Raley's Supermarkets

{{Short description|Supermarket chain}} {{Infobox company | name = Raley's Family of Fine Stores | logo = Raleys logo.svg | trade_name = Raley's Supermarkets | type = {{flat list| * Private * family business }} | image = Raleys headquarters.jpg | image_caption = Raley's headquarters in West Sacramento | location = West Sacramento, California | former_name = | industry = Retail (grocery) | founder = Thomas P. Raley | founded = {{Start date and age|1935|2|16}} in Placerville, California, U.S. | location_country = U.S. | num_locations = 115 stores<ref name="FactSheet"/> {{As Of|2025}} | products = Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, prepared foods | area_served = | num_employees = 11,500<ref name="FactSheet">{{cite web |url=https://www.raleys.com/about/raleys-corporate-fact-sheet |accessdate=2025-04-26 |website=raleys.com |title=Raley's Corporate Fact Sheet}}</ref> | num_employees_year = 2025 | revenue = | key_people = Michael Teel, Owner, Chairman, President & CEO | owner = Raley family (100%) | homepage = {{URL|raleys.com}} }} '''Raley's Supermarkets''' is an independent, family-owned American grocery and retail technology company headquartered in West Sacramento, California. Raley's was founded in 1935 by Thomas P. Raley in Placerville, California.

The Raley's Companies brands include Raley's, Bel Air, Nob Hill Foods, Raley's O-N-E Market, Bashas', Bashas' Diné Market, Food City,{{efn|Not to be confused with Food City, an unrelated supermarket chain in the Southeastern United States}} AJ's Fine Foods, Eddie's Country Store and FieldTRUE Organic. These brands do business in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, as well as the Tribal Nations of Navajo Nation, White Mountain Apache, and San Carlos Apache. Raley's currently employs 23,000 people.

==History==

The company was founded on February 16, 1935, by Thomas P. Raley in Placerville, California, as Raley's Drive-In Market.<ref>{{cite news | first=Kelly | last=Johnson | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/1998/11/23/newscolumn1.html | title=Raley's keeps busy with building, remodeling, Web | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 22, 1998}}</ref> Raley ran the company until his death on December 27, 1991, at the age of 88.<ref name=Majority/> Raley's purchased Bel Air Markets in 1993, Nob Hill Foods in 1997 and Scolari's Food & Drug Company in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 5, 1993 |title=Raley'S / Bel Air: Happily Married |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0DA82674FFE0B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221952/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0DA82674FFE0B&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=Mar 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 17, 1997 |title=Family Prunes Its Business |publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB72156857596BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=October 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306130742/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB72156857596BF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-date=Mar 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Jonathan |date=March 23, 2018 |title=Scolari's purchased by Raley's |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/news/local/mason-valley/2018/03/23/scolaris-purchased-raleys/454225002/ |access-date=2019-02-20 |website=Reno Gazette Journal |language=en}}</ref> The company also started Food Source in 1995 and Market 5-ONE-5 in 2018.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/raleys-expanding-food-source-format | title=Raley's is expanding Food Source format| work=Supermarket News | date=September 11, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Redman |first=Russell |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Raley's launches Market 5-ONE-5 |work=Supermarket News |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/store-design-construction/raley-s-launches-market-5-one-5}}</ref>

In 1998, the company had revenue of $2.5 billion.<ref name=Open-First/> In June 1999, Albertsons announced plans to sell its 19 stores in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Raley's, which also planned to purchase eight Albertson's stores in New Mexico.<ref name=LVS-1999/> For five years, Raley's had been searching for ways to expand the company, with specific interest in the Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, Utah, markets.<ref name=Open-First>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Hubble|title=Raley's to open first LV store|url=http://lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/1999/Sep-17-Fri-1999/business/11968701.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=September 17, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001010141756/http://lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Sep-17-Fri-1999/business/11968701.html|archive-date=October 10, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the time, Raley's was the 38th largest supermarket chain in the United States,<ref name=LVS-1999>{{cite news|title=Albertson's to sell all LV stores|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/jun/22/albertsons-to-sell-all-lv-stores/|access-date=August 10, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=June 22, 1999}}</ref> with 150 stores, including Bel Air Markets, Food Source and Nob Hill Foods. The company had 17,500 employees across its four divisions.<ref name=Open-First/> Raley's opened its Las Vegas stores later in 1999,<ref name=Open-First/><ref name=Awakening/> and had plans to build additional locations in the Las Vegas area.<ref>{{cite news|last=Levine|first=Paul|title=Raley's converting Albertson's, looking at further LV growth|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/sep/13/raleys-converting-albertsons-looking-at-further-lv/|access-date=August 10, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=September 13, 1999}}</ref><ref name=Awakening/>

