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{{short description|American supermarket chain}}
⚫
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{About|the American supermarket chain|the English football club with the initials QFC|Quorn F.C.}}
{{About|the American supermarket chain|the English football club with the initials QFC|Quorn F.C.}}
⚫
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company
name = Quality Food Centers, Inc.|
logo = [[Image:Quality Food Centers.png|200px|QFC logo]] |
| name = Quality Food Centers, Inc.
| trade_name = QFC
⚫
type = [[subsidiary]]|
foundation = [[Seattle, Washington]] (1955–1963 as Lake Hills Thriftway)<br/>(1963–present as Quality Food Centers)|
| former_name = Lake Hills Thriftway (1955–1963)
| logo = QFC logo.svg
⚫
location = [[Bellevue, Washington]], U.S.|
⚫
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
locations = 64|
| founder = Jack Croco
⚫
key_people = |
| area_served = [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and [[Oregon]]
⚫
num_employees = |
⚫
| key_people = {{Plainlist|
industry = [[Retailer|Retail]]|
* Christopher A. Sinclair ([[chairman]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
products = [[Grocery]]|
}}
revenue = |
| industry = [[Grocery|Grocery retail]]
⚫
parent = [[Kroger]]|
| products = Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gasoline, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks
⚫
homepage = {{URL|http://www.qfc.com/}}
| services =
| revenue = {{profit}} $1 billion (2021)
| operating_income =
⚫
| num_employees = 5,900 (2021)
⚫
| parent = [[Kroger]]
⚫
| homepage = {{URL|www.qfc.com}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
| foundation = {{start date|1955|11|26}} in [[Seattle]], Washington, U.S.
⚫
| location = [[Bellevue, Washington]], U.S.
| locations = 62 <small>(2021)</small>
}}
}}


'''Quality Food Centers''' ('''QFC''') is a [[supermarket]] chain based in [[Bellevue, Washington]], with 64 stores in the [[Puget Sound region]] of the state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and in the [[Portland, Oregon]], metropolitan area. QFC is a subsidiary of [[Kroger]].
'''Quality Food Centers, Inc.''', better known as '''QFC''', is an American [[supermarket]] chain based in [[Bellevue, Washington]], east of [[Seattle]]. It is a subsidiary of [[Kroger]] and has 62 stores in western [[Washington (state)|Washington]] and northwestern [[Oregon]], primarily located in the [[Puget Sound region]] and [[Portland metropolitan area, Oregon|Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area]].


==History==
==History==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:1183179 xls06NIT6piWeU2SOpTdZnwEqDxiFl4QsQ9m wqa0AU.jpg|thumb|left|QFC in Juanita Drive Northeast, Kirkland, WA.]] -->
Jack Croco first started in the grocery business in [[Boise, Idaho]], in the 1940s working for [[New Albertsons|Albertsons]] Supermarkets. By 1950, he had become the district manager in the Northwest and was responsible for opening the first Albertson's stores in the [[Seattle]] area. Soon afterward in 1955, he opened his own grocery store in Bellevue which was called Lake Hills Thriftway. The grocery concern that would come to be named QFC in 1963<ref name=Times_110797/> was founded in 1955 with the first store at 6600 Roosevelt Way Northeast<ref name=Times_110797/> by a group headed by Vern Fortin, the former president of [[Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakeries]] and founder of Vernell's Fine Candies. Croco merged his store with QFC in 1960. He remained involved in the company until his death in 1991 at the age of 65,<ref>Gorlick, Arthur. "QFC GREW FROM 4 STORES TO MAJOR CHAIN." [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] November 8, 1997: A4</ref> though in 1986 he sold QFC to Seattle investment firm Sloan, Adkins & Co.<ref>{{cite news | first=Bruce | last=Ramsey |authorlink= | title=QFC GROCERY STORES TO BE SOLD | date=January 18, 1986 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1986/8601020285.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages =A3 | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref> Sloan Adkins [[Initial public offering|took QFC public]] in 1987.<ref name=Times_110797/> [[Christopher A. Sinclair]] became the CEO in 1996. In 1997, QFC purchased the Uddenberg grocery company which operated Thriftway and Stock Market stores throughout western Washington. In late 1997, QFC was sold to [[Fred Meyer]],<ref name=Times_110797>{{cite news | first=Lee | last=Moriwaki |authorlink= | title=Fred Meyer to Buy QFC | date=November 7, 1997 | publisher= | url =http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971107&slug=2570906 | work =The Seattle Times | pages = | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref> and a year and a half later in May 1999 [[Kroger]] acquired Fred Meyer and QFC.<ref name='Times 102098'>{{cite news | first=Michele | last=Matassa Flores |author2=Joe Heim |authorlink= | title=Attention Shoppers: We've Been Sold — Again | date=October 20, 1998 | publisher= | url =http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19981020&slug=2778731 | work =The Seattle Times | pages = | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref> The Roosevelt store remained open through May 5, 2012, when it was closed to make way for construction of the [[Roosevelt station (Sound Transit)|Roosevelt light rail station]].<ref>[https://www.webcitation.org/69bsQILl6?url=http://www.roosiehood.com/2012/04/make-room-for-light-rail-roosevelt-qfc-closure-just-weeks-away/ Make room for light rail: Roosevelt QFC closure just weeks away] ''Roosiehood'', April 19, 2012</ref>
Jack Croco began his career in the grocery business in the 1940s in [[Boise, Idaho]], working for [[New Albertsons|Albertsons]]. By 1950, he had become the district manager in the Northwest and was responsible for opening the first Albertson's stores in the [[Seattle]] area. Soon afterward in 1955, Croco opened his own grocery store in Bellevue, called Lake Hills Thriftway.{{cn|date=May 2023}}


