Strack & Van Til
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (Supermarkets) |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Ernie Strack, Nick Van Til |
| Headquarters | Northwest Indiana , United States |
Area served | Northwest Indiana, Chicago metropolitan area |
| Products | Groceries |
| Parent | Hy-Vee |
Strack & Van Til is a supermarket chain headquartered in Northwest Indiana, operating stores under the Strack & Van Til and Town & Country Food Market names.
On May 2, 2017, Central Grocers, Inc., the parent company of SVT, LLC, faced an involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition initiated by creditors such as The Coca-Cola Company, General Mills, Mars Financial Services, and Post Consumer Brands. Following this, the remaining Northwest Indiana outlets were acquired through a bankruptcy auction by the Strack and Van Til families in partnership with the Indiana Grocery Group. All Strack & Van Til stores located in Northeast Illinois were subsequently shut down.
Founding
The company’s roots date back to 1930 when Meinhard Nissen and Ernie Strack established Royal Blue grocery in downtown Griffith, Indiana. After dissolving their partnership in 1943, Strack launched a new store in 1946. Meanwhile, Nick Van Til started his career as a grocery delivery boy before purchasing his employer’s store and broadening its product selection. In October 1960, Ernie Strack and Nick Van Til joined forces to open the inaugural Strack & Van Til store in Highland. Since then, the business has grown into a prominent grocery chain within the Chicago metropolitan area, recognized for its extensive product range and strong regional presence.
Expansion
By 2012, Strack & Van Til operated a total of 30 stores. On November 27 of that year, it acquired seven locations from WiseWay Supermarkets, a Gary, Indiana–based chain established in 1940. WiseWay maintained one store in Winfield, Indiana (which closed by 2022). Both companies were supplied by Central Grocers Cooperative. The WiseWay stores in Chesterton, Hobart, and Valparaiso were rebranded as Strack & Van Til; meanwhile, PayLow outlets in Gary and Merrillville were converted into Ultra Foods stores (the Merrillville location later reopened as a Strack & Van Til in 2017). One Ultra Foods store was closed due to its proximity to an acquired location. By 2014, the chain had expanded to encompass 38 stores.
Store closures and sale to Strack and Van Til families and Indiana Grocery Group
On March 2, 2017, Strack & Van Til announced plans to close six stores—four Ultra Foods and two Strack & Van Til locations. Shortly afterward, Central Grocers shuttered nine Ultra Foods stores in Illinois and placed 22 Strack & Van Til stores on the market. On May 15, 2017, Jewel-Osco submitted a $100 million offer for 19 Strack & Van Til stores; however, this bid was unsuccessful. Ultimately, the stores were sold at bankruptcy auction to the Strack and Van Til families along with the Indiana Grocery Group.
Following Central Grocers’ bankruptcy in 2017—which ended its century-long operation—Strack & Van Til partnered with Associated Wholesale Grocers, known for producing Best Choice and Always Save brands, to establish new supply chains.
Strack & Van Til resumed expansion efforts in 2021 by acquiring Tysen's Country Market located in Demotte, Indiana, subsequently rebranding it under their banner.
Acquisition by Hy-Vee
On April 17, 2024, Strack & Van Til revealed its acquisition by Hy-Vee, a grocery retailer headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. The chain’s 22 locations across Northwest Indiana and the Chicago, Illinois suburbs will continue operations under the Strack & Van Til brand as a subsidiary of Hy-Vee.
Although Hy-Vee did not disclose financial details of the transaction, spokesperson Tina Potthoff described it as one of the largest acquisitions undertaken by Hy-Vee. Despite becoming part of Hy-Vee’s portfolio, Strack & Van Til will preserve its existing name, logo, and branding identity.
Hy-Vee’s expansion projects in Zionsville, Indiana and Noblesville, Indiana may experience schedule modifications due to this acquisition; however, these developments remain integral to Hy-Vee’s growth plans. Potthoff commented: “We intend to continue building in these markets and are finalizing construction schedules.”
After completing the acquisition, Hy-Vee replaced Strack & Van Til’s private label products Best Choice and Always Save with its own brands such as That's Smart, Crav'n Flavor, Simply Done, Tippy Toes, TopCare, CharKing, Good Graces, Full Circle Market, and Paws.
The first renovation project under Hy-Vee’s ownership was finalized at the Lowell location in early 2025, enhancing customer experience and demonstrating ongoing investment in Strack & Van Til’s operations.