History
Our Founder, Kerm Walker (the young boy in the photo) was born to be a grocer. He would purchase this truck and start the first "supermarket" in Eau Claire when he was just 20 years old.
Kerm Walker would purchase this small shed and turn it into one of the the first "grocery stores" in Eau Claire.
The first "Super-Market" in Eau Claire, Founded by Kerm Walker, called Kerm's Super Foods.
The Walker's expanded in Wisconsin with an additional grocery banner called: Red Owl
The first Pick 'n Save in the upper mid-west was started by the Walker Family
Walker Grocery Group was born out of pure desire to provide excellent customer service and superior products, to people we can get to know and trust.
We have morphed through the generations and have remained a strong family owned company through all of our transitions.
1945 - Kerm Walker founded Kermʼs Market. The small store sold milk and a few grocery products.
1967 - Kerm Walker opened the first “super-market” in the Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin. He called this 11,000 square foot store: Kermʼs Super Foods. It featured all the perishable departments, 4 check-outs and a courtesy counter. His focus remained on customer service and cleanliness.
1969 - Kim Walker graduated high school and enrolled in the Grocery Management program at the University of Western Michigan. He excelled in school, was a member of the Grocerʼs Fraternity, and graduated in 4 years. He honed his skills at the family stores as well as Copp's Food Center in Illinois and Michigan.
1973 - Kim Walker joined the family business after completing his bachelors degree from the University of Western-Michigan. Kim focused in Food Marketing and was a member of the Grocers Fraternity.
1986 - The Walkerʼs opened their first Pick nʼ Save store in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It was again, the largest store in the Chippewa Valley and was the first “Super-Center” in the region. The store opened at 45,000 square feet and was later expanded to over 65,000.
1989 - The Walkers purchased an existing Red Owl store in Chippewa Falls, WI. This was their first step outside the city of Eau Claire, WI. The store was downtown Chippewa Falls.
1991 - Kim and Rick opened their second Pick nʼ Save store in Chippewa Falls, WI. They closed the Red Owl to allow their customers a much superior shopping experience in their cutting-edge Big Box Grocery Store.
1999 - The family business was purchased by a major wholesaler and the family briefly retired from the grocery business. This change offered time to reflect upon past experiences and explore future business opportunities.
2011 - The next generation of grocerʼs in the “Walker Family” decided to open a hard-discount grocery store in Southern Florida. The family decided to open a Save-a-Lot store in Lehigh Acres, Florida. It was the first Save-A-Lot food store in the family and Save-A-Lot store #1241.
2012 - The Family purchased an existing Save-a-Lot in Clewiston, Florida. The store went through an extensive renovation and took on a much friendlier look. The number of teammates more than doubled and the store now offers "Fresh Cut Meat."
2016 - Walker Grocery Group officially added a third Save-A-Lot location in Pahokee, Florida. The store has been in operation since 1960 and was converted to a Save-A-Lot (by previous owners) in 2008. The previous owners built and ran the store, so we are the proud second owners of a store with over 55 years of history.
2018 - Walker Grocery Group RE-entered the Wisconsin Grocery scene by purchasing their fourth Save-A-Lot in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The store was originally opened in 2012 and WGG took over on January 7th, 2018. The Walkers and Berards are very excited to be doing business back in our "home state!"
To Learn about more about Walker Grocery Group today ... visit the "Company" tab at the top of the page!