What Coborns Inc. does

Coborns Inc. is an employee-owned regional grocery retailer founded in 1921 in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, operating 79 grocery stores and more than 135 total retail locations across six Midwestern states (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois) under multiple retail banners including Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Hornbacher's, Marketplace Foods, Tadych's Marketplace Foods, Kessler's Food and Grocery, and Sullivan's Foods. The company is led by Chairman and CEO Chris Coborn and President Emily Coborn Wright (fifth-generation family member), with employee ownership structured through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) established in 2006 covering more than 10,000 employee-owners, whose share value has more than doubled since inception. Coborns serves general Midwest consumers with full-service grocery, fresh produce, prepared foods, deli, bakery, meat and seafood, alongside ancillary fuel stations, liquor stores, in-store pharmacies, and dry-cleaning services.

Core operational infrastructure includes a 25,000-square-foot central bakery operating 24/7 with approximately 110 employees, a 60,000-square-foot owned distribution center, and a Central Fill Pharmacy in Sauk Rapids (established 2019) dispensing up to 2,000 prescriptions per eight-hour shift at 99.99% robotic accuracy. The technology stack centers on an AI price optimization platform from Revionics (announced December 2025) for pricing and promotion decisions across multi-state grocery operations, an e-commerce platform powered by Instacart for the Hornbacher's mobile app and website, and a RetalixHQ/Power HQ vendor management system. The recent March 2026 launch of the Coborn's Market & Table flagship in Plymouth, MN introduced a grocerant concept integrating grocery retail with chef-led restaurants (The Global Table by David Fhima, The Buttered Tin), a liquor store, fuel station, and community gathering space, signaling a strategic pivot toward experiential retail formats.

Revenue is generated primarily through in-store grocery and ancillary retail transactions across the multi-banner footprint, with a secondary vendor marketing stream offering promotional packages (digital coupons, email campaigns, sweepstakes, dietitian-led TV segments, e-commerce advertising) priced on unit or transaction-fee bases ranging from $500 to $11,000 per campaign. The customer base is general Midwest consumers with no identifiable enterprise or B2B concentration; weekly print advertising reaches over 850,000 households and the MORE Rewards loyalty program ties grocery loyalty to fuel redemption at Holiday Stationstore and Circle K locations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company remains private with no external parent or private equity backing.

Name

Coborns Inc.

Legal name

Coborn's, Inc.

Website

https://cobornsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Coborns Inc. is an employee-owned regional grocery retailer operating 79 grocery stores and 135+ retail locations across six Midwestern states under multiple banners, serving Midwest consumers with fresh groceries, pharmacy, fuel, liquor, and an expanding grocerant flagship format.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Grocery Retail

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Baked Goods Retailers (445291), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Bakery Products (2050), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Supermarket Operators with In-Store Foodservice/Prepared Foods Focus (CRAHAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

In-Store / Supermarket Bakeries (THAFAFAE)

Keywords

• Regional grocery retail
• Supermarket chain
• Employee-owned grocer
• Midwest grocery
• Convenience retail services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Cloud

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grocery Retail Sales: Revenue generated from selling grocery products, fresh foods, bakery, deli, meat, produce, and prepared foods through retail store locations. Also includes revenue from fuel, liquor, coffee, hardware and pharmacy operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Coborns Inc. operates a multi-banner employee-owned grocery retail network of 135+ locations across six Midwestern states, selling fresh and packaged groceries, produce, meat, bakery, deli, prepared foods, pharmacy items, fuel, and liquor under banners including Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Hornbacher's, Marketplace Foods, Tadych's, Kessler's, and Sullivan's Foods. The company supports these stores with its own central bakery (25,000 sq. ft.), 60,000 sq. ft. distribution center, Central Fill Pharmacy, and an Instacart-powered e-commerce platform with a company-wide MORE Rewards loyalty program.

