Food

Save A Lot Corporate Office

Save-A-Lot began in 1977 with single store in Cahokia, Illinois. The chain was founded by Bill Moran who used the idea of limited selection to compete against the mega chains.

By 1980, there were 52 stores.

In 1987, the company was purchased by Wetterau Inc.

In 1993, Wetterau and Save-A-Lot were acquired by Supervalu Inc.

In 2002, the company acquired the Deal$ chain. In 2006, Deal$ was sold to Dollar Tree.

In 2006, founder Bill Moran retires.

By 2009, there were 1200 locations.

Today, Save-A-Lot is a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperValu. There are more than 1300 stores nationwide.

Save-A-Lot

Save-A-Lot began in 1977 with single store in Cahokia, Illinois. The chain was founded by Bill Moran who used the idea of limited selection to compete against the mega chains.

By 1980, there were 52 stores.

In 1987, the company was purchased by Wetterau Inc.

History

In 1993, Wetterau and Save-A-Lot were acquired by Supervalu Inc.

In 2002, the company acquired the Deal$ chain. In 2006, Deal$ was sold to Dollar Tree.

In 2006, founder Bill Moran retires.

By 2009, there were 1200 locations.

Today, Save-A-Lot is a wholly owned subsidiary of SuperValu. There are more than 1300 stores nationwide.

Wegmans began in 1916 as the Rochester Fruit and Vegetable Company. The company was founded by John and Walter Wegman. John began by using a pushcart to sell produce. then later he and his brother Walter pooled their savings to open a storefront.

In 1931, the brothers incorporated the business as Wegman’s Food Market and opened a self-service grocery.

In 1968, the company begins expanding. First in Syracuse, New York, later in Buffalo, New York.

In 1972, the company opens its first pharmacy inside a store.

In 1974, the company acquires Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin.

In 1986, Wegmans Federal Credit Union opens for business.

In 1993, the company opens its first store outside of New York in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company quit selling tobacco products in 2008 and even offered stop smoking programs to their employees.

In 2009, Wegmans ranked 29th on the Supermarket News list of the Top 75 North American Food Retailers based on sales volume.

In June of 2017, the company partnered with Instacart to provide delivery of their Personal Shopper program.

Wegmans has appeared on Fortune’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list since the list first appeared in 1998. The company has continually ranked among the top 10 for eight consecutive years.

Today, Wegmans is still a family-owned regional supermarket with 95 stores in 6 states: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The company had annual revenue in 2016 of $8.3 billion.

Wegmans

History

In 1931, the brothers incorporated the business as Wegman’s Food Market and opened a self-service grocery.

In 1968, the company begins expanding. First in Syracuse, New York, later in Buffalo, New York.

In 1972, the company opens its first pharmacy inside a store.

In 1974, the company acquires Bilt-Rite Chase-Pitkin.

In 1986, Wegmans Federal Credit Union opens for business.

In 1993, the company opens its first store outside of New York in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The company quit selling tobacco products in 2008 and even offered stop smoking programs to their employees.

In 2009, Wegmans ranked 29th on the Supermarket News list of the Top 75 North American Food Retailers based on sales volume.

In June of 2017, the company partnered with Instacart to provide delivery of their Personal Shopper program.

Golden Corral Corporate Office

Golden Corral was founded in 1973 by James Maynard and Bill Carl after they failed multiple times to purchase franchises of other restaurants. The first Golden Corral restaurant was located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

By 1979, there were over 100 restaurants in the chain.

In 1982, the company acquires Sirloin Stockade, which adds almost 200 more locations.

In 1991, the company launches 7 Metro Market concept restaurants. These markets were double the size of a traditional Golden Corral.

In 1992, the company begins to franchise.

In 1993, the first restaurant outside the US opens in Mexico.

In 1997, the company signs a large franchise agreement with Frisch’s.

In 2003, a Georgia restaurant had to be closed due to a salmonella outbreak.

In 2012, a Wyoming Golden Corral had an outbreak of the norovirus. More than 344 people were sick, with 282 of these being primary cases. The virus got its push from 31 employees who were sick with the virus who worked despite knowing they were sick.

Today, there are nearly 500 Golden Corral restaurants in 41 US states and annual sales estimated to be $1.53 billion.

Golden Corral

By 1979, there were over 100 restaurants in the chain.

History

In 1982, the company acquires Sirloin Stockade, which adds almost 200 more locations.

In 1991, the company launches 7 Metro Market concept restaurants. These markets were double the size of a traditional Golden Corral.

In 1992, the company begins to franchise.

In 1993, the first restaurant outside the US opens in Mexico.

In 1997, the company signs a large franchise agreement with Frisch’s.

In 2003, a Georgia restaurant had to be closed due to a salmonella outbreak.

Today, there are nearly 500 Golden Corral restaurants in 41 US states and annual sales estimated to be $1.53 billion.

Fresh and Easy Corporate Office

Fresh & Easy is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK giant Tesco. The chain started in 2007 when Tesco decided to move into the US market with a chain of small format stores in the Western US. The first three test markets were Las Vegas, Phoenix and Southern California.

By 2009, the company was losing a substantial amount of money.

In 2010, the chain announced they would be closing 13 stores temporarily.

As of 2011, there were 182 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.

In 2012, CEO Tim Mason resigns.

In 2013, Tesco announced plans to pull out of the US market. The Fresh & Easy chain currently has over 200 stores and is reportedly for sale.

Fresh and Easy

By 2009, the company was losing a substantial amount of money.

In 2010, the chain announced they would be closing 13 stores temporarily.

History

As of 2011, there were 182 stores in Arizona, California and Nevada.

In 2012, CEO Tim Mason resigns.

In 2013, Tesco announced plans to pull out of the US market. The Fresh & Easy chain currently has over 200 stores and is reportedly for sale.

Food Lion Corporate Office

Food Lion was founded in 1957 by Wilson Smith and Ralph and Brown Ketner. The first store was called Food Town and it was located in Salisbury, North Carolina, where the headquarters still resides today.

The company name was changed to Food Lion in the early 1980s after the chain was acquired by Belgian grocer Delhaize.

The chain grew very quickly during the 80s and 90s, opening over 100 stores per year for much of that period.

In 1993, the company agreed to pay $16 million in damages after violating federal laws regarding overtime pay.

In 1994, the company closed 47 stores. This was the first of many major store closings.

Beginning in 2014, the company began remodeling 76 of their stores in the greater Wilmington and Greenville North Carolina areas. In 2015, plans were announced for remodeling of its 162 locations in the Raleigh, North Carolina market.

Although the company spent seven years attempting to establish a presence in Bangkok, Thailand, they were ultimately unsuccessful. The stores were operated locally by Bel-Thai Supermarket Co, and in 2004, Food Lion withdrew from the country, selling all branches to Tops Supermarkets.

In June of 2015, it was announced that Food Lion’s parent company, the Delhaize Group, and Ahold would merge into one company, Ahold Delhaize. This merger was completed in July 2016.

Today, Food Lion is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ahold Delhaize. The company operates over 1100 stores in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Food Lion

History

The company name was changed to Food Lion in the early 1980s after the chain was acquired by Belgian grocer Delhaize.

The chain grew very quickly during the 80s and 90s, opening over 100 stores per year for much of that period.

In 1993, the company agreed to pay $16 million in damages after violating federal laws regarding overtime pay.

In 1994, the company closed 47 stores. This was the first of many major store closings.

In June of 2015, it was announced that Food Lion’s parent company, the Delhaize Group, and Ahold would merge into one company, Ahold Delhaize. This merger was completed in July 2016.