Hiller’s to Fill Two Stores with Michigan Products for Simultaneous Local Food Fair Extravaganzas

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – “We must be responsible for our own salvation,” Hiller’s Markets CEO Jim Hiller is fond of saying. And when it comes to a flailing economy, that can only mean digging in our heels and determining to spend as much of our dollars on hometown businesses.

Mere weeks after a hugely successful first-of-its-kind Michigan Foods Fair at the Union Lake store, Hiller’s will host two simultaneous two-day Michigan food fairs May 2-3 at its Ann Arbor and Commerce Township locations. This follows months of featuring Michigan companies in the Hiller’s biweekly circular, launching a collaborative Hometown First program with locally-owned businesses that has more than tripled in scope, and identifying Michigan products with smiling-mitten-state shelf tags.

Hiller’s Michigan Food Fairs: May 2-3
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ann Arbor store: 3615 Washtenaw Avenue (in the Arborland Mall at US 23)
Commerce Township store: 39950 W 14 Mile Rd (at Haggerty)

Both stores will be packed with more than 30 vendors apiece hawking home state products – from flatbread to cereal to milk and meat to cleaning supplies. Consumers will have the opportunity to interact with more than 60 home-state brands across the two days at both stores.

“Buying and selling Michigan products boosts the local economy, says Jim Hiller, CEO of the 68-year-old company. “That helps our state economy and the families who live here. I have always been dedicated to working together with good people and good companies close to home.”

Hiller’s has long been committed to showcasing locally-made, grown and produced food items. Among the hundreds of Michigan products Hiller’s sells are such brands as Garden Fresh Salsa, Pioneer Sugar, Guernsey Farms Dairy, Olga’s Kitchen, Bareman’s, Better Made, Hamilton Eggs, Old Orchard juices, Michigan navy beans, Polly’s Pastries and others. Additionally, Jim Hiller has mentored many local food entrepreneurs, including Garden Fresh’s Jack Aronson, Polly Levey-Carpenter of Polly’s Pastries and Alice Gambee of Community Tea House.

“With so many jobs lost and the economy spiraling, I want to do what I can to support entrepreneurs,” says Hiller. “All of us are feeling the pangs of this troubled economic time and only by working together to highlight the extremely full landscape of Michigan talents will we make it through.”

“Obviously, we cannot buy all our foods locally – but anything we can do to support other Michigan businesses makes a difference,” says Hiller. “Jumping on the local food bandwagon is a good idea for so many reasons – we can trace the path our food takes from origin to the family table, we can encourage industry development and growth and we can insure that our economy has varied sources of entrepreneurship.”

Hiller’s groceries are located in Ann Arbor, Berkley, West Bloomfield, Northville, Plymouth, Commerce Township and a new 52,000 square-foot store in Union Lake. Many company employees have been at Hiller’s for decades – symbolizing the quality behind the brand. Hiller has always been guided by the societal impact of store activities and corporate decisions.

Jim Hiller talks about the Michigan Fair on WRIF 101.1 FM's 'Hire it done'

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