Remke Markets Bigg’s is a chain of supermarkets in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Beginning in 1897 as a meat market in Covington, KY by William Remke, the supermarket has grown into 14 locations. The supermarket merged with the struggling bigg’s division of SUPERVALU in 2010, with both brands becoming “Remke Markets bigg’s” after the merger. They are now a service oriented store that focuses on food only, and participation within the community.
History
Beginning in 1897 as a meat market in Covington, KY by William Remke, the supermarket had grown to 14 locations at its peak. Once bought and converted into a hypermarket, Bigg’s became Remke bigg’s, with only 11 stores.
Bigg’s attempted an expansion into the Western United States in 1989 with a 250,000 sq ft location outside Denver, Colorado, but its welcome was only temporary. Its initial success made executives consider expanding into the area, but as sales slowed, and these plans never came about.
Never quite capturing the market outside Cincinnati, Bigg’s was eventually completely bought out by SUPERVALUE in 1994.
Over time, these 11 locations continued to drop in sales. Because the company has been facing financial losses due to increasing competition with other brands such as Wal-Mart, Meijer, and Kroger, SUPERVALU appointed Steve “KAZ” Kaczynski President of bigg’s in 2006. Since CEO Kaczynski has taken over; 5 stores have been remodeled to their new Premium, Fresh & Healthy formats, that have proved to be highly successful & profitable. However, the decision was made in 2008, to shut down the bigg’s at Cincinnati Mills (now Cincinnati Mall) due to a continued decline in sales.
In 2009, “KAZ” left, and in March 29, 2010, they announced that they will be selling all six Bigg’s locations to Remke Markets and will close the remaining five. On April 8, 2010 a seventh store was added to the list to be purchased, leaving four to be closed.
In March 2010 SUPERVALUE announced their intention to close five of its stores and sell the other six to Remke Markets. Later on April 8, 2010, Remke announced it would be buying a seventh store in Harrison that has been scheduled to close. Remke said those stores it purchases would retain the Bigg’s brand immediately after the transfer, but may make changes in the future.
The stores not purchased did eventually close by June 2010. The Bigg’s in Eastgate has shut down, and will become a second location of Jungle Jim’s International Market. The remaining bigg’s were renovated to remove the general merchandise (in the stores that had them) and renamed Remke Markets bigg’s. Existing Remke Markets stores were renamed Remke Markets bigg’s. As of today, there are 14 Remke bigg’s markets in the northern KY, and Cincinnati, OH metro area.
Stats
Headquarters: Erlanger, KY
Number of Stores: 14 (2010)
Number of Employees: unknown (2011)
Revenue: $8,673,000 (2010)
Geography: centrally located in Northern KY, and Cincinnati, OH
Special Services: produce, bakery, deli, meat, floral departments within each store.
In 1996 Bigg’s gave all of their customers a card that will accumulate their sales. When sales average $30 or more per month, they receive coupons for free items. The value of those free items accumulated over a year equals about a week’s worth of spending for that household.
Remke Markets also operates several community outreach programs such as
- Remke Student Achiever Program- where local students who excel in academics, sports, and community involvement are given a banquet where scholarships are awarded.
- Remke Markets also spearheaded the televising of high school football games.
- They host the Remke Charity Golf Classic which raises money to benefit the Point/Arc of Northern Kentucky, a fund for intellectual/developmentally delayed individuals.
- American Heart Association, and The American Cancer Society.
Banners
Remke bigg’s
Brands
Bigg’s, Remke Markets bigg’s; and SUPERVALU
Important links:
Corporate Homepage
Online shopping- not available
Bigg’s Circular and specials and coupons
Bigg’s Jobs – apply in store only
Remke’s Store Locations
Remke’s Customer Service
About a month ago we bought a water dispenser to use for using in our KEURIG then buy gallon jugs of water bringing the bottle back and refill them for 38 cents a gallon. Not long after we bought the large refillable jug they removed the ” filling station” and the gallons of water went to 88 cents , this week it went to 98 cents. There was no warning it was just gone. What a scam. We shop at Remke on Crookshank and the one in Delhi.
Remke has reduced selections of things in every department so we need to go, to different stores to get what we need
Your lucky water gallons in Montain are 3-4 dollars for a low
store arrange like meijers store , bring vday kids valentines cards
your pump perks system is a sham! The correct total of earned pump perks is consistently incorrect at check-out. Again today I was cheated our of 5 cents since my award for spending $55 was missed at the check-out. I live too far away to return to the store for correction. This never happened when the store was Biggs.
I have been shopping at bigg's for years, and been very happy EXCEPT for the smell – pre-Remke, there was a very strong smell of frying grease (like for making French fries). I spoke to 2-3 managers during those years; it would improve for a few weeks then get nasty again. I am serious about a smell: when bigg's sold t-shirts, etc, everything I bought had to be washed several times before wearing. A doubly bad situation since the product quality was so good. Now, I'm up to three times this summer with the same complaint – managers look at me blankly like I'm nuts – if they walked outside for 2-3 minutes then went back into the store, they's understand! I've tried to be patient – obviously – but bigg's is about to be crossed off my shopping list permanently. The renovations currently underway give management a perfect opportunity to re-vamp the air-handling systems. Let's hope they take advantage of it.