The number of chain supermarkets increased 16 percent during the same period. Lynn Nottestad is closing what was Maddock's only grocery store. The Hatzenbuhlers' supplier, Hartz Foods of Thief River Falls, Minn., served 70 grocery stores in North Dakota and about 100 in Minnesota before filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month. Hatzenbuhler admitted it's difficult to compete with supermarkets, but he tries provide a full-service business. The store, built in 1954, has five aisles and sections for bakery, produce, meat and personal care items.
Customer loyalty is a thing of the past.