Joe Lueken retires, leaves grocery stores to 400 employees - KMSP-TV

Retiring Minn. grocery store owner leaves business to employees

A Minnesota grocery store owner is retiring but not forgetting his 400 employees.

Instead of accepting offers from big grocery chains to buy his stores, 70-year-old Joe Lueken is giving his businesses to the workers. Lueken's Village Foods in Bemidji, Minn. and Wahpeton, N.D. will be transferred to an employee stock ownership plan.

The amount of shares will be based on service and salary.