Shufersal

In 1956, three entrepreneurs, Ben-Zion Ben Haim, Chaim Feinberg, and Yechiel Hordas, had a revolutionary idea for Israel: to build an American-style supermarket. They traveled to the United States to raise capital from Jewish grocers, and in 1958, the first Shufersal store opened in Tel Aviv. The name itself was a playbook, a combination of the Aramaic "Shufra" for premium and the Hebrew "Sal" for basket. It was the first of its kind in the country, introducing a self-service model that was new to the Israeli public. The company grew, becoming a staple for Israeli households. In 1980, Shufersal went public, listing its shares on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, a significant step that cemented its position in the market. Over the years, the company expanded its footprint not just through organic growth but through key acquisitions. A major event was the 2006 purchase of Clubmarket, Israel's third-largest retail chain at the time, which significantly increased Shufersal's market share. Shufersal also diversified its operations, launching different store formats like the discount chain "Shufersal Deal" and smaller, neighborhood-focused "Shufersal Sheli" stores to cater to different customer segments. It ventured into financial services with a credit card in 2006 and later established a real estate arm to manage its properties. A new chapter began in 2024 when brothers Yossi and Shlomi Amir acquired a controlling 24.99% stake in the company. This move marked a significant shift in ownership from institutional investors to seasoned retail operators, positioning Shufersal for its next phase of evolution in a competitive market.