SUPERVALU Transportation Inc history

Wesco, founded by the Charles H. Hyde family in 1891, was Super Valu's largest acquisition to that time.

The Lewis Grocer Company was founded by Morris Lewis, Sr., in 1895 and eventually became a multimillion-dollar wholesale grocer, branching out later into the retail grocery business.

In 1916, Harrison's grandson, Perry Harrison, joined Winston, Harper, Fisher as vice-president and co-owner.

With Minnesotan Thomas G. Harrison at its helm, Winston & Newell became one of the first wholesale distributors in the nation to join the new Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA). Harrison, the son of Perry Harrison, had joined Winston, Harper, Fisher Company in 1919 as an assistant sales manager.

1955-88:The company acquires 12 regional food wholesalers, primarily in the Midwest, Southeast, and Northwest.

In 1958 Russell W. Byerly became president of Super Valu.

In 1961 Super Valu moved into the Ohio Valley with the purchase of the Eavey Company, one of the nation's oldest food wholesale distributors.

In 1962 Super Valu established Planmark, a department that offered engineering, architectural, and design services to independent retailers, subsidiaries, and corporate stores.

The Hooleys opened their first warehouse store with the Cub name in a Minneapolis suburb in 1968.

Super Valu also formed an insurance agency--Risk Planners, Inc.--in 1969.

1971: With the acquisition of Shopko, the company begins major investments in the nonfood, general merchandise business.

When Jack J. Crocker became chairman and CEO of Super Valu in 1973, he initiated another diversification venture, County Seat.

By 1977 there were 183 County Seat stores, and the chain's earnings were $8 million in that fiscal year.

When Super Valu purchased the chain in 1980, there were five Cub stores and a Hooley supermarket in Stillwater.

In June 1981 Jack Crocker, at age 57, stepped down from his position as CEO. Crocker, who headed Super Valu for nine years, brought the company to just over $4 billion in sales.

In 1984 Super Valu sold the center back to Cullum.

Culver M. Davis was appointed president and chief executive officer of Cub Foods in 1985.

The company had been supplying both product and retail support to military commissaries in the United States and abroad and, in 1986, demonstrated its commitment to international operations by appointing a military and export product director.

The company decided to divest itself of part of ShopKo through an initial public offering (IPO). In October 1991 the IPO resulted in the sale of 54 percent of ShopKo to the public, netting Super Valu $420 million.

Wetterau retired late in 1993, leaving Wright in sole control of Supervalu once again.

In March 1994, the 30-store Texas T Discount Grocery Stores chain was acquired.

In 1997, the company exited its 46 percent investment in ShopKo, making about $305 million in the net proceeds.

1999: Supervalu acquires Richfood Holdings, Inc., a leading Mid-Atlantic food distributor and retailer.

2000: Sales surpass $20 billion.