The grocery chain that would come to be named QFC in 1963<ref name=Times_110797/> was founded in 1955 with the first store at 6600 [[Roosevelt, Seattle|Roosevelt]] Way N.E. in [[Seattle]]<ref name=Times_110797/> by a group headed by Vern Fortin, the former president of [[Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakeries]] and founder of Vernell's Fine Candies. Croco merged his store with QFC in 1960, and remained involved in the company until his death in 1991 at the age of 65,<ref>{{Cite news|title=QFC Grew from 4 Stores to Major Chain|last=Gorlick|first=Arthur|date=November 8, 1997|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|page=A4}}</ref> though in 1986 he sold QFC to Seattle investment firm Sloan, Adkins & Co.,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1986/8601020285.asp|title=QFC Grocery Stores to be Sold|last=Ramsey|first=Bruce|date=January 18, 1986|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009|page=A3}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which [[Initial public offering|took QFC public]] in 1987.<ref name=Times_110797/>
==Expansion==
⚫
Over the years, QFC has expanded aggressively through acquisitions. When [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] Supermarkets abandoned the Seattle area in 1974, QFC took over several locations. They expanded to surrounding counties in the 1990s by acquiring and renaming Olson's Food Stores, Johnny's Food Centers, and Stock Market Grocery Stores as well as several Thriftway stores. Between 1990 and 1996, 30 stores were acquired from 11 different independent grocery chains.<ref>"Growing QFC Will Buy 25 Supermarkets." Seattle Post-Intelligencer November 13, 1996: B8.</ref> Reed's Super Valu in Port Hadlock and Stock Market Foods in [[Port Townsend]] were acquired in 1997.<ref name='PI 052097'>{{cite news | first=P-I | last=Staff |authorlink= | title=QFC Plans Expansion with Two New Food Stores Near Olympia | date=May 20, 1997 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705200079.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages =B4 | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref><ref name='PI 042997'>{{cite news | first=P-I | last=Staff |authorlink= | title=Reed's Super Valu Bought by QFC; Employees to Stay | date=April 29, 1997 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9704290042.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages =B5 | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref> The company expanded into the [[Portland, Oregon]], area as well.<ref name='PI 051797'>{{cite news | first=P-I | last=Staff |authorlink= | title=QFC Plans to Enter Market In Portland With Two Stores | date=May 17, 1997 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705180185.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages =B8 | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref>


