Buehler’s Bagger, Brady Long, to Appear on National TV

WOOSTER, Ohio – July 13, 2018

Brady Long will be appearing on the TV show, To Tell the Truth, on July 22 at 10:00 pm on ABC.

Brady Long of Buehler’s Fresh Foods, defeated competitors from across the United States to claim the title of the National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Champion in 2017 at the February NGA Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Designed to promote supermarket employees and demonstrate a superior core customer service skill, the nationwide competition has been held by NGA since 1987. Contestants are judged by speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the bag, as well as style, attitude and appearance, and are chosen through statewide competitions over the course of the year.

About Buehler’s Fresh Foods:  Buehler’s Fresh Foods, an employee-owned company, operates thirteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster, Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township (Canton), Coshocton, and Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio. For more information visit www.buehlers.com.

Buehler’s Fresh Foods welcomes Peter O’Donnell and announces several promotions

Peter O’Donnell, newly hired Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

As Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, Peter O’Donnell has joined the company’s Senior Leadership Team after spending 10 years as a vice president in the grocery wholesale and retail industry with SpartanNash. Peter has significant management experience in the retail industry and in public accounting and consulting. His responsibilities will include corporate governance, supervision and oversight of Buehler’s financial and accounting functions, information technology, compliance, lender relations, and stewardship of the employee owned company’s assets. Peter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from University of Missouri and Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the Wharton Business School and also is a CPA. 

Jen Hudson, now Director – Marketing and Advertising

Jen Hudson will join the Buehler’s HQ Directors’ Team and provide creative leadership and subject matter expertise in all matters related to marketing, advertising and store promotions. She and her team will continue to grow the impact of Buehler’s ads across all media and strengthen the employee owned company’s brand in each of the markets where it competes. Jen holds a B.A. in Visual Communications from The University of Findlay and has been employed as a graphic designer with Buehler’s since 2000.

Yvonne Monea, now Director – Human Resources

In her expanded role, Yvonne Monea, CEBS will join Buehler’s HQ Directors’ Team and continue to provide professional leadership in all matters related to employee relations and human capital management. As Director of Buehler’s Fresh Foods’ Human Resources function, Yvonne and her team will provide tactical support to the Store Operations Group while building on Buehler’s tradition of “Putting People First.”  As a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS), Yvonne will continue in her role as subject matter expert for benefits administration, compliance, and support while serving as Buehler’s Associates’ advocate in all matters related to employment.  Yvonne holds a BS in Business Management from EMU.

Dave Allen, now Manager – Training, Development and Recognition

As the newest member of the Wooster HQ Managers’ Team, Dave will provide creative leadership and subject matter expertise in all matters related to training, development, and employee recognition.  Working on behalf of the Store Operations Group, Dave will work to grow Associate recognition, and training programs, all while building Buehler’s bench, and developing and enhancing critical skills throughout the organization.  Dave holds a Bachelor’s in Art degree from the University of Akron.

About Buehler’s:

Buehler’s Fresh Foods, an employee owned company, owns and operates thirteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster (2), Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina (2), Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township (Canton), Coshocton, and Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group Announces Sale of Buehler Supermarkets to its Employees

Thirteen Supermarkets Sold to Employee Stock Ownership Program

WOOSTER, OHIO, October 18, 2017 – E&H Family Group, parent company of Buehler’s, today announced the sale of its 13 supermarkets to employees in the form of an employee stock ownership program (ESOP). All 2,100 employees will be retained in the transition and eligible employees will become owners. All 13 supermarkets will remain open with the same hours of operation.

“This was a decision we did not take lightly. Our generation of Buehlers are reaching retirement age and we think this a better option than selling the business to outsiders,” said Dan Buehler, president & COO, E&H Family Group. “We want these supermarkets to be here serving customers and providing good jobs well into the future. There’s no one better qualified than our own employees to carry on that mission. We believe that the transition to an ESOP is a winning solution for the Buehler family, our employees and the communities we serve.”

The ESOP will be operated by the newly formed Buehler’s Fresh Foods, retaining the familiar name and led by an experienced team of Buehler’s veterans, including Dan Shanahan, Buehler’s Fresh Foods president and COO since 2011, Rick Lowe, VP of Human Resources of E&H Family Group since 1977, and Mike Davidson, VP of Store Operations since 2015.

Shanahan will serve as president and CEO of the new company, Lowe will be executive vice president and CAO and Davidson will be executive vice president of store operations.

“We wish Dan, Rick and Mike all the best as they lead this exciting transition. They know this business inside and out, our employees know them well, and we are confident that together, they will continue to achieve great success,” said Dan Buehler, President, E&H Family Group.

“On behalf of the Buehler’s Fresh Foods team, we are happy for the Buehler family and excited for the opportunity to write the next chapter in the great Buehler story,” said Dan Shanahan.

E&H Family Group, owned by the Buehler family of Wooster, also operates 22 hardware stores in Ohio under the E&H Ace Hardware name. The sale has no impact on the E&H Hardware Group, which will continue operating under Buehler family ownership.

The Food Partners represented E&H Family Group in its evaluation of strategic alternatives including as its financial advisor in the transaction.

Buehler’s Fresh Foods grocery store was founded in 1929 by E.L. (Ed) Buehler and his wife, Helen. After opening their first store in New Philadelphia, the Buehler family moved the business to Wooster in 1932 and opened a store near the northeast corner of Public Square. The new store prospered under Ed’s direction with his emphasis on customer service, free delivery, garden-fresh produce and a clean, friendly grocery store atmosphere. Four generations of Buehlers have worked in the family business since its founding.

“This is the right thing to do for our family, our customers and suppliers, and I know my brother Gene and our mom and dad would agree,” said Don Buehler, who worked in the store as a child and who stepped back from day-to-day responsibilities in the family business in June 1997 after decades of service.  “We have deep and longstanding relationships with thousands of customers and farmers in the communities we serve, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their loyalty and support over the past 88 years.”

Don and his brother Gene, who passed away in 2011, were the second generation to oversee the company, and they helped further deepen the family’s ties to the community. They were inducted together into the Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce Business Wall of Fame in 2007 and are both in the Ohio Grocers Hall of Fame.

The brothers’ five sons, known as “The Buehler Boys,” built on that tradition, assuming leadership of the company in the late 1990s.

Rick Lowe, VP of Human Resources of E&H Family Group and now a principal of the new company, has been married to Gene Buehler’s daughter, Linda, since 1974.

“The Buehler family is not going away,” said Dan Buehler. “We’ve always been a family operated independent business that’s very involved in our communities. Our customers are our neighbors and friends. We live in the communities we serve, we’re committed to them and we will continue to support them.”

Buehler’s Fresh Foods Named 2016 Leadership Partner by Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

WOOSTER, Ohio- June 2017

Buehler’s Fresh Foods was recently awarded the 2016 Leadership Partner Award for their support of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Buehler’s has been a Harvest for Hunger participant for 10 years and is now including E & H Hardware Ace Hardware affiliated stores in the campaign. Buehler’s regularly gives close dated/outdated but still viable food items to the Akron-Canton Foodbank.

President and COO of Buehler’s, Dan Shanahan, says, “We are proud to partner with the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and we support its core value of ending hunger in the communities that we serve.”

Buehler’s engages its employees to participate in the Harvest for Hunger campaign with different activities each year. Past events have included a polar bear jump, store employee dress down days, a 50/50 raffle and a pie-in-the-face to one “lucky” manager. The monies collected from the events are added to the generous contributions made by Buehler’s customers. For each dollar raised, the Foodbank can provide 4 meals to someone in need.