Life in the food chain ...Consumers supermarkets sold to Columbia retailer

by Karen E. Culp

SBJ Staff

Two Consumers grocery stores, one in Branson, one in Hollister, will reopen as Nowell's stores April 27.

Nowell's, a Columbia-based chain owned by the Nowell family, has closed on a deal to purchase the two stores, an opportunity that came about after Oklahoma-based Fleming Foods announced it would close or sell all stores in the chain that was founded by the late Clarence Wheeler.

"We were looking to expand, and we thought that the communities were a great match for our business. The Hollister store is a great opportunity since it's practically a brand-new store," said Rick Rowden, director of marketing for Nowell's.

Nowell's has three stores in Columbia, a Food 4 Less in Moberly and one in Jefferson City, Rowden said. The Branson and Hollister properties are the chain's first move out of the Columbia area, Rowden said.

"We are three or four hours away from these stores, but we are still the hometown grocer. We plan to take that attitude with us to these new properties," Rowden said.

No immediate changes are planned for the two stores[[In-content Ad]]