[[Christopher A. Sinclair]] became the CEO in 1996; the following year, QFC purchased the Uddenberg grocery company, which operated Thriftway and Stock Market stores throughout western Washington. In late 1997, QFC was sold to Portland-based [[Fred Meyer]],<ref name="Times_110797">{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971107/2570906/fred-meyer-to-buy-qfc|title=Fred Meyer to Buy QFC|last=Moriwaki|first=Lee|date=November 7, 1997|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=May 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809183855/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19971107&slug=2570906|archive-date=August 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=bgmvss>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jk5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4-sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6136%2C1914446 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=Associated Press |last=McCall |first=William |title=Fred Meyer's big move shows firm's strength, stamina |date=November 8, 1997 |page=5B}}</ref> and several months later in May 1998, Kroger announced its intention to acquire Fred Meyer (and QFC),<ref name="Times 102098">{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19981020/2778731/attention-shoppers-weve-been-sold---again----as-grocery-giants-take-over-customers-fret-about-choice|title=Attention Shoppers: We've Been Sold — Again|last1=Matassa Flores|first1=Michele|date=October 20, 1998|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=May 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809184326/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19981020&slug=2778731|archive-date=August 9, 2018|url-status=live|last2=Heim|first2=Joe}}</ref><ref name=twbdd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-tNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Zm8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6052%2C9766080 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Dunn |first=Christine |title=Kroger in $12 billion deal to buy Fred Meyer |date=October 20, 1988 |page=D1}}</ref> which was approved a year later. The Roosevelt store operated until 2012; it closed on May 5 to make way for construction of the [[Roosevelt station (Sound Transit)|Roosevelt light rail station]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140617223623/http://www.roosiehood.com/2012/04/make-room-for-light-rail-roosevelt-qfc-closure-just-weeks-away/ Make room for light rail: Roosevelt QFC closure just weeks away] ''Roosiehood'', April 19, 2012</ref>
In the mid-1990s, QFC expanded to Southern California by acquiring Hughes Family Markets (which kept its name). By the mid-1990s, many Hughes store locations were sold to [[Ralphs]], which soon was sold to [[Fred Meyer]], before going to [[Kroger]].<ref name='PI 112196'>{{cite news | first=Bill | last=Virgin |authorlink= | title=QFC Buys Chain in California | date=November 21, 1996 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1996/9611210055.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages = | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref>


A Fred Meyer store at the [[Broadway Market (Seattle)|Broadway Market]] on Seattle's Capitol Hill was replaced by a QFC in 2004.<ref>{{cite news |last=Frey |first=Christine |date=June 15, 2004 |title=QFC store will replace Broadway's Fred Meyer |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/qfc-store-will-replace-broadway-s-fred-meyer-1147238.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=September 12, 2023}}</ref>
⚫
==Philanthropy and controversy==
⚫
<!-- Consider moving to [[Stuart Sloan]] if created-->
⚫
In 1996, Stuart Sloan, former owner and chairman of QFC, promised to spend at least $1 million a year for the next eight years to overhaul one of [[Seattle Public Schools]]'s most challenged schools, T.T. Minor Elementary. The funds were donated in addition to public dollars and helped to pay for uniforms, smaller class sizes and a year-round schedule, though the manner in which the funds were applied sparked controversy.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | first=Paul | last=Shukovsky |authorlink= | title=Donation to School Criticized by League | date=May 14, 1997 | publisher= | url =http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705140088.asp | work =The Seattle Post-Intelligencer | pages =B1 | accessdate = May 21, 2009 | language = }}</ref><ref>"Rethinking Sloan's Gracious Gift To School." Seattle Post-Intelligencer May 16, 1997: A14.</ref>{{dead|date=March 2018}}


