ButcherJoseph Advises C&K Market Inc. on Employee Buyout
December 2020

“We are proud to be a 100% employee-owned company where everyone will share the experience of owning a business and allow our service to the community to thrive for generations to come.”
Karl Wissmann
President & CEO, C&K Market Inc.
Who is our client?
- C&K Market Inc. (“C&K”) is an independent regional grocery retailer with a proud 60+ year history serving local communities in Southern and Central Oregon and Northern California.
- C&K operates three retail banner brands: Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart and C&K Market.
Why did C&K hire ButcherJoseph?
ButcherJoseph worked with C&K to help them realize the following goals:
- Provide opportunities for employees and key executives to benefit from the company’s future success
- Preserve the existing management team and avoid the need to engage with external strategic buyers
- Create a succession plan that authentically aligns with the company’s mission
What did ButcherJoseph deliver?
- ButcherJoseph structured and negotiated a 100% ESOP buyout, providing meaningful liquidity to selling shareholders and future equity participation to all eligible employees.
- ButcherJoseph designed a custom ESOP solution includes employee benefits, financial flexibility, and maximized tax advantages.
- C&K now offers an additional benefit to their 1,200 employees upon retirement which reinforces its founder’s commitment to give back to those that make the company successful.