Profile: Bob Sautter, co-owner of Sautter’s Market

If running the most essential of businesses during a pandemic that has closed down your community doesn’t rattle you, nothing much will.  During an unexpected year of product shortages, customers filling the parking lot before opening hours, half empty delivery trucks, increased county health inspections, and unexpected sales growth, Bob Sautter, co-owner of Sautter’s Market, sits down to talk about the last year as if it was just another year.  It was evident that during a time when a lot of people were on edge, Bob was good at staying calm and carrying on.  

Four generations of providing the essentials to their customers

Bob and his brother Jim are the owners of Sautter’s Market, a business started by Bob’s grandfather Ray in 1927. As the grocery industry has grown into super stores and wholesalers, Sautter’s has found that unique balance of offering the best of the products that their big box store competitors offer while prioritizing a personalized customer experience. Their in-house butcher shops cut fresh meat daily, their comprehensive wine shop carries wines for all occasions, they carry many specialty and local product lines, and work with their customers to order those hard to find items.  With two locations, one in Sylvania and one in Waterville, both markets make it a priority that their customers feel at home while doing their grocery shopping. The Sylvania location has recently added online ordering to their offerings. Sautter’s Market has been a community staple for three generations.  Bob’s nephew, David Sautter, is the fourth generation to join the family business assuring that the Sautter family will continue to be an essential part of the Toledo area for many years to come.

Creating Family

Bob oversees the operations of the Waterville Store. When asked what he is most proud of when looking back over the last year without hesitation he says his employees. “Everyone stepped it up and stuck it out.”  His team banded together to keep their customers happy during a confusing and stressful time.  

Bob’s employees’ dedication is not surprising.  It is evident that he looks at them as an extended family. Several of his employees have family members who have worked alongside them at Sautter’s for many years. “We hire good people”, Bob states, “I want our employees to wake up on Monday morning wanting to come to work.” Bob runs a fairly low-key operation and does not believe in micro-managing. “If you have good managers who are knowledgeable in their area of expertise, you need to trust them so they have a stake in the success of the store.” 

Bob states that the most rewarding part of his job is hiring young people who become “college managers”,  giving them the gift of an unofficial internship. Bob relies on these young people to do critical tasks such as opening and closing the store and managing fellow employees, thus giving them valuable work experience.  “I enjoy selling groceries, but I enjoy more watching my young people develop. To me that is way more rewarding than selling a can of beans.” 

• Where did Sautter’s start out?

  My grandfather Ray Sautter opened our first market at the corner of Collingwood and Dorr.  

• Who inspires you?

  My father Bob.  He was a wise businessman who gave good advice. In 1959 he expanded the business by opening the Sylvania store.  People thought he was crazy because at the time it was in the middle of nowhere, but he understood that the community would grow in that direction.

• First job?

  Working at Sautter’s of course!

• Any plans to retire?

  No.  I enjoy staying busy.  My dad worked until he was 92.  

• What are your interests beyond the grocery store doors?

  Woodworking, fishing, puttering around my yard and being outside.

• What would people be surprised to know about you?

  I was a wrestler in high school, (Devilbiss) and college, (UT).  Despite my first year being my Junior year, I went on to win the high school city and district championships and came in third in the state my senior year.  It was a wonderful experience that taught me that I can set my mind with a positive mindset and just go for it. It gave me confidence and the knowledge that hard work pays off.  

• What is something you are proud of beyond your career?

  At the age of 61, I went back to school and earned a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University.  I had a blast!

• Any final words for our interview?

  I am happy to serve the public and appreciative of all past and present employees who have contributed to our success.