Community Market

Since 1995, Community Markets has been a business that stresses serving others, values their employees and offers nourishing groceries to local communities. They have also invested in three unique locations in Logan county: 309 N. Main Street in Bellefontaine, 878 E. Sandusky Avenue in Bellefontaine and 8793 Township Road 239 in Lakeview.

"Each of our stores caters to the local needs of our customers and communities," said Keith Thompson, General Manager of the Community Markets located in the Hyland Hills Plaza. "The needs of a small town may be different than the needs of a larger metropolitan area. We strive to offer what each community desires. At all locations our top priority is to offer our guests a superb shopping experience.”

Fresh Encounter, Inc. began in 1995, when Michael S. Needler, Sr. and his family purchased CWC Companies, a retail grocery chain founded in 1964. In 1998, Fresh Encounter, Inc. expanded with the acquisition of Fulmer Supermarkets, another retail grocery chain, originally founded in 1909, and again in 2014 with the purchase of Chief Supermarkets, based in Defiance, Ohio. Today, Fresh Encounter, Inc. operates stores throughout Ohio and eastern Indiana under a variety of banners, including Great Scot, Community Markets, Sack n Save, King Saver and Chief Supermarkets.

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It is no secret that Community Markets, along with many other businesses, has been impacted by the Pandemic. This has forced them to innovate as much as possible.

"We have worked tirelessly to provide our customers with the products and services that they desire through this challenging new climate that we find ourselves in," said Keith. "One example would be the roll out of our Mobile Markets online shopping. This offers our customers an opportunity to shop from home, schedule a pickup time and have their groceries delivered to their vehicle. Many of our stores currently have this service in place, we are scheduled to have this available to our local customers soon."

Locally, Community Markets often gives back through the West Ohio Food Bank and through this partnership, they can help support local food banks all over West Ohio.

"One opportunity for us to give back to our dedicated associates is through our employee discount program," said Keith. "We offer a 5% discount to our associates, and to show our appreciation for their dedication, we have raised this discount to 20% for the months of October, November and December." 

Community Markets enjoys being a chamber member because it helps them to practice one of their goals in nourishing the community that they are in. Please join us in congratulating Community Markets for being selected as the Business of the Month for the Month of November.

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