In the checkout lanes at Cub Foods in Minnetonka, there’s more than chewing gum and magazines. Sometimes there are high school tennis players asking to bag your groceries. Some weeks, there are order forms for “Mulch Madness.” Time it right, and you might even be offered a bratwurst.
Almost every week of the year, Cub opens its doors for sports teams and community groups to do creative fundraising. During Mulch Madness, the store sells bulk mulch, with proceeds benefitting the Minnetonka Diamond Club. Water softener salt sales benefit Minnetonka football, with bags hand-delivered by team members.
Asked why the store’s focus is on giving back to the community, manager Brian Kuhnly explains, “If we didn’t have customers, we wouldn’t have a business. We have to take care of them. They take care of us every day.”
It’s this special relationship that has some families swearing allegiance to the grocery store. One is Frank Kuzma of Excelsior.
“My father was a grocery shopping-aholic. He was at Cub every day, and it became his second home,” says Kuzma, who explained that when his father passed away right before Thanksgiving eight years ago, the family approached Cub about catering for the holiday. Two senior managers personally took care of his family on one of the busiest days of the year. “I’ll never shop anywhere else,” he says.
Kuzma has since volunteered countless hours with Cub’s community programs, helping coordinate the dozens of groups that do “bagging for tips,” car washes and brat sales in the parking lot. “They’re a cornerstone in our community … they will support anyone and everyone,” says Kuzma. “They’re priced competitively with other stores, but people don’t shop there because it’s the cheapest place to shop,” he says. “They treat people like family; everyone is treated special. They’re just wonderful, noble, gracious people.”
Cub of Minnetonka
4801 County Road 101, Minnetonka
952.938.1404
cub.com
