Summer Fresh acquires Conway market

Marshfield-based Summer Fresh Supermarkets Inc. has acquired the Bear Country Market in Conway as part of its ongoing expansion in southwest Missouri.

Summer Fresh will officially take possession of the store at 516 W. Jefferson Ave. in February, according to a news release. It's located about 40 miles northeast of Springfield, between Marshfield and Lebanon.

The company plans to add a full-service deli, bakery and beverage center to the store, as well as new signage and equipment.

Summer Fresh also will establish its Helping Hand Program in Conway to give to nonprofit organizations. Through the program, the company has given nearly $1 million so far in communities where it has stores.

The Conway store will be Summer Fresh's eighth location and its second acquisition in the last six months. It acquired Pendergrass Food Fair in Greenfield last fall. Summer Fresh closed one location in 2007 when it offered its West Plainview Road building to Community Blood Center of the Ozarks; CBCO will open its operations center in that spot later this month.