Leppinks Food Centers stands as a testament to enduring family values and community commitment in the grocery industry. A fourth-generation, family-operated business, Leppinks is headquartered in Belding, Michigan, and currently encompasses seven distinct store locations. Overseen by John Leppink, along with his brother-in-law Rich Cole and cousin Ransom Leppink, the leadership team ensures the legacy of quality and service continues.
The roots of Leppinks Food Centers trace back to 1928 when John and Ransom’s grandfather, also named John Leppink, emigrated from the Netherlands and established a meat market in Belding. According to Arianna Meinke, the marketing manager and a fourth-generation family member herself, alongside her brothers and cousin, this humble beginning has blossomed into a respected regional grocery chain.
Leppinks Food Centers has strategically expanded beyond Belding to serve communities in Ferrysburg, Howard City, Lakeview, Newaygo, Stanton, and most recently, Dorr, with a new store opening in September. What sets Leppinks apart is its dedication to the “neighborhood market” concept. Instead of a uniform, cookie-cutter approach, each Leppinks Food Center is intentionally designed to reflect and cater to the specific needs and preferences of its local community.
Like all businesses, Leppinks Food Centers navigated the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges in securing products while simultaneously striving to retain our valued employees,” explained Robert Leppink, the center store director. “At Leppinks, we adopted an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach, with team members readily stepping in wherever needed.” He further noted the ongoing impact on the supply chain, with fill rates in essential departments still below par. However, Leppinks was well-positioned with its pre-existing curbside Groceries to Go program, which experienced significant growth and has sustained customer loyalty.
Leppinks Food Centers demonstrates a deep commitment to both its employees and the communities it serves. Arianna Meinke emphasized, “Our team members are truly part of the Leppink family.” This ethos is reflected in initiatives such as birthday cards for all employees, graduation gifts for high school seniors of staff, service awards for milestone anniversaries, and expressions of sympathy during times of loss.
Community support is also a cornerstone of Leppinks’ values. The company actively donates to local schools and organizations, sponsoring sports teams and events. The Newaygo and Belding locations are prominent sponsors of the Gus Macker three-on-three basketball tournaments. Furthermore, the Newaygo store participates in the heartwarming “Turkey Ticket” event around Thanksgiving, partnering with local police to distribute turkeys to community members in need. Leppinks’ holiday dinner donation program across all locations provided over 2,500 meals to families last year.
Continuously innovating, Leppinks Food Centers has recently introduced self-checkout stations at its Belding and Lakeview stores to enhance customer convenience. The acquisition of the Dorr location, formerly Dick’s Market, has been particularly successful. “The Dorr community has welcomed us warmly, and it’s been rewarding to become part of a new neighborhood,” Meinke stated. Dick’s Market was renowned for its in-store sausage shop and bratwurst. Leppinks has honored this legacy by retaining “Dick’s Sausage Shop” as a brand, learning the original recipes, and expanding its availability to three additional Leppinks Food Center locations, where it has become immensely popular.
For more information about Leppinks Food Centers and their neighborhood markets, visit leppinksfoodcenters.com.
