Cub Foods

What Cub Foods does

Cub Foods is a regional grocery retailer founded in 1968 and headquartered in Stillwater, Minnesota, operating a dense full-service supermarket format across the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area. The company sells groceries across 25+ departments including produce, dairy, meat and seafood, bakery, deli, prepared foods, frozen, pantry, snacks, beverages, floral, and beer/wine/spirits, alongside in-store pharmacy services, catering, and party-tray offerings. Revenue is generated primarily through in-store retail sales, with secondary streams from pharmacy services and private-label brand sales, augmented by online ordering via cub.com and the Cub mobile app.

The technology stack is standard for regional grocery retail: ecommerce and pickup/delivery fulfillment is powered by Instacart; pharmacy scheduling runs on Synerio and prescription refills on RxTouch; customer support is handled via HappyFox; and the My Cub Rewards loyalty program ties together fuel rewards, digital coupons, and cashback rebates. Cub has also launched grocery delivery on Amazon's platform in the Twin Cities (March 2026), expanding digital reach without building proprietary last-mile logistics.

The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through physical storefronts as the primary channel, supplemented by owned ecommerce and marketplace delivery. Pricing follows a unit-pricing model with regular promotional discounts (20–50% off featured items) and member-only pricing through the loyalty program. Private-label brands (Cub, Lift Bridge) anchor the value proposition for price-sensitive Twin Cities families and inflation-pressured private-label seekers, while differentiated positioning around fresh produce, dairy, and meat quality targets consumers who want affordability without sacrificing fresh-category standards.

Name

Cub Foods

Legal name

Cub Foods

Website

https://cub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Cub Foods is a regional full-service grocery chain founded in 1968, serving budget-conscious families and shoppers in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area with stores, pharmacy services, private-label brands, and digital ordering via Instacart and Amazon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stillwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Grocery Sales: Physical in-store sales of grocery products across multiple departments including produce, dairy, meat, seafood, bakery, deli, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, and household items. Private-label brand offerings complement national brands.
2. Pharmacy Services: In-store pharmacy services including prescription fulfillment, medication management, and pharmacy consultations. Services include prescription scheduling and refills through Synerio and RxTouch platforms.
3. Grocery Delivery via Amazon: Third-party marketplace delivery service through Amazon partnership, offering same-day delivery options. Revenue generated through product sales with Amazon taking a platform commission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cub Foods is a regional grocery retailer operating physical supermarkets in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, selling fresh and packaged groceries, produce, meat and seafood, dairy, bakery, deli, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, floral, and household goods across 25+ in-store departments. The retail offering is complemented by in-store pharmacy services, a catering and custom-orders operation, curbside pickup and home delivery, private-label grocery brands, and the Lift Bridge private-label alcohol brand. The My Cub Rewards loyalty program, digital coupons, and the Cub mobile app drive repeat purchases and digital engagement.