At the time, Michael Teel – the grandson of Thomas Raley – was the company's president and chief executive officer (CEO). Joyce Teel, the mother of Michael Teel, was the company's owner.<ref name=Awakening>{{cite news|last=Puppel|first=Doug|title=Food Awakening: Raley's boss promises improvements in old Albertson's stores|url=http://www.lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/1999/Oct-09-Sat-1999/business/12113696.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=October 9, 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000614162230/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/1999/Oct-09-Sat-1999/business/12113696.html|archive-date=June 14, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> William J. Coyne, the company's first general counsel, became the chief operating officer in February 2002. Michael Teel resigned as president in April 2002, to pursue "personal endeavors." Coyne replaced Teel as president.<ref>{{cite news|title=LV supermarket chain CEO out|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/apr/22/lv-supermarket-chain-ceo-out/|access-date=August 10, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=April 22, 2002}}</ref>

In September 2002, Kroger announced plans to purchase Raley's 18 store locations in Las Vegas, with intentions of converting them into Smith's and Food 4 Less stores.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Hubble|title=Kroger to purchase Raley's LV stores: Acquisition will make it largest chain in Las Vegas|url=http://www.lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/2002/Sep-14-Sat-2002/business/19631827.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=September 14, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020920035635/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Sep-14-Sat-2002/business/19631827.html|archive-date=September 20, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Crowley|first1=Matthew|last2=Smith|first2=Hubble|title=Kroger to close, convert stores: Union talking with company about job worries|url=http://www.lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/2002/Sep-18-Wed-2002/business/19656690.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 18, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020922025149/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Sep-18-Wed-2002/business/19656690.html|archive-date=September 22, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Smith's to close three LV Raley's stores|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/sep/17/smiths-to-close-three-lv-raleys-stores/|access-date=August 10, 2017|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=September 17, 2002}}</ref> Raley's stated that slow growth and local competition were reasons for selling the stores. The revenue from the sale was to be used to build and renovate stores in Reno, Nevada, and Northern California.<ref name=FTC/> The Federal Trade Commission approved the sale in November 2002. Raley's stores in Las Vegas began closing later that month.<ref name="FTC">{{cite news |last=Leong |first=Grace |date=November 14, 2002 |title=FTC allows buyout of Vegas-area Raley's |work=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2002/nov/14/ftc-allows-buyout-of-vegas-area-raleys/ |url-access=limited |access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Raley's to start closing stores: Seven sites to be shuttered today|url=http://www.lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/2002/Nov-14-Thu-2002/business/20054112.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=November 14, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030111173509/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Nov-14-Thu-2002/business/20054112.html|archive-date=January 11, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Chris|title=Ex-Raley's stores set to open: Food 4 Less plans to have two shops operating this week|url=http://www.lvrj.com:80/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-17-Tue-2002/business/20292182.html|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=December 17, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030212124139/http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2002/Dec-17-Tue-2002/business/20292182.html|archive-date=February 12, 2003|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{As of|November 2009}}, three Raley's supermarkets had been awarded Greenchill Partnership Gold-Level Certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for environmentally friendly refrigeration technology.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-11-04 |title=U.S. EPA Press Release: U.S. EPA Recognizes Raley's Supermarket Efforts to Keep Planet Cool, Nov. 2009 |url=https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/2dd7f669225439b78525735900400c31/08fe0d5e7e34cc2f85257664006552a7!OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123145119/https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/2dd7f669225439b78525735900400c31/08fe0d5e7e34cc2f85257664006552a7!OpenDocument |archive-date=Nov 23, 2009 |access-date=2016-10-14 |publisher=Yosemite.epa.gov}}</ref>

thumb|250px|right|A Raley's in Modesto, California {{As of|2012}}, Raley's operates 128 stores, 40 of them in the Greater Sacramento area. Those stores control the city's largest market share: 28%, down from 30% in 2007 and 34% in 2003, according to Metro Market Studies of Tucson, Arizona. By comparison, other local market shares are Safeway at 16.7%, Costco at 11.9% and Save Mart Supermarkets at 9.2%. However, the company is suffering from increased competition in the region as well as the poor economy, and had more than 150 corporate layoffs in 2011 and closed several stores in 2012.<ref>{{cite news | first=Kelly | last=Jonson | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/03/02/raleys-closing-two-more-stores.html | title=Raley's closing two more stores | work=American City Business Journals | date=March 2, 2012}}</ref><ref name=conventional>{{cite news | first=Eliot | last=Zwiebach | url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retailers/new-sacramento-market | title=In With the New: The Sacramento Market: Conventional chains in California's capital city are feeling the heat from a range of competitive openings | work=Supermarket News | date=April 2, 2012}}</ref>

