Shopko brings big city deals to rural areas with hometown format

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko plans to open five new Shopko Hometown stores in Afton, Wyo., St. Peter, Minn., and Winneconne, Ellsworth and Tomahawk, Wis., in late fall.



The Shopko Hometown retail format, developed to augment Shopko's larger store model and focused on serving the needs of smaller rural communities, combines retail health services with a broad offering of strong national brands and high-value private label brands of apparel, home furnishings, toys, consumer electronics, seasonal items, everyday consumables and lawn and garden products.



"We're excited to bring Shopko Hometown to these great communities," said interim CEO and COO Mike Bettiga. "We understand that consumers in smaller towns are looking for the same variety of high quality goods and trend right merchandise that can be found in larger cities. Customers of our Hometown stores tell us they appreciate the vastly improved shopping experience and access to a broad, differentiated selection of merchandise, including products and brands previously not available in their community."



By year end, these five stores will be part of the more than 180 Shopko Hometown stores, making Shopko one of the nation's largest retailers serving smaller communities.



Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., Shopko operates more than 330 stores in 21 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain, North Central and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 134 Shopko stores in small to mid-size cities, 176 Shopko Hometown locations in smaller communities, 5 Shopko Express Rx stores and 17 Shopko Pharmacy locations.