Shopko Announces Plans for Two New Stores

Shopko Announces Plans for Two New Stores

GREEN BAY, Wis., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Shopko announced today plans to open two new Shopko stores in the Midwest in the fall of 2008. The stores will be located in Sussex, Wis. and Northbranch, Minn.

"This announcement represents the continuation of an exciting growth phase for Shopko," said Michael R. MacDonald, Shopko Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Earlier this year Shopko broke ground on the first new Shopko store to be built in six years. That new prototype store will be located in the Northeast Wisconsin community of Suamico and will open in the spring of 2008.

"The Suamico Shopko store is a model for the future of Shopko," said MacDonald. "In the midst of a difficult retail environment, Shopko's direction is once again moving forward. The two new stores announced today demonstrate that we are gaining momentum."

The new Shopko store design incorporates a number of elements that will make the customers' shopping experience both stimulating and efficient. The store's color, lighting and fixturing will allow customers to easily see the merchandise. The store layouts will feature Shopko's Pharmacy and Optical Centers at the front of the stores for added convenience and both of these Health Services departments will feature comfortable customer seating zones. The aisle pattern and signing in the store is designed to make the customer shopping experience very efficient. All parts of the store will allow for navigation by strollers and carts.

During 2008, the company plans to open a total of three Shopko stores and two additional Shopko Express Rx locations.

Shopko opened its first store in Green Bay, Wis., in 1962. The company currently has 132 stores across the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions. Three Shopko Express Rx stores opened in Wisconsin in 2005.

About Shopko

Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading private investment firm focused on leverage buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Shopko is a $2.2 billion retailer of quality goods and services headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., with stores located in 13 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 132 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in mid-sized to larger cities and three Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept. For more information, please visit http://www.shopko.com/.

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Source: Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC

CONTACT: Pam Schwanke of Shopko, +1-920-429-4309

Web site:

http://www.shopko.com/

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