Corporate Office HQ

Lowe’s Foods Corporate Office

Lowe's Foods

Lowe’s Foods was founded in 1954 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina by Jim Lowe.

Lowe sold that store to J.C. Faw Expansion, who expanded the store to a chain. In 1984 the chain was sold again, this time to Merchant Distributors, Inc (MDI). In 1992, MDI was reorganized as a holding company, Alex Lee, Inc.

Alex Lee expanded Lowe’s Foods with the 1997 acquisition of Byrd’s Food Stores, Inc, subsequently turning 43 Byrd’s stores into Lowe’s stores.

History

In 2007 Lowe’s began to open fuel stations at their grocery stores.

In 2011 Lowe’s opened a series of stores for the budget-conscious consumer, called Just $ave.

Today Lowe’s Foods is a grocery store chain based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The company has 100 stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Lowe’s Foods is #169 on CNN Money’s Global 500, has 197, 500 employees, and had $48.815 billion in revenue in 2010.

Lowe's Foods was founded in 1954 in Wilkesboro, North Carolina by Jim Lowe. Lowe sold that store to J.C. Faw Expansion, who expanded the store to a chain. In 1984 the chain was sold again, this time to Merchant Distributors, Inc (MDI). In 1992, … [Continue reading] about Lowe’s Foods Corporate Office

Oriental Trading Company Corporate Office

Oriental Trading Company

Oriental Trading Company was founded as a gift shop in Omaha, Nebraska in 1932 by Harry Watanabe. OTC was one of the United States’ first wholesale companies. The company quickly expanded to 17 shops.

During WWII there were restrictions on imports from Japan, and OTC had to shrink back to its Omaha base, buying a ceramic shop that made Kewpie dolls.

In the 1950’s OTC became a major supplier to the U.S. carnival trade. The company launched its first catalog in the 1970’s.

History

In 1977 Harry Watanabe’s son Terry took over the company and shifted the focus from carnivals to supplying party goods for churches, retailers, schools, and individuals.

Amid allegations of alcohol and gambling addictions, Terry Watanabe sold his stake in the company to private equity firm Brentwood Associates in 2000.

In 2006 Carlyle Group bought 68% of the company.

In 2010 OTC filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection with $463 million in assets, $756 million in liabilities, and $485 in net sales.

In 2012 Berkshire Hathaway acquired the company for about $500 million.

Today the Oriental Trading Company offers 40,000 products to businesses, non-profit organizations, individuals, schools, churches, and teachers. OTC has 2,000 employees.

Oriental Trading Company was founded as a gift shop in Omaha, Nebraska in 1932 by Harry Watanabe. OTC was one of the United States' first wholesale companies. The company quickly expanded to 17 shops. During WWII there were restrictions on imports … [Continue reading] about Oriental Trading Company Corporate Office

FreshDirect Corporate Office

FreshDirect

FreshDirect is an online grocer that services residences and offices in the New York City metropolitan area.

FreshDirect was founded in 1999 by David McInerney and Jason Ackerman with a business model to deliver farm-fresh food and convenience to customers in New York City. Early on, the company offered discounts and incentives to new customers, which kept up a steady stream of new customers and grew the business.

FreshDirect practices Just In Time manufacturing, meaning that groceries are custom prepared for each customer, a process that improves quality and freshness and reduces waste.

History

FreshDirect is based out of a 300,000 square-foot building in Long Island City. The company has proposed a move to The Harlem River Yards in the Bronx. This move has been strongly opposed by Bronx residents and mayor Bill de Blasio when he worked as the NYC Public Advocate.

Today FreshDirect offers next-day deliveries to most of Manhattan, and parts of Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau Country, Westchester County,Philadelphia, and Jersey City and Hoboken, New Jersey. FreshDirect has 3,000 employees, has 250,000 customers, and had $400 million in sales in 2012.

FreshDirect is an online grocer that services residences and offices in the New York City metropolitan area. FreshDirect was founded in 1999 by David McInerney and Jason Ackerman with a business model to deliver farm-fresh food and convenience to … [Continue reading] about FreshDirect Corporate Office

JM Family Enterprises Corporate Office

JM Family Enterprises

JM Family Enterprises began when Jim Moran spent his $360 in savings on a Sinclair gas station in 1939. This gas station soon became the largest volume gas station in Chicago.

Jim Moran opened Courtesy Motors, a Hudson dealership, in Chicago in 1948. Later, in the 1950’s, Moran was one of the first dealers to advertise cars on television.

In 1961 Jim Moran was featured on the cover of Time magazine’s “Heydey of the Haggle: The Buyer’s Market in Cars.”

History

In 1968 Moran signed an agreement to make JM Family Enterprises the exclusive distributor of Toyotas in the southeastern United States.

Today JM Family Enterprises is a diversified automotive corporation with its principal business in vehicle distribution and processing, financial services, finance, insurance products, retail sales, marketing, consulting, and dealer technology products and services.

JM Family is a “Fortune 100 Best” company, has 3,800 employees throughout North America, is #27 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, and had $11.5 billion in revenue in 2012.

JM Family Enterprises began when Jim Moran spent his $360 in savings on a Sinclair gas station in 1939. This gas station soon became the largest volume gas station in Chicago. Jim Moran opened Courtesy Motors, a Hudson dealership, in Chicago in … [Continue reading] about JM Family Enterprises Corporate Office

U.S. Auto Parts Network Corporate Office

U.S. Auto Parts Network

U.S. Auto Parts Network was founded in 1995, originally servicing auto body shops in Los Angeles.

In 2000 the company launched its first e-commerce site selling auto parts.

From 2000 to 2005 U.S. Auto Parts Network launched a network of e-commerce sites, each one aimed at a different consumer segment.

History

In 2007 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PRTS.

In 2010 U.S. Auto Parts Network acquired JC Whitney, an accessories company, therefore expanding its product base.

Today U.S. Auto Parts Network offers 2 million aftermarket auto parts for all makes and models of domestic and foreign cars and trucks. The company also sells products for all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and RVs. Most of the company’s business s done online, though catalogs and two stores also contribute to sales.

U.S. Auto Parts Network has over 1,000 employees and had revenue of $257.87 million in 2012.

U.S. Auto Parts Network was founded in 1995, originally servicing auto body shops in Los Angeles. In 2000 the company launched its first e-commerce site selling auto parts. From 2000 to 2005 U.S. Auto Parts Network launched a network of … [Continue reading] about U.S. Auto Parts Network Corporate Office