Meijer, Inc. opened four Wisconsin locations this summer, about a year after it started partnering with Marquette Athletics as its exclusive grocery and supercenter sponsor.
“We are really proud to support a number of different private and public institutions around the Midwest and when we grew into Wisconsin, Marquette was right at the top of our list,” Meijer spokesman Joe Hirschmugl said.
Meijer is involved with Marquette Madness for the second year. They are planning to give away gift cards, Fit Bits and TVs to students. Meijer will also help sponsor Marquette basketball camps for students from kindergarten through high school.
Also partnering with University of Wisconsin-Madison, Meijer has a total of 220 stores in six states: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Kentucky.
“I love that Meijer has come to Milwaukee,” Courtney Kailunas, a junior in the College of Nursing, said. “Meijer was locally started in my hometown, and I always go there for my produce. It’s really budget friendly, too, which makes me really excited about the MU partnership.”
“We hope that, even though a lot of students are from out of state, because they have a familiarity with us from where they grew up, we are bringing them back home when they come to the store,” Hirschmugl said.
Meijer’s website has 10 shopping categories including grocery, home improvement, toys, pet care and pharmacy. The superstores are open 24/7.
“I went to Meijer because people were constantly talking about how low the prices were and how large of a variety is sold there,” Izzy Zarama, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said. “I thought it had a lot to offer at great prices.”
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, Meijer is under investigation for underpricing goods. If found violating the Wisconsin Unfair Sales Act, they could pay between $50 and $500 for the first violation, and up to $2,500 subsequently. The store has been sent a warning note about the investigation.
Meijer hosted a back-to-school event in September that brought college students into the store for inexpensive deals and social activities. The night included transportation to and from the store, a DJ, a photo booth and samples. Meijer hosted 22 of these events at their locations, attracting 40,000 total students. Meijer is hoping to schedule another student event with Marquette next year.
“We are grateful for having the ability to provide what students need,” Hirschmugl said. “It may have been the first time students shopped at Meijer but certainly won’t be their last.”
The store has also partnered with the Hunger Task Force and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to aid in Milwaukee’s shortage of fresh food. One of Meijer’s founding principles is the fight against hunger within the communities it serves.
Meijer gives more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations each year, according to Meijer’s website.
