Roundy's
American supermarket operator and grocery retail platform whose banners include Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Roundy's is an American supermarket operator headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company traces its origins to 1872, when William E. Smith, Judson Roundy, and Sidney Hauxhurst established Smith, Roundy & Co. in Milwaukee. It developed first as a wholesale grocery supplier, serving independent retailers and participating in the distribution side of the food trade before progressively building a more substantial company-operated retail presence. The business has operated through several strategic phases. Its historical wholesale activity included distribution to independent supermarkets, including stores associated with the IGA system. Over time, changing competitive conditions led Roundy's to move away from wholesale distribution and concentrate more heavily on retail supermarkets, food production, and logistics. The company also expanded through acquisitions, including the purchase of Copps Food Centers in 2001. Copps stores became part of Roundy's Wisconsin retail network, although efforts to convert them to the Pick 'n Save banner encountered customer resistance and were carried out unevenly. Roundy's portfolio has included several differentiated retail concepts. Pick 'n Save developed from a warehouse-style food-store format introduced in 1975 and eventually became a conventional supermarket chain serving Wisconsin communities. Metro Market, introduced in 2004, was designed as a smaller-format urban and neighborhood grocery concept, with a presence particularly associated with the Milwaukee and Madison markets. Mariano's Fresh Market launched in 2010 and applied a fresh-food-oriented, upscale supermarket concept to the Chicago area. The banner was named after Robert Mariano, a former Roundy's chief executive who had previously led Dominick's. The company changed ownership and capital structure repeatedly in the early twenty-first century. Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago private-equity firm, took Roundy's private in 2002. Roundy's later returned to the public markets through an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in February 2012. The shares began trading at an initial offering price of $8.50 per share. In December 2015, Roundy's was acquired by Cincinnati-based Kroger in a transaction valued at approximately $800 million including debt, and its public listing ended. Roundy's retained its Milwaukee headquarters after becoming a Kroger subsidiary. The Kroger transaction gave Kroger an entry into the Chicago grocery market, principally through Mariano's, while also preserving Roundy's Wisconsin operations and banners. Roundy's has operated supermarkets and pharmacies in Wisconsin and Illinois and has maintained food-production facilities and distribution infrastructure in Wisconsin, including distribution centers associated with Mazomanie and Oconomowoc. The Roundy's name is used primarily as a corporate and private-label identity rather than as the principal customer-facing supermarket banner. Its front-facing brands have been Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's, with Copps serving as a former banner. Kroger completed the rebranding of remaining Copps locations to Pick 'n Save in 2017. Robert Mariano retired as chief executive on September 1, 2016. Roundy's remains an active Kroger subsidiary, although current executive details, store counts, and operating figures should be verified against current company or Kroger disclosures.
History
Roundy's history began in Milwaukee in 1872 with the formation of Smith, Roundy & Co. by William E. Smith, Judson Roundy, and Sidney Hauxhurst. The enterprise entered the grocery trade as a wholesale supplier, a role that made it an important intermediary for independent food retailers. Its distribution business included supplying independent supermarkets, including stores connected with IGA. This wholesale orientation distinguished the company from a purely store-based supermarket chain and gave it experience in procurement, warehousing, and grocery logistics. The company diversified its food operations during the twentieth century. In 1942, it purchased the Clark & Host coffee-roasting company from Charles Clark. The transaction added a food-production and branded-product dimension to the business. Roundy's subsequently operated production facilities, including facilities in Kenosha and other Wisconsin locations, alongside its distribution activities. Roundy's later shifted its strategic emphasis from wholesale distribution toward company-operated retailing. This change reflected the increasingly competitive nature of grocery markets and the advantages of controlling