Product overview

Coborns Inc. is an employee-owned regional grocery retailer operating 79 grocery stores across six Midwestern states (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois) under multiple brands including Coborn's, Cash Wise Foods, Hornbacher's, Marketplace Foods, Tadych's Marketplace Foods, Kessler's Food and Grocery, and Sullivan's Foods. The company also operates fuel stations, liquor stores, coffee shops, hardware stores, and pharmacies. To support its retail operations, Coborns operates its own central bakery (25,000 sq ft), 60,000 sq ft warehousing and distribution center, and Central Fill Pharmacy. The company differentiates through its MORE Rewards loyalty program and innovative store concepts like the Coborn's Market & Table 'grocerant' model featuring restaurant partnerships (The Global Table by David Fhima, The Buttered Tin). Coborns serves nearly 10,000 employees and was recognized as Top 10 Regional Grocer by Progressive Grocer in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Global Table by David Fhima: Fast-casual dining concepts featuring Basta Pasta (Italian), Abuela's Mexican Kitchen, and Brother's Burgers, developed by celebrated Minnesota chef David Fhima. Located inside Coborn's Market & Table stores.
• The Buttered Tin
• Penny Horse Parlor
• House of Pizza
• Midwest Roots

Products and services

• Coborn's grocery retail banner Full-service grocery stores offering fresh foods, produce, meat, bakery, deli, and prepared foods. Serves Midwest consumers across Minnesota.
• Cash Wise Foods grocery banner Grocery retail banner with fuel and liquor operations serving the upper Midwest. Part of the Coborns family of stores.
• Hornbacher's grocery banner Premium grocery retail brand operating 8 locations in the Fargo-Moorhead area, offering fresh foods, online ordering via Instacart-powered mobile app, MORE Rewards integration, and self-checkout.
• Marketplace Foods banner Grocery retail banner operating in Wisconsin and surrounding areas under the Coborns family of stores.
• Tadych's Marketplace Foods banner Grocery retail banner serving Michigan and Wisconsin markets as part of Coborns' family of stores.
• Kessler's Food and Grocery banner Acquired grocery chain operated under Coborns' hybrid M&A model that preserves local brand identity to maintain community ties.
• Sullivan's Foods banner Grocery retail banner operating in Illinois and surrounding markets as part of Coborns' family of stores.
• MORE Rewards Loyalty Program Company-wide loyalty program enabling customers to earn rewards on grocery purchases redeemable for savings on future trips or fuel at Holiday Stationstore or Circle K locations, available via mobile app and web.
• Coborn's Market & Table flagship concept Flagship grocery store concept featuring a 'grocerant' model combining a full-service grocery with chef-led restaurant dining experiences, community gathering space, liquor store, and fuel station. Anchors The Boulevard development at I-494 and Bass Lake Road in Plymouth, Minnesota.
• The Global Table by David Fhima Restaurant partnership operating three fast-casual dining concepts inside Coborn's Market & Table: Basta Pasta (Italian), Abuela's Mexican Kitchen, and Brother's Burgers, developed by chef David Fhima.
• The Buttered Tin Restaurant partnership with James Beard-recognized chef and Food Network 'Cupcake Wars' winner Alicia Hinze, featuring scratch-made pastries, breakfast, and lunch favorites inside Coborn's Market & Table.
• Central Bakery 25,000 square foot central bakery producing breads, buns, muffins, cakes, bagels, cookies, donuts, and fried rolls for Coborn's, Cash Wise, and Little Duke's stores.
• Central Fill Pharmacy Centralized pharmacy facility in Sauk Rapids, MN, dispensing up to 2,000 prescriptions per eight-hour shift with 99.99% robotic accuracy to support in-store pharmacy teams.
• Warehousing and Distribution 60,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center managing delivery logistics of hundreds of grocery products for the entire Coborns family of stores across the upper Midwest.
• Tops Cleaners Dry cleaning and laundry services using environmentally friendly dry clean, wet clean, and launder approaches. Offered in nearly all Coborn's and Cash Wise stores since 1991.
• Andy's Liquor Liquor store chain operating multiple locations throughout the Midwest under the Coborns family of stores.
• Captain Jack's Liquor Land Liquor store chain operating multiple locations throughout the Midwest under the Coborns family of stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• ESOP share value has more than doubled since 2006
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mulberry's Garment CareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2026Premium and affordable dry-cleaning services at Coborn's Market & Table Plymouth location. Grocery store serves as drop-off and pick-up location for garment care.
