STILLWATER, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The year 1968 is often regarded as a turning point in American history. In Minnesota, it marked the opening of Minneapolis’ Nicollet Mall, the iconic, closed-to-traffic outdoor shopping and office venue. It also was the year Vice President and former Minnesota Senator Hubert Humphrey ran for president, after securing the Democratic nomination over Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy. And Cub® Foods was founded by Stillwater-based brothers Charles and Jack Hooley, brother-in-law Robert Thueson, and friend and business partner Culver Davis, Jr.
To commemorate this landmark year in Minnesota history, Cub, a division of SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE: SVU), is launching a month-long celebration during September.
“Cub has been Minnesota’s hometown grocer for multiple generations, and we wanted to find a special way to celebrate our anniversary and thank the community for their support,” said Brian Audette, Cub president. “Over the past 45 years, our employees helped to make Cub a grocery leader, and our more than 5,000 current employees continue that great tradition of service and excellence in our stores today.”
A month of prizes
Throughout September, Cub will be giving
away gift cards and other prizes totaling more than $100,000. Each day
from Sept. 1 to Sept. 28 at each of Cub’s 67 stores, one customer will
be awarded a surprise, instant-win $45 store gift card. Winners will be
selected at random and notified daily between September 1st and
September 28th.
Cub also is inviting local residents to submit via Facebook a photo or video representing their favorite Cub moment or why they love Cub for a chance to win a year’s worth of free groceries valued at $4,500 in the form of Cub gift cards. Additional details about the contest can be found on Cub’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cub.
At the Minnesota State Fair
Cub is kicking off its
anniversary celebration at the Minnesota State Fair on Labor Day,
Monday, Sept. 2, with special events planned at Carousel Park from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m., including:
- A “Best Bagger” competition, featuring local team mascots, including T.C. Bear (Minnesota Twins), Goldy Gopher (University of Minnesota) and Mudonna (St. Paul Saints), as well as participants from the crowd
- Autograph sessions with former Twins first-baseman Gene Larkin and former Vikings defensive-end “Benchwarmer Bob” Lurtsema
- Music by the Mud Dogs, a Midwest favorite band
- Meet-and-greets with local growers
- Random Cub gift card giveaways
- Announcement of the Minnesota Vikings Kick for Cash event
- Presentation to the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund
- Presentation to Cub from Second Harvest Heartland of its 2013 Hunger Action Hero green award for donating more than 7 million pounds of fresh food and for Cub’s ongoing support of the organization’s hunger-relief efforts with time, funds and expertise
Cub Foods history
Cub was one of the first discount food
stores in the United States. The name “CUB” originally stood for
Consumers United for Buying to represent the cooperative nature of the
store’s pricing structure. Among its many innovations, Cub was one of
the first grocery retailers to implement check-out conveyor belt systems.
Cub was acquired by SUPERVALU in 1980 with five stores and has since expanded to 67 stores today.
Additional information about Cub’s 45th anniversary celebration, including contest rules, can be found online at www.cub.com or www.facebook.com/cub.
About Cub Foods
Cub® Foods offers customers the
freshest produce, widest selection and food expertise throughout the
store to meet their everyday grocery needs. In addition to innovative
local, ethnic and organic food sections, Cub stores offer shoppers
multiple in-store services, including fresh bakery, full-service deli
and meat departments, pharmacy and banking. Cub Foods, based in
Stillwater, Minnesota, was established in 1968 as one of the nation’s
first discount grocery stores. The organization was purchased in 1980 by
SUPERVALU and currently operates 67 stores in Minnesota and Illinois.
For company news and information, follow us on Twitter at @CubFoods.