customer-facing stores and banners. In 1975, the company introduced the Pick 'n Save warehouse food-store concept. Although Pick 'n Save was initially positioned as a warehouse-style grocery format, it evolved over time into a more traditional supermarket chain. Its development was aided by changes among competing Wisconsin food retailers, including the decline of Kohl's Food Stores under A&P ownership and major changes affecting Piggly Wiggly. Acquisition became an important part of Roundy's retail expansion. In 2001, the company acquired Copps Food Centers, adding a recognizable Wisconsin supermarket banner to its portfolio. Roundy's made several attempts to convert Copps stores to Pick 'n Save, but customer attachment to the Copps identity made the rebranding uneven and controversial at the local level. The banner continued for years under Roundy's ownership before Kroger eventually completed the conversion of Copps locations to Pick 'n Save in 2017. In 2002, the Chicago private-equity firm Willis Stein & Partners took Roundy's private. That same year, Robert Mariano became chief executive. Mariano had previously been chief executive of Dominick's before that chain was sold to Safeway in 1998. Under his leadership, Roundy's developed additional retail concepts. Metro Market launched in 2004 as a smaller-format store aimed especially at Milwaukee and Madison. The concept occupied a position between a conventional supermarket and a more urban or neighborhood-oriented grocery store, competing with local and specialty operators such as Sendik's, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods Market. Mariano's Fresh Market launched in 2010 in the Chicago market. Named for Robert Mariano, the banner emphasized a fresh-food-oriented and more upscale supermarket experience. It became strategically significant because it gave Roundy's a distinctive presence in the Chicago area. In December 2013, Roundy's and Mariano announced the planned purchase of 11 Dominick's stores, with the intention of converting them to Mariano's after Safeway closed the Dominick's chain in early 2014. Roundy's returned to public ownership in 2012. Its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 8, with an initial offering price of $8.50 per share. The company was later sold to Kroger. Announced on November 11, 2015, the transaction was valued at approximately $800 million including debt and closed on December 18, 2015. Roundy's shares ceased trading at completion, and the company became a Kroger subsidiary. The acquisition was widely understood as giving Kroger an entry into the Chicago market through Mariano's, while Roundy's retained its Milwaukee headquarters and Wisconsin operating infrastructure. After the acquisition, Roundy's continued operating as a regional platform within Kroger's wider grocery system. Its portfolio has centered on Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's, while the Roundy's name has been used mainly for corporate and private-label purposes. The company has also maintained pharmacy operations, food-production facilities, and Wisconsin distribution centers associated with Mazomanie and Oconomowoc. Robert Mariano retired as chief executive on September 1, 2016. Current leadership and operating scale require verification from up-to-date Kroger or company disclosures.
- 2017
Copps locations are rebranded as Pick 'n Save
[1]Kroger completes the rebranding of remaining Copps locations to Pick 'n Save.
- 2016
Robert Mariano retires
[1]Mariano retires as Roundy's chief executive on September 1.
- 2015
Kroger acquisition closes
[1]Kroger completes its acquisition of Roundy's on December 18, making the company a subsidiary and ending its NYSE listing.
- 2013
Planned acquisition of 11 Dominick's stores
[1]Roundy's and Robert Mariano announce plans to acquire and convert 11 Dominick's locations to Mariano's.
- 2012
Roundy's returns to the public markets
[1]Roundy's begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 8 following an initial public offering.
- 2010
Mariano's Fresh Market launches
[1]Roundy's launches Mariano's Fresh Market in the Chicago market as a fresh-food-oriented supermarket concept.
- 2004
Metro Market launches
[1]Roundy's introduces Metro Market as a smaller-format grocery concept, particularly associated with Milwaukee and Madison.
- 2002
Willis Stein & Partners takes Roundy's private
[1]The Chicago private-equity firm acquires Roundy's, ending its prior public ownership period.
- 2001
Roundy's acquires Copps Food Centers
[1]The acquisition adds Copps supermarkets to Roundy's Wisconsin retail portfolio.
- 1975
Pick 'n Save warehouse concept launches
[1]Roundy's introduces the Pick 'n Save warehouse food-store format, which later develops into a conventional supermarket chain.
