Kris Kowalski-Christiansen was 16 years old when her parents bought their first grocery store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. Starting as a cashier, Kowalski-Christiansen experienced every facet of the business before stepping into the role of CEO in 2015. Kowalski’s now boasts 11 markets in the metro area and operates a fully franchised Cub Foods. Kowalski’s also has a production kitchen, production bakery, and “meat commissary” located at its Shoreview location to produce many of the items sold in store, so the company can oversee product quality and creative culinary control. Kowalski’s is set to open a new location in the former Herberger’s in Southdale Center in spring 2024.

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