From the first Coborn's grocery store in Sauk Rapids, MN, to the more than 135 retail locations we operate today, we've served our communities for over 100 years -- Remarkable! We've enjoyed providing millions of people over the years with fresh produce, meat, bakery and household staples. Equally as important, we've enjoyed getting to know you, generating smiles, cultivating connections and supporting community organizations. As the years fly by, we're going to put a stake in the ground right here and celebrate our togetherness and all of the smiles, growth and great food we've shared.
Thank You for 100 Remarkable Years!
Today, as I reflect on our company’s history, it really is remarkable in so many ways, to look back on this very special time in our history, as we celebrate our 100th Anniversary in 2021.
The first two words in our company’s Vision Statement are “Be Remarkable!” It is those two words that inspire our 9,300+ employees every day; a reminder to provide remarkable service, to inspire happiness, healthy living and simplicity, one guest at a time. It’s remarkable to think we’ve been doing this now for 100 years.
On behalf of Coborn’s, Inc., I extend my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of you who have shopped in our stores, partnered with us as a vendor, grew with us as we expanded and supported us along the way. We are extremely proud of our heritage as a local, family and employee-owned company that started as a humble little produce market on Benton Drive in Sauk Rapids, MN in the early 1900s. Our history is rich in memories and I have had the privilege to be a part of it for the last 40+ years, watching my father, Dan Coborn and his three brothers, Bill, Bob and Ron, inspire me and all of their employees while nurturing the growth of the company to become who we are today.
The grocery industry has certainly seen its share of changes over these last 100 years. From the early days of practically knowing every single customer, to groceries stored behind a counter to self-service supermarkets, scanners in the check-out lanes, automated doors and computerized inventory replenishment systems, to self-checkouts, e-commerce ordering of groceries, curbside pickup or home delivery, to LED lighting, advancements in refrigeration systems, the addition of pharmacy services, fuel stations, digital and social media channels to reach and better-know our customers and on and on – MUCH has changed! But the thing that has remained a constant has been our unwavering commitment to our customers, our employees and the communities we serve. And that is what I am most proud of, indeed.
This past year has been a year where change accelerated at an even greater pace. Who would have ever dreamed that in early 2020, a world-wide pandemic would be looming on the horizon. Of all the things that influenced much of who we are today, it was the flexing and adjusting and practices we implemented to remain open, provide a safe and quality shopping experience for our guests and a safe working environment for our employees. It is a year I won’t soon forget.
I am equally proud to have two of my children, daughter Emily and son Peter, along for this ride in becoming 5th generation leaders in our company. That is a rarity for sure, and in today’s ever-competitive grocery retailing environment, even more so. There are not many companies that are able to celebrate 100 years. We are extremely proud to have been a part of your family’s most-memorable occasions and to have served you, our friends and family, over these past 100 years. I am grateful for your loyalty, your business, your input when we didn’t quite meet your expectations and for your accolades when we did. I am also extremely proud of our entire team, who serve our guests each day across Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Our communities are better for your service.
Thank you again! It’s going to be a Remarkable Year!
Chris Coborn
Chairman, President and CEO
Coborn’s, Inc.
Since the original Coborn’s history book, “Beyond the Store Shelves” was published in 2014, several new areas of support were developed to further the support of organizations that are doing good and worthy work in the communities where the company operates a retail location. You can read that chapter, and the rest of the book, by clicking HERE. This section outlines many of the new projects that the company has supported since 2014 to update Chapter 8 of the original book. Enjoy!
We take a team approach at Coborn’s, Inc., and believe it takes remarkable people to make a remarkable organization. So much of what makes the company so successful are the dedicated employees who work behind the scenes. From our distribution center, centralized Bake Shoppe, trucking and logistics, I.T. department and customer relations call center, central pharmacy and more, these departments play a critical role in serving our guests and our stores. These behind-the-scenes employees are exemplary examples of “One Team” with a commitment and dedication to serve our customers 365 days a year.
Humble beginnings quickly grew into a grassroots, employee-owned grocery store expansion. Learn about the journey bringing us to our 100th year and beyond.
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