The Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) has honored Jim Tadych of Tadych’s Econofoods as the 2015 Wisconsin Grocer Of The Year. Tadych operates stores in Brillion, Clintonville and Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and in Iron Mountain, Marquette and Houghton, Michigan. He was nominated for the honor by Larry Syring of SpartanNash.
According to the WGA: When you ask Tadych why he has been in the grocery business for more than 45 years he will tell you it is because he loves people and loves filling the needs of his customers.
Tadych started in the grocery business in 1968 with a small T&C Market grocery store in Brillion, where he was part of a small four-person team. From meat cutting, ordering and bagging groceries, he wore many hats. With a steady increase in business, Tadych soon moved to the 6,300-s.f. building next to his first store.
In 1978, Tadych obtained a second store location in Brillion and built a 14,500-s.f. T&C Market closer to downtown. In 1993, the store expanded again and, in 2009, a new 37,500-s.f. store was built across the street.
Opportunities came along in other markets, and Tadych saw a way to not only expand his company to six stores but also meet the needs of people as a “one-stop shop” in Northeast Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
In addition, Tadych is involved in the communities where his stores operate. He is involved in programs like “Shop with a Cop,” activities for children during the Christmas season, Boys and Girls Club fundraising, local chambers of commerce, Door County YMCA, local county fair auctions that support scholarship programs, United Way fundraisers, store tours for grade school classes, local athletic and academic initiatives, as well as “We Share” for area food banks. Over the years, Tadych’s Econofoods has contributed more than $ 1 million to local community programs.
The giving goes beyond the local communities, too—with the annual Tadych’s Econofoods/T&C Market Golf Outing. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the outing and more than 225 vendor partners participated.
Helping spur the success and growth of the company alongside Tadych are his two sons—Mike, president, and Marc, VP; brothers—Dave, GM, and Jerry, meat department supervisor; and nephew—Jon, who is the grocery manager in Iron Mountain.
Tadych also provides opportunities for associates within the organization; he is proud to promote from within and assist people in their career paths.
“Future success in our business, like any other business, requires the right people, the right products, the right services and a quality distribution center,” says Tadych. “That is where we are today and will continue to be for years to come.”
