Hatzi Hinam

Hatzi Hinam, whose name means “Half Free” and derives from an expression meaning “very cheaply,” is an Israeli supermarket chain headquartered in Holon. The business developed as a regional independent retailer rather than as a nationwide hypermarket group, with its operating footprint concentrated in the Gush Dan metropolitan area. Reference material describes the chain as having seven stores in the region, giving it a substantially smaller store network than Israel’s two largest supermarket chains while still making it a significant competitor in grocery retail. The company was founded in the early 1990s, although a precise founding year and the identities of its original founders are not established in the available source material. By 2004, Hatzi Hinam was described as Israel’s largest independent supermarket chain, with estimated sales of approximately NIS 1.1 billion. Later reference material placed it around tenth among Israeli supermarket chains by revenue and attributed to it a market share of more than 5%. These figures illustrate the chain’s position: it was not one of the country’s dominant national operators by store count, but its large-format stores and regional concentration gave it meaningful scale. Hatzi Hinam’s core business is the retail sale of food, beverages, household necessities, fresh produce, and other supermarket merchandise. Its name emphasizes value pricing, and the chain is commonly characterized as a discount-oriented or price-conscious supermarket operator. The available material does not provide a complete account of its private-label architecture, loyalty program, e-commerce operations, or detailed store formats, so those aspects cannot be described reliably here. The owners expanded beyond supermarket retail during the late 2000s. In August 2008, Hatzi Hinam’s owners acquired Binyamina Winery, described in the reference material as Israel’s fourth-largest winery at the time, for approximately US$13.5 million. In March 2009, the company acquired Vita Pri Galil for NIS 105 million in a transaction intended to rescue the food producer from bankruptcy. The buyers also promised to hire an additional 100 employees. These transactions connected Hatzi Hinam with Israeli food manufacturing and wine production as well as grocery distribution. In September 2010, the chain opened a 27,000-square-metre store in Hod HaSharon. The opening demonstrated an emphasis on large retail sites and extended the chain’s presence beyond its historic Holon-area base while remaining within the broader central-Israel market. The available sources do not establish whether the chain subsequently changed ownership, expanded nationally, or altered its store count. Hatzi Hinam is therefore best understood as a locally concentrated Israeli supermarket brand whose importance comes from regional scale, value positioning, and links to food-sector acquisitions.

Hatzi Hinam is an Israeli supermarket chain whose name refers to very low prices. The chain was established in the early 1990s and built its business as a regional independent retailer headquartered in Holon. Its stores have been concentrated in Gush Dan, the metropolitan area surrounding Tel Aviv, rather than distributed throughout Israel at the scale of the country's two leading supermarket groups. By 2004, Hatzi Hinam was identified as the largest independent supermarket chain in Israel, with estimated sales of NIS 1.1 billion. Later descriptions placed it as the country's tenth-largest supermarket chain by revenue, with a market share exceeding 5%. The combination of substantial revenue, relatively few stores, and a concentration in central Israel suggests a business model based on large and productive locations rather than extensive national coverage. Cousins Zaki Shalom and Mordechai Kuperly are reported to share ownership of the chain, with holdings of approximately 67% and 33%. The company broadened its involvement in the food sector in 2008 and 2009. In August 2008, the owners acquired Binyamina Winery for approximately US$13.5 million. In March 2009, Hatzi Hinam acquired Vita Pri Galil for NIS 105 million, reportedly saving the food producer from bankruptcy and committing to employ an additional 100 people. These acquisitions gave the owners interests in food production and wine in addition to supermarket distribution. Hatzi Hinam continued developing its retail network with the opening of a 27,000-square-metre store in Hod HaSharon in September 2010. The store was one of the chain's notable expansion projects and reinforced its large-format retail approach. Available reference material does not provide a complete chronology of later store openings, leadership changes, financial results, or ownership changes. The chain's documented history therefore centers on its emergence as a major independent Israeli grocer, its central-Israel store network, its value-oriented identity, and the owners' expansion into related food businesses.

• 2010

  Opening of Hod HaSharon store

  [1]Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org

  Hatzi Hinam opened a 27,000-square-metre store in Hod HaSharon.

• 2009

  Acquisition of Vita Pri Galil

  [1]Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org

  The company acquired Vita Pri Galil for NIS 105 million and pledged to add 100 employees as part of the rescue of the business from bankruptcy.

• 2008

  Acquisition of Binyamina Winery

  [1]Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org

  Hatzi Hinam's owners acquired Binyamina Winery for approximately US$13.5 million.

• 2004

  Recognized as Israel's largest independent supermarket chain

  [1]Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org

  The company was reported to have estimated sales of NIS 1.1 billion and was described as the largest independent supermarket chain in Israel.

• 1990

  Chain established in the early 1990s

  [1]Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org

  Hatzi Hinam was founded during the early 1990s and developed as an independent supermarket operator in Israel. The exact founding year is not specified in the available source.

A value-oriented regional supermarket chain focused on competitively priced groceries and broad supermarket assortments in central Israel.

• Supermarket retail

  Hatzi Hinam supermarkets

  The chain's principal offering is a network of large supermarkets serving shoppers in central Israel. The stores provide a broad grocery assortment, including food, beverages, fresh produce, household necessities, and other everyday supermarket goods. Hatzi Hinam's brand identity is associated with value and low-price shopping, although the available sources do not document specific current pricing programs or private-label ranges.

• Wine production

  Binyamina Winery

  Binyamina Winery became associated with Hatzi Hinam's ownership group through an acquisition completed in August 2008. It represented an expansion from supermarket retail into Israeli wine production. The available material does not establish the winery's current ownership or operating status under the Hatzi Hinam group.

• Food manufacturing

  Vita Pri Galil

  Vita Pri Galil was acquired by Hatzi Hinam in March 2009 for NIS 105 million. The acquisition was presented as a rescue of the food producer from bankruptcy and included a commitment to hire additional employees. Current product scope and ownership status are not established in the available reference.

• 2010

  Decision to open a large-format Hod HaSharon storeStrategy

  Background

  The chain pursued regional expansion through large supermarket locations in central Israel.

  Action taken

  Hatzi Hinam opened a 27,000-square-metre store in Hod HaSharon in September 2010.

  Aftermath

  The opening extended the chain's large-store network. No later performance figures are provided by the available reference.

  Source

• 2009

  Decision to acquire Vita Pri GalilM&A

  Background

  Vita Pri Galil was facing bankruptcy, creating an opportunity for Hatzi Hinam's owners to expand into food manufacturing while supporting the distressed producer.

  Action taken

  Hatzi Hinam acquired Vita Pri Galil for NIS 105 million and promised to employ an additional 100 people.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition was described as saving Vita Pri Galil from bankruptcy. The sources do not provide later financial or operational results.

  Acquisition price. NIS 105 million transaction (March 2009)

  Source

• 2008

  Decision to acquire Binyamina WineryM&A

  Background

  Hatzi Hinam's owners moved into an adjacent food-and-beverage sector by purchasing Binyamina Winery, a significant Israeli winery at the time.

  Action taken

  The owners acquired the winery for approximately US$13.5 million in August 2008.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened the ownership group's interests beyond supermarket retail. Longer-term operational effects are not documented in the available sources.

  Acquisition price. US$13.5 million transaction (August 2008)

  Source

1. 1Hatzi Hinamen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hatzi Hinam official websitehazi-hinam.co.il