Lincoln State Senator Jane Raybould announced Wednesday that she will be stepping down as Vice President of B&R Stores, Inc., the parent company of Super Saver, Russ’s Market, and other Nebraska grocery stores.
After 22-years working at the company founded in 1964 by her parents Russ and Anita Raybould, the lawmaker representing District 28 in central Lincoln — encapsulating the State Capitol — will officially retire at the end of March 2025.
“I grew up in the grocery business by starting in the fireworks tent at 8 years old, then in the bakery department frying donuts, and throughout high school and college as a cashier and administrative support. Grocery people are the best people,” said Raybould in a statement. “It is with a great deal of excitement that I look forward to this next chapter of spending more time with family, especially my granddaughters, and continuing my work in the legislature.”
B&R’s first Russ’s location opened up, and remains located, at 17th and Washington Street in Lincoln. Now the conglomerate owns several Russ’s and Super Saver locations across Lincoln, as well as small grocery stores in cities like Kearney, Hastings, Loup City, and more. The company also owns stores in Iowa and Missouri.
The company says Raybould’s retirement plans have long been in the works, now coinciding with the completion of a new Super Saver location in Columbus, Nebraska.
Although, in the weeks leading up to this announcement, Raybould has been criticized in the Legislature for an apparent conflict of interest in regards to legislation she sponsored which would limit future increases to the state’s rising minimum wage and allow businesses to pay workers younger than 16 less than minimum wage. These increases were mandated by a vote of the people in 2022.
“I leave the company in outstanding hands with an extraordinary, experienced leadership team and a third generation in the wings. I could not be prouder to have worked with this amazing group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to this wonderful company that many of us grew up in,” Raybould said.