Cub (supermarket)

Cub

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Retail (supermarket)
Founded	1968 in Stillwater, Minnesota, United States
Founder	Charles Hooley, Jack Hooley, Robert Thueson, Culver Davis Jr.
Headquarters	Eden Prairie, Minnesota , United States
Area served	Primarily Minnesota and Illinois
Key people	Andre Persaud (CEO)
Products	Bakery, catering, sushi, Asian cuisine, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, organic goods, fuel stations, lottery tickets, pharmacy services, produce, meat and seafood, snacks, floral arrangements, alcoholic beverages
Owner	United Natural Foods
Parent	United Natural Foods

Cub is a supermarket chain based in the United States, operating 106 outlets predominantly across Minnesota and Illinois. It functions as a fully owned subsidiary of United Natural Foods, which has its headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island. Cub's inventory spans a wide range of categories including bakery items, catering services, sushi, Asian cuisine, dairy products, delicatessen selections, frozen foods, organic goods, fuel stations, lottery tickets, pharmacy services, fresh produce, meats and seafood, snacks, floral arrangements, and alcoholic beverages. As of 2021, the company reported revenues amounting to US$37.6 million alongside assets valued at US$23.2 million. The current chief executive officer is Andre Persaud.

Origins

Established in 1968 in Stillwater, Minnesota, Cub Foods was created by brothers Charles and Jack Hooley along with Robert Thueson and Culver Davis Jr. The company's name derives from the acronym Consumers United for Buying (CUB), reflecting the founders’ vision. As one of America's earliest full-scale discount grocery stores, Cub introduced an innovative retail approach emphasizing affordable pricing and bulk purchasing.

In 1980, SuperValu—a Minnesota-based company—acquired Cub Foods when the chain consisted of five outlets within the Twin Cities region. Under SuperValu’s management, Cub expanded to 83 stores spanning three states. The chain ventured into Colorado in 1986 but withdrew by 2003 after shuttering nine stores; several of these were subsequently taken over by Kroger. Cub Foods also maintained locations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, and Michigan but progressively exited these markets by 2012.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Delhaize Group operated Cub-branded supermarkets in the Southern United States, notably around Atlanta and Nashville. These stores were distinguished by their aqua-green metal roofs set atop red brick exteriors; some of these structures have since been repurposed.

Impact of Albertsons Merger

After SuperValu acquired New Albertsons—including Chicago-based Jewel-Osco outlets—it sold its Chicago-area Cub Foods stores to an investment consortium led by Cerberus Capital Management to prevent excessive market dominance. Cerberus later purchased New Albertsons in 2013, reuniting both Albertsons entities under Albertsons LLC. Since Cerberus assumed control, four Cub Foods locations have closed, with remaining Illinois stores transferred to other operators. The final Chicago-area Cub Foods closed its doors in December 2006. Most former Cub locations were sold to Central Grocers Cooperative and rebranded as Strack & Van Til, Ultra Foods, or Garden Fresh Markets; others were acquired by Grand Mart International Foods but ceased operations within five months. Central Grocers Cooperative filed for bankruptcy in 2017. During the inflation surge from 2021 to 2022, Cub Foods attracted criticism for pricing products higher than local competitors.

Cub Foods once operated several Illinois stores including one in Peoria; a closure there in 2009 caused controversy linked to municipal financial commitments. Presently, only a single location remains in Freeport.

In Springfield, three Niemann Foods-owned outlets (two formerly Jewel-Osco) held franchise rights to use the Cub Foods brand and products but have since transitioned to County Market—a separate SuperValu trademark licensed to independent grocers. A Niemann-operated store in Bloomington retained the Cub branding until its closure in 2015.

In 2018, the company simplified its name from "Cub Foods" to just "Cub" to represent a wider product range designed to compete with retailers like Hy-Vee, Target, Walmart, Aldi, and Amazon. Within SuperValu’s retail holdings, Cub represents the largest chain. Following the $1.3 billion sale of Save-A-Lot—which strengthened corporate financial position—CEO Mark Gross prioritized investments toward modernizing Cub stores. By 2017 new locations opened in Blaine and Oakdale while eighteen Twin Cities stores underwent renovations focused on areas near new Hy-Vee outlets. These updates introduced enhanced grab-and-go food options, expanded fresh produce sections, and drive-up pharmacy services—measures aimed at addressing competitive challenges. The Stillwater store functions as a pilot site for testing new concepts before broader implementation.

On July 26, 2018, SuperValu revealed plans for its $2.9 billion acquisition by United Natural Foods (UNFI), initially intending to sell off Cub alongside other retail assets. However, UNFI reversed this strategy in January 2022 and opted to keep Cub within its portfolio.

See also

• WinCo Foods
• Jewel-Osco