Less is more in Oak Forest
By Mike Nolan mnolan@southtownstar.com August 28, 2012 3:14PM
The remodeled Food 4 Less store in Oak Forest features an expanded seafood and meat department. | Supplied photo
Updated: September 30, 2012 6:14AM
An extensive remodeling of the Food 4 Less grocery store in Oak Forest — to be formally unveiled Wednesday — will also benefit schools in that city.
Kroger, which operates the Food 4 Less chain, said the 87,000-square-foot store underwent three months of work, with the finished product including an expanded produce department with organic fruits and vegetables, and a line of nutritional products including gluten-free items. The store also expanded its selection of ethnic foods.
As part of the reopening Wednesday, Food 4 Less officials will present donations totaling $7,500 to Oak Forest High School as well as to Morton Gingerwood Elementary and Kerkstra Elementary, also in Oak Forest.
The 87,000-square-foot store, 5556 W. 159th St., is in the Oak Forest Commons shopping center and opened in 2006, occupying a former Dominick’s location.
Food 4 Less said the store employs 86 people, including 15 recent hires.
The Los Angeles-based chain said it has improved energy efficiency at the store, which will consume about 15 percent less energy than a typical store. Store employees also have been trained to follow a waste reduction and recycling program for all paper and plastic packaging the store receives, the company said.
Food 4 Less is a subsidiary of Cincinnati-based Kroger, which operates 16 Food 4 Less stores in the Chicago area, including Alsip, Burbank, Chicago Heights and Dolton. Described by the company as “price-impact, warehouse-format” supermarkets, Food 4 Less stores compete directly with Save-A-Lot, a similar chain operated by Supervalu, the parent of Jewel-Osco.