Product overview

Cub Foods operates as a regional grocery retail chain in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area, offering a single unified retail platform with multiple departments and services. The core offering includes a full range of grocery departments (produce, dairy, meat, seafood, bakery, deli, frozen, pantry, snacks, beverages, and more) complemented by specialized departments including Cub Pharmacy, Cub Bakery, Cub Deli, Cub Floral, and Cub Beer, Wine & Spirits. The company offers private-label products under the Cub brand name and the Lift Bridge alcohol brand. Digital services include online shopping via Instacart-powered delivery and pickup, the My Cub Rewards loyalty program, and a mobile app. In March 2026, Cub Foods launched its grocery delivery service on Amazon's platform, expanding its digital reach to online shoppers in the Twin Cities area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Foods Grocery Stores Full-service regional grocery retail stores offering fresh produce, dairy, meat and seafood, bakery, deli, prepared foods, frozen foods, snacks, beverages, household items, and more across 25+ in-store departments, primarily serving shoppers in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area.
• Cub Private-Label Brands Cub Foods' owned private-label brands providing budget-friendly alternatives to national brands across grocery staples such as Cub Eggs, Cub Milk, and Cub Enriched White Bread.
• My Cub Rewards Customer loyalty program providing exclusive deals, digital coupons, fuel rewards, and cashback rebates to members who shop regularly at Cub Foods stores and online.
• Cub Pharmacy In-store pharmacy services at Cub locations, including prescription filling, prescription refills via RxTouch, appointment scheduling via Synerio, medication management, immunizations, and pharmacy consultations for individual customers.
• Pickup & Delivery Online grocery shopping service with curbside pickup and same-day home delivery, powered by Instacart integration, allowing customers to order groceries digitally from Cub for in-store pickup or delivery.
• The Cub App Mobile application for Cub Foods enabling customers to shop, access exclusive deals, manage My Cub Rewards, handle prescription services, and engage with store services on mobile devices.
• Catering & Custom Orders Catering and custom-order services including deli party trays, custom bakery orders, sheet cakes, and holiday meal preorders for events and gatherings served from Cub Foods deli and bakery departments.
• Lift Bridge (Private-Label Alcohol Brand) Cub Foods' owned private-label brand for beer, wine, and spirits sold through the in-store Beer, Wine & Spirits department, offering affordable alcoholic beverage options under Cub's own brand.
• Cub Grocery Delivery on Amazon Grocery delivery service offered through Amazon's marketplace in the Twin Cities, giving Amazon shoppers access to Cub's assortment of fresh produce, meats, pantry staples, prepared foods, and private-label brands with same-day delivery.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AmazonflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 March 2026Cub Foods launched its grocery delivery service on Amazon's platform in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area. The partnership enables Cub to expand its digital reach to more online shoppers while giving Amazon access to regional brands that complement its existing grocery ecosystem of Fresh and Whole Foods. Amazon plans to eventually offer grocery pickup at participating Cub locations alongside the delivery service.
• UNFI (United Natural Foods Incorporated)coreOthersUNFI serves as a major food distributor for Cub Foods. A cyberattack on UNFI caused system outages and supply disruptions affecting Cub Foods and co-ops in Minnesota. The attack forced pharmacy system shutdowns and created prescription delays, though affected Cub pharmacies resumed operations by Wednesday afternoon. UNFI is gradually restoring its ordering and receiving capabilities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Kroger: Largest pure-play U.S. supermarket operator with broad private-label (Simple Truth, Kroger brand), pharmacy, and digital grocery capabilities. Comparable to Cub as a full-service supermarket with loyalty program, private label, and pickup/delivery infrastructure, though operating nationally.
• Walmart: Largest U.S. grocery retailer with extensive Twin Cities presence and aggressive low-price positioning. Direct value competitor to Cub, with comparable private-label (Great Value), pharmacy, pickup/delivery, and fuel rewards programs.
• Albertsons: Major U.S. supermarket operator with banners including Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and Acme. Comparable to Cub as a multi-format grocer with pharmacy, private label (Signature/Own Brands), and digital delivery, competing for the same household value-conscious shoppers.
• Hy-Vee: Large employee-owned regional grocery chain with stores across the Midwest, including locations in Minnesota. Comparable to Cub as a multi-department grocer with pharmacy, private label, prepared foods, and digital delivery capabilities, but at significantly greater scale.
• Whole Foods Market: Amazon-owned premium natural/organic grocer operating in the Twin Cities. Comparable to Cub given the Amazon ownership overlap with Cub's new Amazon delivery partnership, and competing for fresh, prepared, and natural foods basket share.
• Target: Minnesota-headquartered mass retailer with strong grocery and pickup/delivery presence in the Twin Cities. Comparable to Cub as a same-market grocery competitor leveraging owned brand (Good & Gather, Favorite Day) and same-day delivery via Shipt.

Direct peers

• Lunds & Byerlys: Minneapolis-based family-owned regional grocery chain operating exclusively in the Twin Cities metro. Direct competitor to Cub with overlapping customer base, similar full-service format, and competing private-label offerings in the same market.
• Kowalski's Markets: Family-owned Twin Cities grocery operator focused on premium and natural/organic offerings. Direct competitor to Cub within the same metro area, competing for the same household shoppers with overlapping prepared foods and fresh department strength.
• Aldi: German discount grocer with aggressive Minnesota expansion. Direct value competitor to Cub, focusing on private-label penetration and low prices. Comparable in targeting inflation-pressured budget-conscious shoppers with a streamlined assortment.
• Trader Joe's: Specialty private-label grocery chain with multiple Twin Cities locations. Comparable to Cub as a grocer leveraging a strong private-label brand (Trader Joe's label) and curated assortment, though competing for slightly different shopper demographics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cubfoods
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cub
• Instagraminstagram.com/mycubfoods
• Pinterestpinterest.com/cubfoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cub-foods

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cub Foods