St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn’s Inc. plans to build five new namesake and Cash Wise Foods grocery stores in western North Dakota through 2014, more than doubling the company’s presence in the state’s Bakken region.
“North Dakota is a prime market for Coborn’s to expand,” declared Chris Coborn, president and CEO of the employee-owned grocery retailer. “We currently operate six grocery stores throughout the state, including three in the Bakken region. Building five new stores in the Bakken will strengthen our brand across North Dakota and will bring new fresh food options to these rapidly growing communities.”
Coborn’s, Inc. has owned and operated Cash Wise Foods stores in Fargo/Moorhead and Bismarck, N.D., since 1988. The company also has a Coborn’s store in Jamestown, which opened last May. This past April, the regional retailer partnered with Williston, N.D.-based JK Foods to co-own an Economart in Williston and Food Pride stores in Stanley and Tioga, N.D., where they serve the significant population growth due to the state’s oil boom.
Among the new stores being planned are Coborn’s stores in Stanley and Tioga, which will replace the company’s existing Food Pride stores; a Coborn’s store in Watford City; and Cash Wise Foods stores in Dickinson and Minot. Twin Cities-based Oppidan Investment Co. is the development partner for these new stores.
“Expanding our family of stores to include these new locations represents positive, strategic growth for our employee-owned company,” Coborn said. “We look forward to serving our customers in the years to come and will work hard every day to meet their needs.”
Coborn’s Inc. operates stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin under the Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, Economart, Food Pride and Save-A-Lot banners. The company also owns CobornsDelivers, an online grocery ordering and home delivery service; and stand-alone convenience, liquor, video and pharmacy locations. To support its many retail locations, Coborn’s Inc. operates its own central bakery, dry cleaning facility and grocery distribution center. Coborn’s has 6,700 employees.