==Advertising==
==Expansion==
[[File:QFC Flagship Store.png|thumb|left|QFC's flagship store located in Kirkland, Washington]]
In the 1960s, QFC ran a memorable animated ad which made use of produce puns, such as "raise our celery".{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}
⚫
Over the years, QFC has expanded aggressively through acquisitions. When [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]]<!-- Supermarkets--> abandoned the Seattle area in 1974, QFC took over several locations. They expanded to surrounding counties in the 1990s by acquiring and renaming Olson's Food Stores, Johnny's Food Centers, Stock Market Grocery Stores, and several Thriftway stores. Between 1990 and 1996, thirty stores were acquired from eleven<!-- different--> independent grocery chains.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Growing QFC Will Buy 25 Supermarkets|date=November 13, 1996|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=B8}}</ref> Among them was Olson's Foods, a [[Lynnwood, Washington|Lynnwood]]-based chain with twelve existing stores and four new stores in development.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wieland Nogaki |first=Sylvia |date=March 3, 1995 |title=QFC completes Olson's purchase after short delay |page=E1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Reed's Super Valu in Port Hadlock and Stock Market Foods in [[Port Townsend]] were acquired in 1997,<ref name="PI 052097">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705200079.asp|title=QFC Plans Expansion with Two New Food Stores Near Olympia|last=P-I Staff|date=May 20, 1997|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009|page=B4}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="PI 042997">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9704290042.asp|title=Reed's Super Valu Bought by QFC; Employees to Stay|last=P-I Staff|date=April 29, 1997|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009|page=B5}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the company also expanded into Oregon in the Portland metropolitan area.<ref name="PI 051797">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705180185.asp|title=QFC Plans to Enter Market In Portland With Two Stores|last=P-I Staff|date=May 17, 1997|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009|page=B8}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


During the tenure of CEO [[Stuart Sloan]] in the 1980s, the company branded itself as an upmarket chain and began offering more premium items. It had an [[initial public offering]] in 1987.<ref name="Times-Merger"/> In the mid-1990s, QFC expanded to [[Southern California]] by acquiring Hughes Family Markets (which kept its name). By the mid-1990s, many Hughes store locations were sold to [[Ralphs]], which was soon sold to Fred Meyer, later acquired by Kroger.<ref name="PI 112196">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1996/9611210055.asp|title=QFC Buys Chain in California|last=Virgin|first=Bill|date=November 21, 1996|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A new flagship store opened in downtown [[Kirkland, Washington|Kirkland]] in 2019, with {{convert|50,000|sqft|sqm}} of space.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 1, 2019 |title=QFC opens Kirkland Urban location, focuses on organic foods |url=http://www.kirklandreporter.com/business/qfc-opens-kirkland-urban-location-focuses-on-organic-foods/ |work=[[Kirkland Reporter]] |access-date=December 2, 2019}}</ref> A rebrand to "the Q" was proposed in 2018 but later rejected.<ref name="Times-Merger"/>
==Positioning==
QFC and [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]] are the dominant supermarkets in the city of [[Seattle]] and its surrounding suburbs. QFC is positioned as a smaller upscale supermarket relative to [[Fred Meyer]], although both are owned by Kroger. QFC uses a preferred customer card to track customers and offer discounts.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}


Kroger [[Proposed acquisition of Albertsons by Kroger|proposed an acquisition]] of rival grocer [[Albertsons]] in 2022 that would have required the combined company to spin off locations to preserve brand competition. Among the proposed aspects of the merger was a divestment of all but five of QFC's 59 locations. The acquisition was rejected by the [[Federal Trade Commission]] in 2024, leaving QFC part of the Kroger Company.<ref name="Times-Merger">{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=December 28, 2024 |title=Once Seattle's grocery darling, QFC in limbo after Kroger-Albertsons merger fails |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/once-seattles-grocery-darling-qfc-in-limbo-after-kroger-albertsons-merger-fails/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=December 28, 2024}}</ref>
==Popular culture==

Two QFC Stores in [[Seattle, Washington]], were used for taping of the TLC Show ''[[Take Home Chef]]'', starring [[Curtis Stone]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}
⚫
==Philanthropy and labor relations==
⚫
<!-- Consider moving to [[Stuart Sloan]] if created-->
⚫
In 1996, Stuart Sloan, former owner and chairman of QFC, promised to spend at least $1 million a year for the next eight years to overhaul one of [[Seattle Public Schools]]'s most challenged schools, T.T. Minor Elementary. The funds were donated in addition to public dollars and helped to pay for uniforms, smaller class sizes and a year-round schedule, though the manner in which the funds were applied sparked controversy.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/archives/1997/9705140088.asp|title=Donation to School Criticized by League|last=Shukovsky|first=Paul|date=May 14, 1997|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=May 21, 2009|page=B1}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Rethinking Sloan's gracious gift to school|date=May 16, 1997|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|page=A14}}</ref>


