Pat’s Foods expands to Munising

What's happening: Houghton-based grocery chain Pat’s Foods is adding a 17th store with its purchase of the Family Fare grocery store in Munising. Pat’s Foods also bought Bob’s IGA in downtown Munising and will be consolidating the two grocery stores. Terms were not announced for either purchase. Pat’s Foods is the largest grocer in the region.

Who is behind Pat's Foods: Pat's Foods is owned by the Campioni Brothers. Ben and Joe Campioni are fourth-generation grocers with stores as far away as Hurley, Wisconsin, and Sault Ste. Marie. Munising will be the chain’s first step into the central Upper Peninsula; the next closest sister store is located in Gladstone.

Bob’s IGA namesake and former owner Bob St Amour and the Campioni’s father used to attend food vendor shows together in the 1980s, helping to create a close-to-home connection between Pat’s Foods and the Munising community. 

What they're saying: “We’re super excited. We’re planning a bunch of improvements in the next year and serving the Munising community,” said Ben Campioni. “The staff is great and we’re excited to work with them and provide that quality to Munising.”

What's next: All of the 45 employees from both stores have been retained by Pat’s Foods; there will be no layoffs. The final day of business for the original Bob’s IGA is May 17. There are no public plans about what that building will become, but it has been a grocery store continuously since the 1960s.