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Andersons closing all stores

Loss of superstore called ‘monumental blow’ to Toledo

Jon Springer, Executive Editor

January 17, 2017

1 Min Read
TheAndersons
The Andersons Inc.

The Andersons Inc. said Sunday it would close all four of its Andersons superstores in the Columbus and Toledo, Ohio areas and exit the retail business.

The Andersons stores offer a combination of hardware and home goods, as well as fresh produce, meats and seafood and specialty departments like deli, cheese and wine. Its stores, located in Maumee, Ohio, Toledo and in two locations in Columbus, would close in the second quarter which begins in April.

The Toledo Blade newspaper said the closings represent a “monumental psychological blow to the Toledo area,” where the Andersons was founded and had operated stores for more than 65 years.

The stores did $140 million in sales in 2015, but were a small part of Andersons, a $4.2 billion diversified agriculture company that also has interests in rail, fuel and grain businesses. The retail division posted losses in excess of $20 million over the last eight years, CEO Pat Bowe said in a release announcing the closings.

"The decision to close The Andersons stores was not easy for anyone involved," Bowe said. "Choosing to cease a business that has spanned 65 years and employs about 1,050 people is tremendously difficult."

Earlier this year Giant Eagle said it was closing three stores in Columbus.

About the Author

Jon Springer

Executive Editor

Jon Springer is executive editor of Winsight Grocery Business with responsibility for leading its digital news team. Jon has more than 20 years of experience covering consumer business and retail in New York, including more than 14 years at the Retail/Financial desk at Supermarket News. His previous experience includes covering consumer markets for KPMG’s Insiders; the U.S. beverage industry for Beverage Spectrum; and he was a Senior Editor covering commercial real estate and retail for the International Council of Shopping Centers. Jon began his career as a sports reporter and features editor for the Cecil Whig, a daily newspaper in Elkton, Md. Jon is also the author of two books on baseball. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English-Journalism from the University of Delaware. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. with his family.

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