Shufersal
Shufersal is Israel's largest supermarket chain, operating grocery stores, drugstores, private-label products, digital commerce and related retail services.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Shufersal is Israel's largest supermarket retailer and one of the country's most significant consumer-facing companies. Established in 1958 by a group of grocers from Detroit, Michigan, the company introduced the American supermarket model to Israel. Its name combines the Aramaic word shufra, meaning premium or excellence, with sal, the Hebrew word for basket. The business was formerly rendered in English as Super-Sol and is also commonly referred to as Super-sal. The company operates a broad multi-format retail network serving mainstream grocery shoppers, discount-oriented households and selected communities with distinct purchasing requirements. In 2005, Shufersal reorganized its store portfolio around several formats, including Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Big and Shufersal Sheli. These formats were intended to address different combinations of price, assortment, convenience and location. In 2009, the company introduced the Yesh chain to serve the Haredi market, with larger-family pack sizes, lower-price positioning and stricter kosher standards. Some Yesh locations also adopted operating practices designed for their local communities, including separate shopping hours for men and women. Shufersal expanded materially through acquisition as well as organic store development. In early 2006 it acquired Clubmarket, then Israel's third-largest retail chain. The transaction increased Shufersal's scale but also attracted antitrust scrutiny and the threat of legal action. The company subsequently broadened its customer relationship and payment proposition by launching the Shufersal Credit Card in October 2006. It also sells through telephone, fax and internet-based ordering channels, complementing its physical stores with remote and digital shopping services. Private-label merchandise is an important part of the business. Shufersal sells more than 1,300 products under its store-brand proposition, giving it greater control over pricing, assortment and differentiation from competing supermarkets. Its retail activities are complemented by commercial real estate and a drugstore business operated through Be Drugstores Ltd. As of 2024, the company had 316 stores and 96 Be Drugstores branches, with approximately 15,500 employees. According to the cited reference, the company held roughly a 20 percent share of Israel's supermarket market in 2018. Shufersal has been a significant participant in the consolidation and modernization of Israeli grocery retail. In 2023, it announced a partnership with Spar, the Dutch-French retailer, to open at least ten Spar stores in Israel and distribute Spar-branded products. The arrangement was withdrawn in September 2023 because of restrictions associated with the Israel Competition Authority. In 2024, Shlomi and Yossi Amir acquired a 24.99 percent stake from institutional investors for NIS 1.5 billion, becoming the company's controlling shareholders. Shufersal is therefore simultaneously a listed retailer, a national supermarket brand, a private-label platform and a diversified consumer-services operator.
History
Shufersal was established in Israel in 1958 by a group of grocers from Detroit, Michigan. Nate Lurie of Southfield, Michigan was among the co-founders and served as the company's first board chairman. From its beginning, the retailer sought to adapt the American supermarket concept to the Israeli market. Its name is formed from shufra, an Aramaic term associated with premium quality, and sal, the Hebrew word for basket. The company developed into Israel's leading supermarket chain and became an important force in the modernization of food retailing. Its expansion was not limited to a single store concept. In 2005, Shufersal introduced a strategic format structure built around Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Big and Shufersal Sheli. These formats allowed the company to vary its price proposition, store scale and merchandise mix according to local market conditions. A major turning point came in early 2006, when Shufersal acquired Clubmarket, the third-largest retail chain in Israel at the time. The acquisition increased the company's scale and competitive reach, but it also generated competition concerns and a threatened antitrust suit in 2009. In October 2006, Shufersal launched a branded credit card, extending its relationship with shoppers beyond the point of grocery purchase. The company's turnover for 2007 was reported as NIS 9,935 million in the cited reference material, although this dossier does not independently add that figure to the financial profile because the reference does not provide a separate source URL and reporting context. In 2009, Shufersal launched Yesh, a subsidiary aimed at the Haredi market. Yesh stores were designed around the purchasing patterns and religious requirements of that customer base, including larger-family pack sizes, lower prices and stricter kosher standards. Some stores also used separate shopping hours for men and women. This move illustrated Shufersal's broader strategy of using differentiated formats rather than relying solely on a uniform national store model. Shufersal also expanded its business beyond conventional supermarket selling. It developed telephone, fax and internet ordering channels and built a substantial private-label program, with more than 1,300 store-brand products reported in its stores. The company additionally engages in commercial real estate and operates a drugstore business through Be Drugstores Ltd. By 2024, the company had 316 stores, 96 Be Drugstores branches and approximately 15,500 employees, according to the cited Wikipedia reference. Its shares trade on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and it is included in the TA-125 Index. In March 2023, Shufersal announced a partnership with Spar, the Dutch-French multinational retail group. The proposed arrangement contemplated at least ten Spar stores in Israel over three years and exclusive distribution of Spar-branded products in Israel. In September 2023, Shufersal announced that it had decided to withdraw from the arrangement because of restrictions associated with the Competition Authority. The episode demonstrated the regulatory sensitivity of large-scale grocery partnerships and branded-product exclusivity in Israel. Ownership changed significantly in 2024. Shlomi and Yossi Amir acquired a 24.99 percent stake from a group of institutional investors for NIS 1.5 billion and became Shufersal's controlling shareholders. The transaction marked a new phase in the company's governance while leaving its central role in Israeli grocery retail intact.
