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Chatham (grocer)

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Chatham Supermarkets
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Foundedmid-1950s Michigan, United States
FounderRoyal Supermarkets
Defunct1986 (1986)
FateDefunct
Headquarters
Key people
Alex Dandy
ProductsGroceries
OwnersLast owner Alex Dandy

Chatham was a supermarket chain, now-defunct, headquartered in southeastern Michigan, United States. Founded by Royal Supermarkets in the mid-1950s,[citation needed][clarification needed] Chatham was often compared to Kroger in size and selection. Typical of many grocery stores of its time, Chatham was unable to keep up with big-box grocery competitors, including Michigan-based Meijer. Kroger subsequently purchased former Chatham locations after the chain went out of business.

Demise

In 1986, Chatham was then owned by Nu-Trax, Inc., headed by Wendell Smith.[1] In March 1986, the company was purchased by Alex Dandy, a businessman who owned Hamady Brothers food chain in Flint, Michigan.[2] Dandy illegally diverted assets of the company to his personal benefit, and Chatham was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1987.[1] Dandy was convicted in 1991, of tax offenses, mail fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and obstruction of justice.[1] He died in 2003.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Alex Dandy, Defendant-appellant, 998 F.2d 1344 (6th Cir. 15 September 1993).
  2. ^ Henderson, Tom (1 June 1992). "The looting of Chatham. (Alex Dandy convicted for plundering Chatham Supermarkets Inc.)". Corporate Detroit. Retrieved 20 May 2012.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Obituaries: Alex Dandy". Supermarket News. 22 December 2003. Retrieved 20 May 2012.

Chatham memories - site for former Chatham employees. Includes history of company