Summer Fresh adds Carl Junction store

Springfield-based Summer Fresh Supermarkets Inc. has added a ninth location, in Carl Junction.

The company said today that it has purchased Deem's Family Center grocery store in Carl Junction and will add a number of new items, including a full-service meat and deli department, when it takes possession of the store on May 9, according to a company news release.

Summer Fresh also plans to establish its Helping Hand community-funding program, which donates money to nonprofit organizations such as churches and schools in communities with Summer Fresh locations. Summer Fresh has donated nearly $1 million in other communities.

"We are excited about serving the people of Carl Junction and neighboring communities as we continue to grow our company in and around the Springfield and Joplin areas," President and CEO Brent Brown said in the release.

The acquisition is the third in seven months for Summer Fresh. The company purchased Bear Country Market in Conway in January and the Pendergrass Food Fair in Greenfield in September.