Woodman's Markets

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Woodman's Markets is an employee-owned supermarket chain based in Janesville, Wisconsin. It started in 1919 as a small produce stand run by John Woodman and has grown to 20 stores in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. The company became 100% employee-owned in 1998 and is led by President Phil Woodman.

Most Woodman’s stores are large warehouse-style supermarkets, about 200,000 to 250,000 square feet, often with a nearby gas station. Many locations are open 24 hours a day, and some include a car wash or quick oil-change services near the convenience area. Each building also contains a separate liquor store with its own entrance and checkout lanes; food and alcohol are paid for separately.

Woodman’s offers a wide range of products, including bakery, deli, dairy, groceries, produce, meat, seafood, sushi, organic and bulk foods, wine, beer, spirits, flowers, pet supplies, general merchandise, and fuel. Prices are kept lower through bulk purchasing, and most items are stocked on shelves by employees, with some bulk items displayed in shipping cases. Store brands come from Topco Associates, such as Food Club, Full Circle Market, and That’s Smart. Payment options include cash, checks, Discover Card, PIN-based debit, and EBT; Discover is the exclusive credit option.

Key milestones include opening Beloit in 1971, Kenosha in 1997 (at one time the largest grocery store in the United States), Rockford, Illinois in 2001 (the first store outside Wisconsin), and adopting UPC scanners in 1975. Woodman’s has about 20 stores, around 3,800 employees, and roughly $2 billion in annual revenue.