• RevionicscoreTechnology or Integration · 19 December 2025Georgia-based software company providing AI price optimization platform to enhance Coborn's pricing strategy across grocery stores. The tool aims to optimize prices, promotions, and value perception while supporting chain growth across multiple Midwestern states.
• David FhimacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025Celebrated Minnesota chef bringing three fast-casual dining concepts (Basta Pasta, Abuela's Mexican Kitchen, Brother's Burgers) to Coborn's Market & Table flagship store. The partnership is a key component of Coborn's new grocerant model.
• The Buttered Tin (Alicia Hinze)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2025James Beard-recognized chef and Food Network Cupcake Wars winner Alicia Hinze opening third location of The Buttered Tin at Coborn's Market & Table. Restaurant brings scratch-made pastries, breakfast, and lunch favorites.
• WK Kellogg CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 September 2025Partnership for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Mission Tiger program donating $12,000 to four local middle schools for athletic programs. Second year partnership with Tony the Tiger mascot appearances.
• Folds of Honor FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 2 September 2025Third annual fundraising campaign partnership supporting families of veterans and first responders. Coborn's and Cash Wise stores host round-up donations and monetary contributions at checkout. Since 2023, raised over $178,000 through guest donations.
• House of PizzaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Local pizza restaurant opening inside Coborn's Pine Cone Road location in Sartell. Full-service restaurant offering dine-in, take-out and delivery of gourmet pizza favorites since 1964. Neighbors for 21 years.
• InstacartcoreTechnology or Integration · 30 January 2025Technology platform powering Hornbacher's new mobile app and improved website for online grocery shopping. Provides options for both pick-up service and home delivery.
• Midwest Roots Program PartnersminorOthersLocal growers and producers featured under Midwest Roots logo, offering fresh, local products. Includes partnerships with Superior Fresh, Thousand Hills, Midwest Dairy, and various local suppliers.
• Big Brothers Big SistersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner receiving $39,990 donation from Hornbacher's through annual Bowl for Kids' Sake campaign.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hy-Vee: Largest privately-held Midwest grocery competitor operating across IA, MN, SD, ND, NE, KS, MO and WI with comparable multi-banner grocery, fuel, pharmacy, and prepared-foods model; similar employee-friendly culture and scale make it Coborns' closest direct peer.
• SpartanNash: Public regional grocery wholesaler and retailer (Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, No Frills) operating across the Midwest with an integrated wholesale-distribution business comparable to Coborns' central bakery and 60,000 sq ft distribution center.
• Wegmans: Family-owned regional grocer with industry-leading prepared foods and restaurant-quality in-store dining, similar in quality positioning to Coborns' new Market & Table concept; while East Coast–centric, comparable on grocerant strategy and fresh differentiation.
• Meijer: Family-owned Midwest supercenter chain operating across MI, OH, IN, IL, KY, and WI with combined grocery + general merchandise + fuel model directly overlapping Coborns' Midwest footprint and format mix.
• Lunds & Byerlys: Minnesota-based premium grocery chain operating ~28 stores in the Twin Cities; directly competes in Coborns' home market with a similar emphasis on fresh, prepared foods, and elevated customer experience.
• Festival Foods: Wisconsin-based employee-owned grocery chain with ~40 stores and a strong fresh/prepared-foods focus; overlaps with Coborns' Marketplace Foods banner and competes directly in Wisconsin markets.
• Schnucks: Family-owned St. Louis-based regional grocer operating ~110 stores across MO, IL, IN, and WI; comparable size, multi-banner regional model, and emphasis on fresh and prepared foods.
• Roundy's (Kroger subsidiary): Milwaukee-based grocery subsidiary of Kroger operating Mariano's, Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Copps banners across WI and IL; direct competitor in Coborns' Wisconsin and Illinois markets.

Broad incumbents

• Publix: Largest employee-owned grocery chain in the U.S., operating across the Southeast; comparable ESOP-driven employee culture and grocery-with-prepared-foods model, though geographically non-overlapping.
• Kroger: Largest pure-play U.S. supermarket operator with significant Midwest presence through banners like Roundy's, Pick 'n Save, and Mariano's; represents the scale, technology, and pricing-power benchmark that regional grocers like Coborns must compete against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Coborns
• YouTubeyoutube.com/Coborns
• Facebookfacebook.com/CobornsGrocery
• Instagraminstagram.com/Coborns_stores

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Coborns Inc.