Country Mart sells to chain

Country Mart in Hollister is one of four area Country Mart stores purchased by the Price Cutter chain.

By Joshua Clark & Mindy Honey

All four local Country Mart stores will soon be taken over by the Price Cutter chain, Country Mart executive Kevin Gerard confirmed Thursday morning.

“The name will remain Country Mart,” said Brian Roberts, Country Mart store manager, during a Hollister Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday evening.

The aldermen approved a business and liquor license for Price Cutter during the meeting.

A store search on Price Cutter’s Web site Friday morning listed Country Mart stores in Hollister, Branson, Forsyth and Branson West as Price Cutter stores.

According to Price Cutter’s Web site, in 2002, Price Cutter acquired seven Albertson’s stores in southwest Missouri, operating under the banners of Price Cutter, Price Cutter Plus and Smitty’s.

In 2004, because the company operates under more than two banners — Ramey, Price Cutter and Smitty’s — RPCS, Inc. was established as the company’s parent name. On the Hollister business license application dated Aug. 19, RPCS was listed as the owner of the business. Two years ago, RPCS acquired nine Albertson’s stores in the Tulsa, Okla., area, adding another name, Food Pyramid.

In March 2008, RPCS acquired two more Oklahoma stores in Ponca City, one taking the Food Pyramid name and the other keeping its original name, Ponca City Discount Foods.

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