'Michigan Made' Makes its Mark on State Economy -- Spartan Stores Expands MICHIGAN's BEST

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grand Rapids, MI-based Spartan Stores announced today it is expanding its MICHIGAN's BEST program due to strong consumer response and its impact on local economies throughout the state. The expanded program kicked off Fourth of July weekend in 97 Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, Felpausch, Glen's, Glen's Fresh Marketplace, and VG's stores, as well as 250 independent grocery stores selling Spartan Stores products throughout Michigan. Spartan Stores created the MICHIGAN's BEST program in July of 2009 to pay tribute to Michigan farmers and businesses and help residents identify Michigan made products. The initial campaign promoted 2,400 products grown and produced by 42 businesses and farms in Michigan and emphasized that buying Michigan made products is a simple – and healthy – way to boost the state's economy.

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Spartan Stores believes the impact of the MICHIGAN's BEST program on our state economy and health in general is significant, notes Alan Hartline, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing for Spartan Stores. "The Michigan's Best program supports our State, our manufacturers, our farmers, our neighbors, and our families simply by choosing Michigan made products.  Buying local helps keep Michigan residents employed.  It also benefits communities by boosting the local and state economy by creating more jobs.  Plus, buying local fresh fruits and vegetables picked within hours of being on the shelf is a healthier option. Local products also have lower food miles, meaning they are shipped shorter distances, which requires less gas and is better for the environment."

The Michigan Department of Agriculture agrees, emphasizing if each family in Michigan started spending $10 per week of their grocery bill on Michigan products, we would keep more than $37 million in Michigan, EACH WEEK.

Hartline also noted that Spartan Stores is continuing to identify new vendors and Michigan made products to include in the MICHIGAN's BEST program. "We've added over 600 new products and 30 additional independent grocery stores have come on board.  This is a win/win situation for our farmers and Michigan businesses as we are promoting local and keeping dollars in the community."  

Buying local isn't something that takes a great deal of effort.  The MICHIGAN's BEST program includes an extensive A-Z list of options from apples to vitamins and a plethora of fruits, vegetables, cereal, coffee, dairy, meat, juice, beer and wine, baked goods, health and beauty, and homecare products in between.  

For example, here are just a few meal options to consider:

• Breakfast – Yoplait yogurt, Spartan eggs, Spartan milk, Spartan orange juice, Bays English muffins, Spartan Traverse City Cherry coffee, Kellogg's raisin bran, Bob Evans sausage, and Michigan Blueberries

• Lunch – Old Orchard juice, Koeze peanut butter, Welch's Grape jelly squeeze, Welch's Strawberry preserves, Spartan applesauce, Sarah Lee bread, and Keebler E.L. Fudge Double stuffed cookies

• Dinner – Vlasic pickles, Spartan hot dog and hamburger buns, Ball Park bunsize meat franks, Koegel all beef franks, Spartan BBQ potato chips, Kay's potato salad, Michigan cucumbers, Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, Bill Knapp's Celebration Cake, Hudsonville ice cream, Spartan paper plates and silverware

• Beer/Wine – Bell's Oberon, Short's Soft Parade, Grand Traverse Late Harvest Riesling, and St. Julian Blue Heron

• Flowers – Michigan gladiolas

To raise greater awareness of Michigan made products, Spartan Stores also has launched the www.supportmichigansbest.com website, and will have a number of in store promotions, including signage, weekly specials featuring Michigan made products, and a children's coloring contest.  

Sen. Mark C. Jansen from Michigan's 28th District noted: "I very much appreciate our major local job provider, Spartan Stores. At a time when we are losing jobs in this state, Spartan continues to demonstrate its commitment to the Michigan consumers in many ways, such as the Michigan's Best campaign. We absolutely need more business leaders like Spartan Stores!"

Spartan Stores was honored with the National Grocers Association Creative Choice Advertising Award as "2010 Best Advertising Campaign" for its MICHIGAN's BEST campaign.  

For a complete list of store locations, visit online at:

Family Fare Supermarket/Quick Stop    www.familyfaresupermarkets.com

D&W Fresh Market Supermarket/Quick Stop    www.dwfreshmarket.com

Felpausch Supermarket/Quick Stop    www.felpausch.com

Glen's Markets Supermarket/Quick Stop    www.glensmarket.com

Glen's Fresh Marketplace Supermarket/Quick Stop    www.glensfreshmarketplace.com

VG's    www.vgsfood.com

About Spartan Stores

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Spartan Stores, Inc., (Nasdaq: SPTN) is the nation's eleventh largest grocery distributor with warehouse facilities in Grand Rapids and Plymouth, Michigan. The Company distributes more than 40,000 private-label and national brand products to approximately 375 independent grocery stores in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Spartan Stores also owns and operates 97 retail supermarkets in Michigan, including Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen's Markets, D&W Fresh Markets, Felpausch Food Centers and VG's Food and Pharmacy.

SOURCE Spartan Stores