- 2024
Amir family takes control
[1]Shlomi and Yossi Amir acquire a 24.99 percent stake and become Shufersal's controlling shareholders.
- 2023
Spar partnership announced
[1]Shufersal announces plans to open Spar stores and distribute Spar-branded products in Israel. The company withdraws from the Spar arrangement following restrictions associated with the Competition Authority.
- 2009
Yesh subsidiary launched
[1]Shufersal launches Yesh, a format designed for the Haredi market.
- 2006
Clubmarket acquisition
[1]Shufersal acquires Clubmarket, expanding its position in Israel's supermarket market.
- 2006
Shufersal Credit Card launched
[1]The retailer launches a branded credit card to support customer engagement and payment services.
- 2005
Multi-format store strategy introduced
[1]The company organizes its retail proposition around Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Big and Shufersal Sheli.
- 1958
Shufersal is founded
[1]A group of Detroit-based grocers establishes Shufersal in Israel, introducing the American supermarket model to the country.
Products and positioning
A national, multi-format supermarket retailer combining broad grocery assortment, discount-oriented formats, private-label merchandise, digital and remote ordering, and complementary drugstore services.
Grocery retail · 1958
Shufersal supermarket stores
The core Shufersal network sells fresh food, packaged groceries, beverages, household goods, personal-care products and other everyday consumer merchandise. The chain uses multiple store formats to serve different combinations of convenience, assortment and price sensitivity across Israel.
Discount supermarket format · 2005
Shufersal Deal
A value-oriented format introduced as part of Shufersal's 2005 strategic store segmentation. It emphasizes competitive pricing while retaining the company's grocery and household assortment.
Large-format supermarket · 2005
Shufersal Big
A larger store concept created to provide expanded selling space and a broad assortment. The format forms part of Shufersal's differentiated national store portfolio.
Supermarket format · 2005
Shufersal Sheli
A supermarket format established during the company's 2005 format strategy. It is intended to address a distinct combination of neighborhood accessibility, product range and pricing within the wider Shufersal network.
Specialty supermarket format · 2009
Yesh
Launched in 2009 for the Haredi market, Yesh focuses on products suited to larger households, lower-price positioning and stricter kosher requirements. Some locations have used separate shopping hours for men and women.
Store-brand merchandise
Shufersal private label
Shufersal sells more than 1,300 products under its private-label proposition. The range supports assortment differentiation and gives the retailer a direct tool for managing value, pricing and category presence.
Drugstores
Be Drugstores
Be Drugstores Ltd. operates the company's drugstore business, extending Shufersal's retail presence into pharmacy-related, personal-care, beauty and household categories. The business had 96 branches as of 2024 according to the cited reference.
Retail financial service · 2006
Shufersal Credit Card
A branded payment and customer-engagement service introduced in 2006. It broadened Shufersal's relationship with shoppers beyond store transactions.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2024
Change in controlling ownershipM&ABackground
A group of institutional investors sold a substantial stake in Israel's largest supermarket chain.
Action taken
Shlomi and Yossi Amir purchased a 24.99 percent stake and became controlling shareholders.
Aftermath
The transaction established new controlling ownership for the listed retailer.
Purchase price for a 24.99 percent stake. NIS 1.5 billion (2024)
2023
Proposed Spar partnershipStrategyBackground
Shufersal pursued an international retail partnership to expand store concepts and branded-product access in Israel.
Action taken
The company announced plans with Spar for at least ten Israeli stores over three years and exclusive sales of Spar-branded products.
Aftermath
Shufersal withdrew from the agreement in September 2023 after restrictions associated with the Competition Authority.
2009
Launch of Yesh for the Haredi marketStrategyBackground
Shufersal identified the Haredi community as a market requiring specialized assortment, pricing and operating practices.
Action taken
It launched Yesh with larger-family products, lower prices, stricter kosher standards and, at some stores, separate shopping hours.
Aftermath
Yesh became a distinct customer-focused format within the Shufersal group.
2006
Acquisition of ClubmarketM&ABackground
Clubmarket was Israel's third-largest retail chain, making the transaction a major expansion opportunity for Shufersal.
Action taken
Shufersal acquired Clubmarket and integrated the additional scale into its national retail business.
Aftermath
The acquisition drew antitrust scrutiny and contributed to a threatened suit in 2009.
2005
Creation of differentiated supermarket formatsStrategyBackground
Shufersal sought to serve differing shopper needs through a more segmented retail network.
Action taken
The company created the Shufersal Deal, Shufersal Big and Shufersal Sheli formats.
Aftermath
The formats became part of Shufersal's multi-format operating model.
Recent events
Shufersal CEO Itzik Aberhahn resigns[2]
Reported:
Shufersal CEO Itzik Aberhahn resigned. He said he had decided to end his tenure after 10 years as CEO and more than 21 years with the company.
Shufersal reports second-quarter and first-half 2021 results[3]
Reported:
Shufersal announced financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2021, reporting second-quarter revenue of approximately NIS 3.6 billion and net profit of approximately NIS 97 million.
Sources4 sources
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