Pick ’n Save closing Cudahy store; staff to move to other locations

The Milwaukee-based Roundy’s division of The Kroger Co. said Tuesday it is closing the Pick ’n Save store at 5851 S. Packard Ave. in Cudahy.

Store employees were told of the move during meetings Tuesday and will be offered positions at other nearby Pick ’n Save stores. There are 75 employees at the Cudahy store.

“We informed our Cudahy Pick ’n Save employees that after careful consideration of the longterm financial performance of this store, our efforts did not bring about the results needed to meet our business goals and objectives,” James Hyland, vice president of communications and public affairs for Roundy’s, said in a statement. “Every Cudahy employee will be offered the opportunity to work at another Pick ’n Save store.”

The metro Milwaukee area is considered overstored, with too many retail grocery stores chasing too few customers. The situation is similar in metro areas across the United States, industrywatchers say.

When Kroger purchased Milwaukee-based Roundy’s in 2015, marketwatchers said Kroger would almost certainly close underperforming stores with territories that overlap other stores in the area.

Kroger, and its Pick ’n Save brand, is the grocery market share leader in Milwaukee and Wisconsin.

There are five other Pick ’n Saves within a few miles of the Cudahy store that is closing:

St. Francis-Whitnall, 4698 S. Whitnall Ave.

South Milwaukee, 2931 S. Chicago St.

Oak Creek-Ryan Road, 2320 W. Ryan Road

Oak Creek-Mega Mall, 8770 S. Howell Ave.

Milwaukee-Holt, 250 W. Holt Ave.

“It’s always a difficult decision to close a store; however, closing under performing stores ensures we have a strong network of stores,” Hyland said in the statement.

The company is continuing to invest in its stores in Wisconsin, Hyland said.