10/16/2026
BUEHLERâS FRESH FOODS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE THREE SANDERS STORES IN OHIO
WOOSTER, Ohio â Buehlerâs Fresh Foods today announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire three Sanders grocery stores in Ohio, subject to the terms of the agreement and completion of the transaction.
The acquisition represents an important step in Buehlerâs growth strategy, providing an opportunity to expand its business, build on established customer relationships, and strengthen its presence in Ohio.
Buehler's Fresh Foods is proud to welcome the Sander's Markets team into its employee-owned company structure. Employees who meet eligibility requirements will have the opportunity to become part owners of Buehler's Fresh Foods, sharing directly in the company's success and future growth.
âToday is an exciting day for Buehlerâs Fresh Foods, but this announcement is about much more than three stores or additional sales. It is about people,â said Mike Davidson, President and CEO of Buehlerâs Fresh Foods. âBuehlerâs has been employee-owned since 2017, and our ESOP is an important part of who we are. We are excited to welcome the Sanders employees into our employee-ownership family. Because we are employee-owned, every employee's contribution truly matters. We are committed to working together to make this transition as comfortable and familiar as possible for our new team members, customers, and communities. We are excited about our future together."
Buehlerâs intends to retain the Sanders name for the immediate future and plans to take a thoughtful approach to the transition. The company looks forward to learning from the Sanders team, understanding its operations and customer relationships, and building on the strengths of the existing business.
âAt Buehlerâs, our philosophy is putting people first and always striving to be better,â Davidson added. âWe respect what the Sanders team has built and want to learn from their experience as we work together to identify opportunities to strengthen the stores. At the appropriate time, we expect to make investments that improve store operations and provide additional services to customers.â
"This is definitely a bittersweet moment for our family and for me personally," said Mark Sanders, co-owner of Sander's Markets. "We've been fortunate to work alongside an incredible team of people over the years, and that's what I'll miss the most. While change is never easy, we're excited for the opportunities this creates for our employees and the communities we serve. Knowing our team will remain in place and can become owners themselves gives us a lot of confidence in the future. We're looking forward to watching them grow and succeed as part of the Buehler's family."
Buehlerâs Fresh Foods is committed to serving customers with quality foods, knowledgeable associates, competitive prices, and outstanding customer service. The company believes the combination of the Sanders teamâs experience and Buehlerâs resources and employee-ownership culture offers an opportunity to build a stronger business for the future.
The Food Partners served as strategic and financial advisor to Buehlerâs in its acquisition of select Sanderâs stores.
Additional information regarding the transition will be communicated as details are confirmed.