''Supermarket News'' ranks Raley's 38th in the "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on sales of $3.4 billion.<ref name=conventional/><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/rankings-research/top-75-retailers-wholesalers | title=TOP 75 RETAILERS & WHOLESALERS | publisher=Supermarket News}}</ref> ''Consumer Reports'' surveys rank Raley's among the top U.S. supermarket chains, in particular for customer service.<ref>"Consumers rate supermarkets: Raley's comes out on top", ''The Food Institute Report'', August 11, 2003: "West Sacramento, CA-based Raley's was ranked as the nation's top supermarket".</ref><ref>Joyce Swanson, [https://web.archive.org/web/20170209182232/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/rgj/doc/439390862.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug%2012,%202003&author=Joyce%20Swanson&pub=Reno%20Gazette%20-%20Journal&edition=&startpage=&desc=Raley%27s,%20Trader%20Joe%27s,%20Costco%20get%20high%20grades "Raley's, Trader Joe's, Costco get high grades"], ''Reno Gazette-Journal'', August 12, 2003: "Consumer Reports readers evaluated shopping experiences in a number of areas, ... Raley's was the top-ranked store for overall customer satisfaction" (pay per view)</ref><ref>Reuters, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-grocery-survey-idUSTRE5356MM20090406 "Shoppers prefer smaller grocers over Wal-Mart: poll"], April 6, 2009.</ref> The same held true for 2012, although the chain fell from 4th nationwide in 2009 to 8th.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/finance/regional-food-chains-rule-magazine-s-best-list | title=Regional Food Chains Rule Magazine's 'Best' List | work=Supermarket News | date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>

Thomas Raley's family still controls the company. His grandson, Michael Teel, became the majority shareholder in mid-2015 and currently serves as chairman.<ref name=Majority>{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/05/18/michael-teel-becomes-majority-owner-of-raleys.html | title=Michael Teel becomes majority owner of Raley's | first=Sonya | last=Sorich | work=American City Business Journals | date=May 18, 2015}}</ref> Keith Knopf was named Raley's chief operating officer on June 1, 2015, and added 'President' to his title in February 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://progressivegrocer.com/raleys-coo-knopf-adds-president-title|title=Raley's COO Knopf Adds 'President' to Title|website=Progressive Grocer|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> He was then promoted to president and chief executive officer on September 27, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Redman |first=Russell |date=September 28, 2018 |title=Raley's names Keith Knopf as CEO |work=Supermarket News |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/executive-changes/raley-s-names-keith-knopf-ceo}}</ref> Knopf has worked with May Co. Department Stores and Kohl's retail chain in the past.<ref>{{cite news | last=Glover | first=Mark | title=Raley's hires retail industry veteran as chief operating officer | url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article22815726.html | work=The Sacramento Bee | date=June 1, 2015 }}</ref>

In 2004, Raley's opened its first Aisle 1 brand gas station in Galt, California, and eventually grew Aisle 1 into 13 locations in Northern California and Nevada. Raley's sold all 13 Aisle 1 locations to Anabi Oil in December 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-12 |title=Raley's Sells Aisle 1 Fuel Centers to Anabi Oil |url=https://progressivegrocer.com/raleys-sells-aisle-1-fuel-centers-anabi-oil |access-date=2019-02-20 |website=Progressive Grocer |language=en}}</ref> Raley Field, now named Sutter Health Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, is located in West Sacramento and is named after the chain.

On October 28, 2019, Raley's announced plans to close 27 in–store pharmacies. The company transferred prescriptions from affected stores to various CVS Pharmacy, Rite Aid and Walgreens locations.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/raley-s-close-27-pharmacies | title=Raley's to close 27 pharmacies | first=Russell | last=Redman | work=Supermarket News | date=October 28, 2019}}</ref>

