Pete’s Market: From Corner Stand to Still-Growing Retail Chain

Produce has been central to the development of Chicago’s Pete’s Market.

Pete’s Market took root in the early 1970s as a produce stand on Chicago’s South Side, and now, more than 50 years later, that produce stand has grown into a major grocery chain — with fresh fruit and vegetables still hand-picked and delivered daily.

Today, the stores also operate full-service kitchens, bakeries and delis with dedicated, creative staff. Pete’s keeps up with consumer trends across the store, with an array of domestic and imported foods and everyday needs, such as a range of international, gluten-free and organic products. Pete’s celebrated its 50th anniversary a few years ago, and has continued to grow, while still demonstrating a commitment to its core values, as reflected in its produce departments.

A late winter store visit to a location at Madison Street and Western Avenue, not far west of the Chicago Loop, provided a case in point. In an early afternoon visit, Pete’s produce displays were thoroughly attended, even with consumers shopping their way through the department. A floral display greeted shoppers as they entered the store, and from there, they continued into the main produce section.

At the top of the produce section, the store emphasized convenience, with fresh cuts in a case and just a few feet away, an old-fashioned tub emblazoned with a Pete’s Market logo and filled with the company’s own bottled juice on ice. Private label juices in multiple sizes and varieties — as well as some other beverages such as hibiscus tea and a turmeric lemon drink — shared the upfront convenience case with chunked fruit, including pineapple, mixed fruit and watermelon slices. The turn of the curved fresh-cut case led to more sliced fruit, including cantaloupe, as well as items such as fruit platters.

Adjacent massive fruit displays included an array of apple varieties and whole cantaloupe. Behind the apple displays was a large selection of organic produce merchandised in a floor case. That upfront area was more festive with party balloons floating above the fixtures. Further into the section were large floor displays of pineapples and other tropical fruits and vegetables ranging from mango to jicama.

In cases on the store wall, the store carefully arranged vegetables in continuous striped merchandising, so red, orange and green bell peppers gave way to displays of cucumbers and squash. As a shopper continues along the case, there is a range of more exotic peppers —poblano, banana, serrano and related varieties — with tomatillos placed among them.

Vegetables continue through onions, complemented by floor displays, to reach greens. In the merchandising arrangement, leafy greens had their own back wall display. In the cold cases along the wall were a broad variety of bagged and clamshell salads, complemented by lots of different sizes and varieties of packaged tomatoes.

A sampling station offered guacamole and chips. Alongside was a display of iced own-brand guacamole and salsa, with tortilla chips set behind. Throughout the produce section, small satellite displays offered snack food and other items, such as Tajin sauces.

Signage was prominent in the Pete’s Market produce department. On larger signage, information provided included listings of the best produce for the various seasons, while smaller signage offered information about various specific items.

Promotional messaging includes Stress-Free Party Trays, Your One Stop Shop, Happy to Answer Any Question, Choose Local, Fresh Squeezed Juice and A True Chicago Tradition.

Back up front, in a transitional space before the main produce section, small floor displays offered corn in the husk, at three for $2, and nuts at various promotional prices. Another Pete’s ice tub at the storefront held chilled asparagus at $1.99 a bunch. An independent banana display, with shelved and hanging bunches, occupied space nearby. Behind those displays, with the store’s front windows facing the parking lot behind it, was another fruit display topped by potted plants for sale. The shelves mounted berries then bagged grapes, fruits and apples.

A Vegan Options department operates adjacent to the produce section.

Pete’s is still growing. The company opened its 18th store at 87th and Kedzie in Chicago recently and has selected locations for stores 19 to 23 in Orland Park, Oak Park, Tinley Park, New Lenox and Palos Heights.

FACT FILE

Pete’s Market
4333 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60632
773-843-1400
www.petesfresh.com