Lauer's Is A Local Icon

By Rochelle Karina

Ed Lauer always wanted to own his own supermarket. Eventually, the opportunity presented itself, and Ed and Helen Lauer went into business. Their children worked in the store while attending high school. It truly was a “family” business. That was in 1974, and the supermarket was Lauer’s Supermarket and Bakery. Sisters Babette Poyer and Bernadette Snoops, better known as Babbie and Bernie, purchased the business in 2006 to keep the company in the family.

Lauer’s is something of a throwback in an age of corporate-owned groceries. “We have family ownership and involvement as well as great employees that care about our customers and the community,” Snoops explains. “Many have been with the Lauer family for over 25 years. We strive to have great personal service. We are proud of our scratch bakery; it is a rarity in our business today.”

That family-owned and operated sense also means they care about their community. The company offers Lauer's Learning Ladder, a feature program with local schools. They donate $40,000 a year to area schools based on customers’ designation. The more involvement a school gets from their families, the higher percentage of money the school gets. Lauer’s also supports various school events such as the Race for Education, sporting events, the high school plays, honor roll breakfasts and more. They recently hosted the Parent Involvement Night for the Northeast feeder system at the Riviera Beach location. Since 1992, Lauer’s has donated over $800,000 to area schools.

Of course, Lauer’s is a familiar part of the PBA’s annual Caring and Sharing Parade. The big Lauer’s truck and staff members pushing shopping carts to collect food donations are a popular draw. In 2011, Lauer’s also sponsored in-store food drives so customers could purchase a bag of groceries at a nominal cost. Over $5,000 of food was purchased, and Lauer’s matched that number with another $5,000. It was the most ever collected for the food pantries through the parade.

“We will continue to strive to be the supermarket of choice in the Pasadena community as well as maintain our involvement in the community and help make Pasadena a great place,” Snoops says of their future.

For Lauer’s, it’s all about community and service. Service is at the very heart of the Lauer’s mission. Snoops feels it’s important that the community supports a local business and the business in turn supports the community. “With the competition today,” Snoops concludes, “the community support is vital.”

To learn more about Lauer’s, or find locations, hours and other information, check out their website at www.lauerssupermarkets.com, or stop in. “We do like to address things in person whenever possible.” Now that’s service,” Snoops says.