In 2020, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Raley's has opened stores in two locations in Greater Sacramento.<ref name="COVID, Ref 3a">{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Darrell |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Do you have coronavirus shopping anxiety? These Sacramento therapists can help with that |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article242583996.html |url-access=subscription |website=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref><ref name="5 stores. Ref 2a">{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Marianne |date=2020-05-19 |title=First Look: Raley's opens new store under Bel Air banner |url=https://chainstoreage.com/first-look-raleys-opens-new-store-under-bel-air-banner |website=CSA, the business of retail}}</ref> In April 2020, Raley's opened a 55,000 square feet flagship store in Sacramento's Land Park neighborhood followed by a 35,000 square feet store in Rancho Murieta, which is located in Sacramento County.<ref name="5 stores. Ref 2a" /> Raley's and Sacramento Republic have both delivered more than 10,000 meals to local senior citizens and have raised more than $60,000 through online donations which are going towards Indomitable Hands.<ref name="philanthropy ref 6a">{{cite web |last1=Moran |first1=Eddie |date=12 May 2020 |title=Awaiting MLS Debut, Sacramento Republic Looks To Fans At Home |url=https://frntofficesport.com/sacramento-republic-fc/ |website=Front Office Sports}}</ref><ref name="covid ref 7a additional">{{cite web |last1=Sorich |first1=Sonya |date=Mar 21, 2020 |title=Raley's giving bonus to workers during COVID-19 outbreak |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2020/03/21/raleys-giving-bonus-to-workers-during-covid-19.html |website=Biz Journals}}</ref>

Raley's recognized its 85th anniversary with an integrated marketing campaign ''Good Never Stops''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Redman |first1=Russell |date=19 February 2020 |title=Raley's marks its 85th anniversary with 'Good Never Stops' campaign |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/marketing/raley-s-marks-its-85th-anniversary-good-never-stops-campaign |website=Supermarket News}}</ref>

On December 15, 2021, Raley's acquired the Arizona-based Bashas' Family of Stores — including Bashas', AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City. The 118 Bashas' locations remained open under their respective brands in Arizona.<ref>{{cite web |last=Browne |first=Michael |date=15 December 2021 |title=Raley's completes purchase of the Bashas' Company |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/raley-s-completes-purchase-bashas-company |website=Supermarket News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Frigerio |first=Josh |title=Deal to sell Bashas' Family of Stores to California-based Raley's Family of Fine Stores completed |url=https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/chandler/deal-to-sell-bashas-family-of-stores-to-california-based-raleys-family-of-fine-stores-completed |newspaper=ABC15 Phoenix |date=15 December 2021 |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref>

In 2025, several California county districts attorneys investigated the chain for unfair business practices, including selling expired OTC drugs. The company settled by paying more than $400,000 in fines.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fox40.com/news/local-news/sacramento/sacramento-county-district-attorney-settlement-raleys-pays-fine/ |title=Raley's supermarkets agree to settlement and payment in expired drug case |first1=Adoreil |last1=Ayoubgoulan |date=2025-04-22 |website=KTXL}}</ref>

On May 29, 2025, it was announced that the last remaining Food Source, located in Stockton, California, that was converted from a Raley's in 2016,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.recordnet.com/story/business/2016/02/03/food-source-opens-in-stockton/32569010007/ |title=Food Source opens in Stockton |first1=Reed |last1=Fujii |date=February 3, 2016 |website=The Record (Stockton)|access-date=May 29, 2025}}</ref> will close; the store shuttered on June 6, effectively ending Raley's discount grocery format.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.recordnet.com/story/business/2025/05/29/stockton-food-source-to-close-june-6-as-lease-ends/83770736007/ |title='Difficult decision': Stockton Food Source to close last location in June as lease ends |first1=Angelaydet |last1= Rocha|date=May 29, 2025|website=The Record (Stockton)|access-date=May 29, 2025}}</ref>

==Banners== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+Raley's banners by number of locations (not including banners from Bashas') |- | Raley's | 76 |- | Bel Air Markets | 21 |- | Nob Hill Foods{{efn|Not to be confused with Knob Hill Farms, a now–defunct Canadian supermarket chain}} | 18 |- | Raley's O-N-E Market | 4 |- | Total stores | 119 |} <ref name="FactSheet"/>

==eCart== ''eCart'' is Raley's e-commerce platform which offers parking lot pickup for customers. Through eCart, the store has the capacity to process up to 250 online orders for pickup or delivery on a daily basis. Pickup customers have access to covered, pull-through parking spots at some locations, and their proximity to eCart storage reduces the wait time for shoppers when they arrive.<ref name="New store, ref 5a">{{cite web |last1=Redman |first1=Russell |date=April 16, 2020 |title=Raley's unveils new flagship store in Sacramento |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/store-design-construction/raley-s-unveils-new-flagship-store-sacramento |website=Supermarket News}}</ref>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.raleys.com/}}

Category:1935 establishments in California Category:American companies established in 1935 Category:Family-owned companies of the United States Category:Retail companies established in 1935 Category:Supermarkets based in California Category:Privately held companies based in Sacramento, California

Raley's Supermarkets

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