retail footprint of Fresh in Ohio and Indiana. He said that customers will not immediately see any major changes.
The acquisition includes all Chief Supermarket locations, Boots BBQ, Chief Kitchen and Chief Smokehouse locations. Chief Supermarkets operates 11 stores in Ohio, and has been headquartered in Defiance since it was founded in 195. Chief has been family owned for more than 60 years prior to Wednesday’s sell out.
The combined companies will now operate 36 stores in Ohio and Indiana and employ approximately 2,200 people.