Schnuck Markets will close its Schnucks Fresh location in Jasper, Indiana, on May 24 after the 18,000-square-foot store failed to generate sufficient customer traffic since opening in summer 2021. Chairman and CEO Todd Schnuck said the store "simply has not generated the business it needs to stay open."
The closure underscores a broader challenge facing grocers who have invested in small-format concepts. Publix shut its Greenwise banner in 2023, while Kroger, Stop & Shop, and Whole Foods have all closed similar formats. Whole Foods' 365 stores failed to gain traction, though the chain has launched Daily Shop urban markets.
Schnucks operates one remaining Fresh location in Oak Grove Village, Missouri, that opened in 2023 and has no plans to open additional stores under the format. The Jasper store, which marked the debut of the Schnucks Fresh concept, offered a full-service experience designed for a community with limited grocery options. The company will offer its 29 Jasper employees the chance to relocate to a nearby Evansville, Indiana location or take a severance package.
The announcement comes roughly two years after Schnucks closed its natural and organic banner, Eatwell Market. Despite these setbacks, some retailers including Meijer and H-E-B continue to expand small-format offerings.