Fred Meyer and QFC workers are primarily represented by [[UFCW]] Local 3000. After the union distributed [[Black Lives Matter]] buttons in 2020, Kroger managers prohibited their use by employees. The action was found to violate federal labor law by a [[National Labor Relations Board]] judge in May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Yoon-Hendricks |first=Alexandra |date=May 9, 2023 |title=Fred Meyer, QFC illegally barred BLM pins at work, judge rules |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/fred-meyer-qfc-illegally-barred-blm-pins-at-work-judge-rules/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref>
[[Will Toledo]] of [[Car Seat Headrest]] references QFC in his song "I Want You To Know That I'm Awake/I Hope That You're Asleep".


==References==
==References==
Line 46: Line 58:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.qfc.com/ QFC homepage]
*{{official website|https://www.qfc.com/}}
*[http://www.thekrogerco.com/ The Kroger Company]


{{Kroger}}
{{Kroger}}
{{Supermarkets of the United States}}
{{Supermarkets of the United States}}
{{Seattle Corporations}}


[[Category:Kroger]]
[[Category:Kroger]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bellevue, Washington]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bellevue, Washington]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Economy of the Northwestern United States]]
[[Category:Economy of the Northwestern United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
[[Category:1980s initial public offerings]]
[[Category:1997 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1955]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 28 December 2024

This article is about the American supermarket chain. For the English football club with the initials QFC, see Quorn F.C.

Quality Food Centers, Inc.
QFC
FormerlyLake Hills Thriftway (1955–1963)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryGrocery retail
FoundedNovember 26, 1955 (1955-11-26) in Seattle, Washington, U.S.
FounderJack Croco
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington, U.S.
Number of locations
62 (2021)
Area served
Washington and Oregon
Key people
ProductsBakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, gasoline, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks
RevenueIncrease $1 billion (2021)
Number of employees
5,900 (2021)
ParentKroger
Websitewww.qfc.com

Quality Food Centers, Inc., better known as QFC, is an American supermarket chain based in Bellevue, Washington, east of Seattle. It is a subsidiary of Kroger and has 62 stores in western Washington and northwestern Oregon, primarily located in the Puget Sound region and Portland–Vancouver metropolitan area.

History

[edit]

Jack Croco began his career in the grocery business in the 1940s in Boise, Idaho, working for Albertsons. By 1950, he had become the district manager in the Northwest and was responsible for opening the first Albertson's stores in the Seattle area. Soon afterward in 1955, Croco opened his own grocery store in Bellevue, called Lake Hills Thriftway.[citation needed]

The grocery chain that would come to be named QFC in 1963[1] was founded in 1955 with the first store at 6600 Roosevelt Way N.E. in Seattle[1] by a group headed by Vern Fortin, the former president of Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakeries and founder of Vernell's Fine Candies. Croco merged his store with QFC in 1960, and remained involved in the company until his death in 1991 at the age of 65,[2] though in 1986 he sold QFC to Seattle investment firm Sloan, Adkins & Co.,[3] which took QFC public in 1987.[1]

Christopher A. Sinclair became the CEO in 1996; the following year, QFC purchased the Uddenberg grocery company, which operated Thriftway and Stock Market stores throughout western Washington. In late 1997, QFC was sold to Portland-based Fred Meyer,[1][4] and several months later in May 1998, Kroger announced its intention to acquire Fred Meyer (and QFC),[5][6] which was approved a year later. The Roosevelt store operated until 2012; it closed on May 5 to make way for construction of the Roosevelt light rail station.[7]

A Fred Meyer store at the Broadway Market on Seattle's Capitol Hill was replaced by a QFC in 2004.[8]

Expansion

[edit]
QFC's flagship store located in Kirkland, Washington

Over the years, QFC has expanded aggressively through acquisitions. When A&P abandoned the Seattle area in 1974, QFC took over several locations. They expanded to surrounding counties in the 1990s by acquiring and renaming Olson's Food Stores, Johnny's Food Centers, Stock Market Grocery Stores, and several Thriftway stores. Between 1990 and 1996, thirty stores were acquired from eleven independent grocery chains.[9] Among them was Olson's Foods, a Lynnwood-based chain with twelve existing stores and four new stores in development.[10] Reed's Super Valu in Port Hadlock and Stock Market Foods in Port Townsend were acquired in 1997,[11][12] and the company also expanded into Oregon in the Portland metropolitan area.[13]

