Buehler’s Fresh Foods Raises $138.5K for Local Foodbanks

WOOSTER, Ohio- April 29, 2015

All fifteen Buehler stores and office/warehouse teamed with customers to raise more than $131,133 and collect over two tons of food products (which translates into $7,367) for a total donation of $138,500 during the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign. The food and dollars will provide emergency food at no cost to local pantries, meal sites and shelters in the communities of Buehler’s stores.

“We are over the moon with joy and thrilled by these incredible results; Buehler’s has such remarkable customers!”  said Dan Flowers, president & CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “We’ve seen great personal involvement, commitment and compassion on behalf of the leadership and associates at Buehler’s, and we are proud of the kinship we feel in our work to provide food for all people in our community.”

In a six week period, from February 22 – April 5, Buehler’s participated in the Harvest for Hunger awareness campaign aimed at fighting hunger in 21 of Ohio’s counties in which customers and employees donated $1, $5, or $10 at check-out.

“We are extremely grateful to our customers and store teams who opened their hearts and tripled their giving over last year,” stated Dan Shanahan, Buehler’s President and COO. “Thanks to their generosity, average donations per store neared an unprecedented $10K in only six weeks. Working together we can achieve great things to make a difference for our neighbors and friends.”

This is the 4^th consecutive year that Buehler’s Fresh Food has participated in the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign. Customer and store teams have raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars since 2012 in the fight against hunger. The 2015 Buehler Harvest for Hunger donations will directly support the member agency food banks, pantries, and shelters in the counties and communities home to Buehler’s stores.

About Harvest for Hunger.  Harvest for Hunger is a collaboration of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Cleveland Foodbank, Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio and Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, serving 21 counties in Northeast and North Central Ohio with a goal to raise 17 million meals. All donations remain local and provide emergency food at no cost to pantries, meal sites and shelters for each respective food bank. In addition to these foodbanks, Buehler’s partnered with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank to cover their Coshocton and Delaware, Ohio locations.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a non-profit organization with a mission to Feed People and Fight Hunger. This year, 1 in 7 people in Northeast Ohio will face hunger, and the Foodbank will be there to help.  The Foodbank is the source of emergency food for 500 food pantries, hot meal sites shelters and other hunger-relief programs that directly serve individuals and families in Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. The Foodbank, with its supporters and partners are leading the fight to end hunger in the communities they serve. In 2014, they distributed 26 million pounds of food, providing 22 million meals locally for people in need.

About Buehler’s:  E&H Family Group owns and operates fifteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina, Brunswick, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township, Delaware, Coshocton, and Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group also owns and operates fourteen ACE Hardware stores located in Orrville, Medina, Dover, New Philadelphia, Delaware, Jackson Township, Independence, Rocky River, Westlake, Middlefield, Oberlin, Avon Lake, Garrettsville, Hilliard, and coming soon to Canton, Ohio. E & H Family Group is a family-owned company committed to environmentally responsible behavior.  For more information visit  www.buehlers.com

Buehler’s Fresh Foods Named Retail Business of the Year in Ashland

Buehler’s Fresh Foods was selected “Retail Business of the Year” by the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce. The announcement was made at the Chamber’s Annual Member Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 12, 2015, at the John C. Myers Convocation Center, Ashland University. Accepting the award pictured left to right: Tom Macauliff, Jon Yentz and Amanda Manges.

“On behalf of Buehler’s, I would like to thank the Chamber and the Ashland community for this prestigious “Retail Business of the Year” award,” stated Jon Yentz, Ashland Store Manager. “We are truly honored.”

Dan Shanahan, President and COO for Buehler’s added, “We are proud of and support the ongoing efforts of Jon and the entire Buehler’s Ashland team. Their daily commitment to make Buehler’s a great place to work, an enjoyable place to shop, a trusted retailer, and a positive influence in the Ashland community is apparent.”

The Annual Member Awards are open to any Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce member. Nominations come from the community at large. Judging Committee criteria is based on the following: business performance and standing, customer service strategies and practices, community involvement, and promotion of Ashland County and surrounding areas.

