Inside Jungle Jim’s International Market, The Largest Family-Owned Grocery Store in the United States

James Atamian of Morning Brew went inside Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio, the largest family-owned grocery store in the United States. He toured the massive 280,000-square-foot store, which features thousands of food products from more than 70 countries.

Jungle Jim’s International Market is a 50 year old, family owned grocery store in Fairfield, Ohio. 280,000 square feet. About 82,000 shoppers a week. With over 180,000 SKUs from more than 70 countries. Hundreds of millions in annual revenue, with $0 in outside funding ever raised.

He also spoke with Jim Bonaminio, the owner, who said he is not too fond of computers but evidently has an eye for unique grocery items.

It’s run by an eccentric guy with a flip phone who has filled the place with things you won’t find in any other grocery store. Grocery is a brutal business and margins are razor thin. Every other indie grocer has been swallowed. So how does this place still exist?

Atamian was very impressed with the store.

Overall, I think the secret sauce for Jungle Jim’s is that, on the surface, your eye is probably drawn to all the weird quirkiness in the store, naturally, but beneath all that is an incredibly well-run grocery store with very talented and passionate people at the head of every department.