Submitted by barnard on
Benny's Wild Rose Market, owned by Tim Batten, has a rich history rooted in a passion for the grocery business. In the 1960s, Tim's father, Ben Batten, attended meat-cutting school in Toledo, Ohio. He later worked for IGA, gaining experience and training meat cutters across the Midwest. Ben eventually settled in Wild Rose, marrying Jeanette, and took over Rex's grocery store in 1979 upon Rex and Alice Bechard's retirement. In the 1990s, Benny's outgrew its initial location, leading to the acquisition of D & B Foods, where Benny's Wild Rose Market stands today.
Tim Batten, Ben and Jeanette's son, pursued electrical engineering at DePaul University in Chicago. However, a chance encounter in a grocery store shifted his career focus, and he joined his parents in the grocery business. By 2005, Ben's health prompted the transition of ownership to Tim and a relative. Tim's dedication and vision for Benny's led him to reject a general manager position elsewhere and instead buy out family investors to make necessary improvements. In 2016, Tim expanded the business, acquiring Royal Market in Plainfield due to Benny's growth.
Amidst changes in the industry, Tim chose to concentrate on the Wild Rose and Plainfield stores, declining opportunities to purchase other closing grocery stores in Weyauwega, Coloma, and Redgranite. Tim's love for Wild Rose drives him to relish every day at work, while acknowledging that his excellent staff plays a crucial role in Benny's Wild Rose Market's continued success.