During the tenure of CEO Stuart Sloan in the 1980s, the company branded itself as an upmarket chain and began offering more premium items. It had an initial public offering in 1987.[14] In the mid-1990s, QFC expanded to Southern California by acquiring Hughes Family Markets (which kept its name). By the mid-1990s, many Hughes store locations were sold to Ralphs, which was soon sold to Fred Meyer, later acquired by Kroger.[15] A new flagship store opened in downtown Kirkland in 2019, with 50,000 square feet (4,600 m2) of space.[16] A rebrand to "the Q" was proposed in 2018 but later rejected.[14]

Kroger proposed an acquisition of rival grocer Albertsons in 2022 that would have required the combined company to spin off locations to preserve brand competition. Among the proposed aspects of the merger was a divestment of all but five of QFC's 59 locations. The acquisition was rejected by the Federal Trade Commission in 2024, leaving QFC part of the Kroger Company.[14]

Philanthropy and labor relations

[edit]

In 1996, Stuart Sloan, former owner and chairman of QFC, promised to spend at least $1 million a year for the next eight years to overhaul one of Seattle Public Schools's most challenged schools, T.T. Minor Elementary. The funds were donated in addition to public dollars and helped to pay for uniforms, smaller class sizes and a year-round schedule, though the manner in which the funds were applied sparked controversy.[17][18]

Fred Meyer and QFC workers are primarily represented by UFCW Local 3000. After the union distributed Black Lives Matter buttons in 2020, Kroger managers prohibited their use by employees. The action was found to violate federal labor law by a National Labor Relations Board judge in May 2023.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Moriwaki, Lee (November 7, 1997). "Fred Meyer to Buy QFC". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  2. ^ Gorlick, Arthur (November 8, 1997). "QFC Grew from 4 Stores to Major Chain". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. A4.
  3. ^ Ramsey, Bruce (January 18, 1986). "QFC Grocery Stores to be Sold". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. A3. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ McCall, William (November 8, 1997). "Fred Meyer's big move shows firm's strength, stamina". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. p. 5B.
  5. ^ Matassa Flores, Michele; Heim, Joe (October 20, 1998). "Attention Shoppers: We've Been Sold — Again". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2009.
  6. ^ Dunn, Christine (October 20, 1988). "Kroger in $12 billion deal to buy Fred Meyer". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D1.
  7. ^ Make room for light rail: Roosevelt QFC closure just weeks away Roosiehood, April 19, 2012
  8. ^ Frey, Christine (June 15, 2004). "QFC store will replace Broadway's Fred Meyer". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Growing QFC Will Buy 25 Supermarkets". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. November 13, 1996. p. B8.
  10. ^ Wieland Nogaki, Sylvia (March 3, 1995). "QFC completes Olson's purchase after short delay". The Seattle Times. p. E1.
  11. ^ P-I Staff (May 20, 1997). "QFC Plans Expansion with Two New Food Stores Near Olympia". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B4. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ P-I Staff (April 29, 1997). "Reed's Super Valu Bought by QFC; Employees to Stay". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B5. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ P-I Staff (May 17, 1997). "QFC Plans to Enter Market In Portland With Two Stores". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B8. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ a b c Roberts, Paul (December 28, 2024). "Once Seattle's grocery darling, QFC in limbo after Kroger-Albertsons merger fails". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  15. ^ Virgin, Bill (November 21, 1996). "QFC Buys Chain in California". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ "QFC opens Kirkland Urban location, focuses on organic foods". Kirkland Reporter. August 1, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Shukovsky, Paul (May 14, 1997). "Donation to School Criticized by League". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B1. Retrieved May 21, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  18. ^ "Rethinking Sloan's gracious gift to school". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. May 16, 1997. p. A14.
  19. ^ Yoon-Hendricks, Alexandra (May 9, 2023). "Fred Meyer, QFC illegally barred BLM pins at work, judge rules". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
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