Dierbergs Markets
| File:Dierbergs Markets logo.png | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Grocery) |
| Founded | Initially as a general store 1854 Transitioned to a grocery store 1914 |
| Founder | H.M. Koch (general store) William Dierberg (grocery store) |
| Headquarters | , USA |
Number of locations | 26 |
Area served | St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Metro East |
Key people |
|
| Products | Bakery, delicatessen, florist, meat, frozen foods, produce, seafood, organic foods, bulk foods, general grocery, pharmacy, snacks |
| Revenue | Increase $847.4 million (2023) |
| Owner | Dierberg family |
Number of employees | ~4,200 |
| Website | dierbergs |
Dierbergs is a supermarket network based in Chesterfield, Missouri that competes in the Greater St. Louis grocery sector alongside Schnucks. With 26 outlets situated throughout Missouri and Illinois, the company employed over 5,000 individuals as of 2006, placing it among the leading 25 employers in the St. Louis metropolitan region.
History
The enterprise began in 1854 when H.M. Koch established a general store in Creve Coeur, Missouri. In 1914, ownership transferred to William F. Dierberg Sr., who converted it into a grocery business. The original premises included the "Creve Coeur House," which featured a hotel and banking services. By 1929, William’s three sons—Bill, Fred, and Vallie (Butch)—assumed control. A year later, in 1930, the company moved into a new facility on Olive Street Road before relocating again in 1960 to the intersection of Craig and Olive in Creve Coeur.
Expansion gained momentum under Bill’s son Bob Dierberg with the opening of a second location in 1967; this store received national acclaim from Progressive Grocer for its innovative design. Roger Dierberg joined the business in 1969 after working as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas, contributing to the growth of the chain to 20 stores during his leadership period.
In 2013, Dierbergs extended its reach outside the St. Louis metropolitan area by launching a store near Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach. The company adopted digital advancements by collaborating with Shipt in 2017 to provide local grocery delivery options. In 2021, it sold its pharmacy segment to the St. Louis-based health system Mercy, which continues managing these pharmacies under lease agreements. The following year, Dierbergs introduced a complimentary loyalty program along with a mobile app aimed at boosting customer interaction and supporting business expansion.
Development of Crestwood Plaza
In January 2022, Dierbergs purchased the western portion of the former Crestwood Plaza mall site located in south St. Louis County to develop a mixed-use complex. This development includes a 70,000 square foot grocery store accompanied by 30,000 square feet dedicated to dining and retail establishments as well as an open plaza with landscaped green spaces. Simultaneously, McBride Homes is constructing a residential subdivision on the eastern segment of the property.
In April 2022, the St. Louis County NAACP filed legal action against Crestwood city officials contesting the use of tax-increment financing (TIF) that subsidized the new grocery store project. The NAACP highlighted that while Dierbergs operates twelve stores within a ten-mile radius of Crestwood, only three are located in USDA-designated food deserts such as Ferguson and Spanish Lake. By December 2022, the NAACP urged Dierbergs to reject tax incentives and finance the Crestwood location independently while advocating for further expansion into underserved neighborhoods across St. Louis City and northern St. Louis County to improve access to grocery options.