Products and positioning
A regional, multi-banner supermarket operator combining conventional grocery stores, smaller-format urban markets, fresh-food-oriented stores, pharmacy services, food production, and distribution capabilities under Kroger ownership.
Supermarket banner · 1975
Pick 'n Save
Pick 'n Save originated as Roundy's warehouse-style food-store concept in 1975. It subsequently developed into a traditional supermarket chain serving Wisconsin. Stores generally offer broad grocery assortments, including fresh food, packaged food, household products, pharmacy services, and other routine supermarket categories. Pick 'n Save became the principal successor banner for former Copps locations after Kroger completed a later rebranding program.
Smaller-format supermarket banner · 2004
Metro Market
Metro Market was introduced in 2004 as a smaller-store grocery concept. It has been particularly associated with the Milwaukee and Madison markets and is positioned for neighborhood and urban shopping missions. The format competes with a mixture of regional specialty grocers, independent operators, and national natural-food and small-format chains.
Fresh-food-oriented supermarket banner · 2010
Mariano's Fresh Market
Mariano's Fresh Market launched in 2010 in the Chicago market. The banner was named after Robert Mariano and was developed as a differentiated, fresh-food-oriented supermarket concept. Its expansion, including the planned conversion of former Dominick's stores, became central to Roundy's Chicago strategy and was a principal reason the Roundy's platform was strategically relevant to Kroger.
Former supermarket banner
Copps Food Centers
Copps Food Centers joined Roundy's through the company's 2001 acquisition. The banner retained local customer recognition in Wisconsin, and attempts to replace it with Pick 'n Save were not uniformly successful. Kroger ultimately completed the conversion of remaining Copps stores to Pick 'n Save in 2017.
Grocery private label
Roundy's private-label products
The Roundy's name has primarily functioned as a corporate and private-label identity rather than as the main name on customer-facing supermarkets. The private-label range covers grocery and food products sold through the company's retail network, although a current item-level assortment is not specified in the available reference material.
Brand decisions
2017
Completion of Copps-to-Pick 'n Save conversionsStrategyBackground
Roundy's had made earlier attempts to replace the Copps identity, but local customer sentiment made the conversions uneven.
Action taken
Kroger completed the rebranding of remaining Copps locations to Pick 'n Save.
Aftermath
Copps ceased to function as a principal customer-facing banner within the Roundy's retail portfolio.
2015
Sale of Roundy's to KrogerM&ABackground
Roundy's operated a portfolio spanning Wisconsin and the Chicago market, while Kroger lacked a significant established presence in Chicago.
Action taken
Kroger agreed to acquire Roundy's in a transaction valued at approximately $800 million including debt. The transaction closed on December 18, 2015.
Aftermath
Roundy's became a Kroger subsidiary, retained its Milwaukee headquarters, and its public shares ceased trading. The acquisition gave Kroger access to the Chicago market, particularly through Mariano's.
Transaction value including debt. $800 million (2015 acquisition announcement and closing)
2013
Purchase and conversion of 11 Dominick's storesM&ABackground
Safeway was closing the Dominick's chain in the Chicago area, creating an opportunity for Roundy's to expand its Mariano's concept.
Action taken
Roundy's and Robert Mariano announced plans to purchase 11 Dominick's locations and rebrand them as Mariano's stores.
Aftermath
The move supported Mariano's expansion in Chicago and strengthened the regional platform that later attracted Kroger.
2002
Shift from wholesale distribution toward retail concentrationStrategyBackground
Roundy's had historically been a major wholesale supplier to independent supermarkets, but the company increasingly emphasized company-operated retail stores and related food operations.
Action taken
The business moved away from the wholesale market and focused more heavily on supermarket banners, retail operations, production, and distribution infrastructure.
Aftermath
This strategic direction established the multi-banner regional supermarket platform that later included Pick 'n Save, Metro Market, and Mariano's.
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