D&W Food Centers
Encyclopedia
History
D&W Fresh Market was founded in 1943 by Roy Woodrick and Sid DeVries. The first store was opened in GrandvilleGrandville, Michigan
Grandville is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 16,263 at the 2000 census. Grandville is one of the oldest suburbs of Grand Rapids, and was incorporated as a city in 1933....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
as an Independent Grocery Association (IGA)
IGA (supermarkets)
IGA is a brand of grocery stores active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store business model, IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them...
retail grocery store. It was one of the first grocery stores in Grand Rapids to sell USDA
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
Choice Beef exclusively.
In the early 1960s, DeVries and Woodrick created a new corporate entity for the operation by the name of D&W and designed the company's signature heart logo. Bob Woodrick, Roy Woodrick's son, became the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of D&W Food Centers in November 1967. Bob had a strong interest in racial diversity and solving racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
issue during his tenure.
At its peak, D&W numbered approximately 27 stores in West Michigan from Three Rivers to Fremont. In its final years Bob Woodrick served as the company's CEO and Doug Blease its President.
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Spartan buyout
In December 2005, Spartan Stores announced plans to purchase the remaining 20 stores the company still operated for $45 million (US) claiming it planned to, in some way, retain the D&W name due to its heritage and recognition.In February 2006, Spartan Stores announced that 10 of the newly purchased stores would continue to operate under the D&W Fresh Market banner. These stores included the Breton Village, Caledonia, Cascade, Gaslight Village, Grand Haven, Grandville, Holland, Parkview(Kalamazoo), Portage, and Rockford stores. Six other stores were converted into Family Fares, a banner name that Spartan had acquired in 1999. These stores included the locations known as Alpine, Breton Meadows, Burlingame, Fulton Heights, Jenison,and Kentwood. The four remaining stores; Northtown, Norton Shores, Walker, and Zeeland were permanently closed and put up for sale.
These decisions were based on market analysis, future growth potential projections, and location amongst other things in an attempt for Spartan Stores to remain competitive amongst larger companies in the area such as Meijer
Meijer
Meijer, Inc. is a regional American hypermarket chain based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1934 as a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the modern supercenter concept in 1962. About half of the company's 196 stores are located in Michigan, with additional locations in...
, Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, and Wal Mart.
Spartan's purchase of D&W was officially completed in April 2006. Each store has been renovated and re-modeled, some more than others, to comply with and reflect the Spartan look. The Grand Haven and Holland stores joined several other Spartan Stores in being open 24 hours a day for the summer season.
D&W's Central Kitchen was retained by Spartan and provides a variety of deli products in both the D&W and Family Fare stores. The company's catering business, Fresh Thyme Catering, was sold by Spartan to a locally owned catering company in Grand Rapids.
Current locations
Grand Rapids Area:- Breton Village, 1815 Breton Rd. SE
- Caledonia, 9375 Cherry Valley Ave. SE
- Cascade, 6425 28th St. SE
- Gaslight Village, 2181 Wealthy St. SE
- Grandville, 3960 44th St.
- Grand Haven, 1116 Robbins Rd.
- Holland, 50 Douglas Ave.
- Rockford, 201 Marcell Dr. NE
Kalamazoo Area:
- Parkview, 2103 Parkview Ave.
- Portage, 525 Romence Rd.
Lansing Area:
- Williamston, 151 West Grand River*
Asteriks denote stores not a part of the original D&W Food Centers chain.
Proposed locations
Spartan Stores currently has several new D&W Fresh Market projects proposed or in development. Locations include:- Grand Rapids Township, East Beltline and 3 Mile Road
This store would serve as one of the primary anchors of the mixed-use development Knapp's Crossing.
- City of Grand Rapids, Fuller and Michigan Streets
The two-story store will be located on the site of the former Duthler's Market as well as several other acquired businesses.
- City of Wyoming, Gezon Parkway and Byron Center Road
The company has expressed interest in constructing a store as part of the newly developed Metro Health Village, anchored by Metropolitan Hospital.
Marketing slogan
The company's current slogans are "From the Everyday to the Extraordinary" and "Great Meals Start Here."Past slogans have included; "Eat your ♥ out" "A nicer place to be!" "The Heart of Values" "Great Food, Great Service, Great Place to Shop" and "It's a matter of taste."