Buehler’s in Ashland first opened at their present Sugarbush Drive location in 2001. In addition to offering the freshest quality produce, meat, seafood, and deli foods, Buehler’s features the Main Street Grill (a full-service restaurant), Scenic River Coffee Co., Floral Shoppe, and Ritzman Pharmacy. The State Liquor Agency Store opened last year, and is surrounded by an expanded Wine and Beer Department.

About Buehlers:

E&H Family Group owns and operates fifteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina, Brunswick, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township, Delaware, Coshocton, Portage Lakes, and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group also owns and operates fourteen ACE Hardware stores located in Orrville, Medina, Dover, New Philadelphia, Delaware, Jackson Township, Independence, Rocky River, Westlake, Middlefield, Oberlin, Avon Lake, Garrettsville and Hilliard, Ohio. Coming soon: a second Canton location.

E & H Family Group is a family owned company committed to environmentally responsible behavior.  For more information visit  www.buehlers.com # # #

Buehler’s Fresh Foods Offers Spring Coho Salmon All Year

Buehler’s Fresh Foods Seafood Department is pleased to offer customers Spring Coho Salmon twelve months out of the year. Once a seasonal product, the year round availability is attributed to breakthrough research and sustainable practices developed by nationally renowned partners, and spearheaded locally by Homestead Springs Farm in central Ohio.

Coho Salmon, typically found in northern Pacific waters, can be raised in the largest spring fed aqua culture farm in Ohio. With 1,000 to 2,000 gallons per minute generated from the natural spring, this pure clean water is perfect for raising Spring Coho Salmon. Due to revolutionary natural procedures, the salmon are convinced they are in the “smolt” cycle, thus eliminating the need for them to migrate to salt water.

This delicate tasting Spring Coho Salmon has no antibiotics, no hormones, and raised in pure spring drinking water. The Spring Coho Salmon diet is sustainable, as well, with a custom mixed to order feed of 40% vegetables (among the highest in the industry), and less than 28% fish bi-product and oil (among the lowest in the industry).

Because this is a local product raised on a family farm, Spring Coho Salmon is fresh – never frozen – to Buehler’s customers. The salmon can be in the water one day and in Buehler’s Seafood Department the next. You cannot get much fresher than that!

“We are fortunate to have Spring Coho Salmon in our backyard,” stated Dan Shanahan, President, and COO of Buehler’s Fresh Foods. “We think our customers will appreciate the natural farming methods and the sustainable qualities of this salmon.”

Buehler’s Fresh Foods is celebrating 86 years as a family-owned and operated supermarket. Industry peers and officials have given recent recognition to Buehler’s accomplishments by awarding: 2014 Retailer of the Year (Cleveland Food Dealer Association), Ohio Business Profile (Jon Husted, Ohio Secretary of State), Resolution – food and agriculture (John Kasich, Governor of Ohio), and Progressive Grocer Independent’s 2015 Outstanding Wow Award.

Progressive Grocer Independent names Buehler’s Fresh Foods One of its 2015 Outstanding Independents
The independent retailer was honored in the “Wow” Factor category for its remodel of the Wooster Milltown location.

Progressive Grocer Independent honored its 2015 Outstanding Independents at a reception held during the recent National Grocers Association (NGA) Show in Las Vegas on Monday, Feb. 9. Buehler’s Fresh Foods was honored in the “Wow” Factor category for its 14-month remodel of the Wooster, Ohio Milltown location. Pictured at the awards ceremony (left to right), Dan Shanahan, Buehler’s President and COO, and Bob Buehler, Buehler’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Fresh Goods, and Katie Martin, Progressive Grocer Independent editor-in-chief.

“For the third consecutive year, Progressive Grocer Independent sought the best of the best in several different categories,” said Katie Martin, PGI editor-in-chief. “Buehler’s Fresh Foods truly expressed the ‘wow’ in the ‘Wow’ Factor category. The remodel not only encompassed cosmetic changes with a redesigned dairy department but also featured a retooling of product offerings with the revamped foodservice department as well as beer, wine and liquor categories. It was truly a floor to ceiling remodel.”

