Back to Groceteria.com


The Groceteria.com Message Board has moved to a new location:

http://groceteria.com/board/

You may no longer post on this outdated version of the board. Please join us at the new space!

    Shoppers Food Warehouse Origins/Early History

    Posted by TheQuestioner on 10/3/2005, 4:16 pm
    71.135.240.225

    Cane anyone give a summary of the origins of the Washington D.C. area chain Shoppers Food Warehouse? This store seems to be doing very well in a tough market which many national names such as Kroger or Albertsons seem to have avoided like the plague.

    I know that the initial SFW stores were "rebrandings" of the old Jumbo Food grocery chain locations. I know that the Dart Group (Herbert Haft and family) were involved at some point, but I am not sure if they originated SFW. I'm pretty sure they didn't start Jumbo, but perhaps they bought it to convert/improve the chain?

    My recollection of early SHoppers stores were they they were bare-bones affairs, a little rough in appearance, like Food4Less/FoodMax or Rainbow Grocery Outlet type of stores. Sometime in the 90's Shoppers seems to have gone more upscale, and their stores now look closer to a traditional grocery store when it comes to fixtures and display, but they kept some of the warehouse prices.

    In general I like SFW and feel it's a good model to emulate elsewhere in the country, where discount grocery stores still seem to to have a sheen of cheapness and dirtyness. Any insights on how Shoppers has become such a strong local chain from such humble roots?


    Any old photos would be appreciated as well.

    Message Thread:


This message is locked. (Responses are not allowed)

Hosted for FREE by Boardhost.
Create your own free message board!