The annual awards focused this year on independent retailers who excelled in one of 11 categories: outstanding single-store operator, outstanding multi-store operator, bakery, center store, community outreach, deli/foodservice, meat/seafood, produce, sustainability, technology and “wow” factor. In addition to the awards reception, all of the winners are featured in the February issue of Progressive Grocer Independent.

Candidates for the awards are nominated by industry associations, suppliers, wholesalers/distributors as well as editorial recommendations. This year’s honorees come from a variety of operations throughout the country, but they all have one thing in common: all are independent retailers who have listened and made a connection to their community.

About Progressive Grocer Independent:

Progressive Grocer Independent is the standalone, bi-monthly publication published by Stagnito Business Information that covers independent grocers – defined as primarily wholesaler-supplied grocers. Readership includes the full membership of the National Grocers Association, the International Grocers Alliance’s U.S. membership, and the Food Marketing Institute’s Independent Operator members, as well as select subscribers to Progressive Grocer, PGI’s sister publication.

About Buehler’s:

E&H Family Group owns and operates fifteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina, Brunswick, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township, Delaware, Coshocton, and Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group also owns and operates fourteen ACE Hardware stores located in Orrville, Medina, Dover, New Philadelphia, Delaware, Jackson Township, Independence, Rocky River, Westlake, Middlefield, Oberlin, Avon Lake, Garrettsville, and Hilliard, Ohio. E & H Family Group is a family-owned company committed to environmentally responsible behavior.  For more information visit  www.buehlers.com                                                                       

Wooster now boasts an exciting new food service concept inside Buehler’s Milltown location to celebrate an array of fresh chef-prepared foods, available take out or dine-in. Customers place their order at the Chef’s Kitchen counter, pay at the separate food service register, and then choose to take-home or dine-in the all new Kitchen Table casual dining area.

Chef’s Kitchen offers classic favorites and delicious meals made-to-order while you watch. Options include freshly-made hand-stretched pizza (whole or by the slice) baked in our brick oven, custom signature sandwiches prepared with only the freshest ingredients and capped off with fresh-baked breads from the bakery, and your favorite authentic wok-fired Chinese foods. In addition, customers may select combinations from the freshly prepared Chef’s Signature entrees (Asiago Chicken, Ribs, Pulled Pork, etc.) and sides dishes (Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes, Broccoli Slaw and more).  And if that’s not enough, there are six varieties of hot soups made from scratch, an expanded fresh salad bar, and sushi rolled by hand daily by in-store sushi chefs. There is something for every palette, hot or cold, custom prepared for you!

The Kitchen Table area offers a fun, relaxed atmosphere to sit down and enjoy the chef-prepared foods. Meet a friend for coffee and dessert, be in and out over your lunch break, or relax with family after a busy day, The Kitchen Table is your home away from home.

A convenient self-serve drink area and designated register gives customers the value and convenience they have been asking. This area features a Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, with over 100 choices to mix and match and create your custom soda flavors. Scenic River Coffee flavors, tea, as well as an extensive option of your favorite bottled beverages are available.

“The key is the customer – customers are in control,” stated Jack Kerby, Store Manager Buehler’s Wooster Milltown. “Unlike traditional restaurants, you select the amount of food you want (so you’re not paying for food you don’t want), and there’s no tipping. What a value!”

Buehler’s, Milltown store remodel is nearing completion, with the Grand Opening scheduled for Wednesday, November 5^th. Watch for details on new services, new departments, and new products.

About Buehler”s: E&H Family Group owns and operates fifteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina, Brunswick, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township, Delaware, Coshocton, Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group also owns and operates fourteen ACE Hardware stores located in Orrville, Medina, Dover, New Philadelphia, Delaware, Jackson Township, Independence, Rocky River, Westlake, Middlefield, Oberlin, Avon Lake, and Garrettsville, and Hilliard, Ohio.

E & H Family Group is a family owned company committed to environmentally responsible behavior.  For more information visit  www.buehlers.com.