1. Trader Joe’s
Multiple locations; traderjoes.com
One of Southern California’s most beloved American grocery store chains first opened its doors to the residents of Pasadena in 1967. Founder Joe Coulombe wanted to rebrand the stores he’d already introduced to the public nine years earlier as Pronto Markets, which were developed to compete with mini-mart grocers such as 7-Eleven.
Responding to the growing trends of international travel and college-educated Americans, Coulombe decided to develop the Trader Joe’s brand to cater to individuals who wanted fresh groceries and foods that were diverse in taste and quality. After the opening of the Pasadena location, the company saw excellent growth and was subsequently purchased by Theo Albrecht, a German investor and past owner/CEO of Aldi Nord.
Under Albrecht’s leadership, Trader Joe’s, now based in Monrovia, expanded into Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and the rest of the Pacific Northwest area by 1995. It now lists stores in 42 states and the District of Columbia.
What continues to set Trader Joe’s apart from its competitors is its focus on organic and imported items for customers with particular diets, such as vegan or gluten-free. Additionally, Trader Joe’s utilizes the private-label method where they sell various items under their brand at discounted prices! A budget-friendly option, Trader Joe’s continues to provide quality foods and affordable rates for the residents of Orange County.
— Kenya Barrett
2. Ralphs
Multiple locations; ralphs.com
Ralphs Grocery Company was started as Ralphs & Francis, by a merger between brothers George Albert Ralphs and Walter Benjamin Ralphs and S.A. Francis nearly 150 years ago. The first storefront opened in downtown Los Angeles and faithfully provided groceries to residents in the area, keeping its slogan of “Fresh Food, Low Prices,” in mind.
After experiencing two years of success, Walter Ralphs brought Francis out of his shares and the brother-duo decided to expand the company to other surrounding neighborhoods. Eventually, Ralphs had stories throughout the region.
Ralphs was among the chains acquired by Kroger in 1999 as part of a $13 billion merger that created the nation’s largest grocery chain. Today, Ralphs is one of Southern California’s top grocery chains.
3. Stater Bros. Markets
Multiple locations; staterbros.com
Stater Bros. Markets was born during the depths of the Great Depression when a young man named Cleo Stater took a job at a Yucaipa market for 10 cents an hour. After Stater had learned the ropes of the grocery trade, the store owner offered to sell him the business. Lacking the $600 down payment for a business loan, Cleo Slater turned to his twin brother Leo. The siblings both sold their cars to get the money and Stater Bros. Markets opened its doors in 1936.
Today, the San Bernardino-based company operates 170 supermarkets that are scattered throughout seven counties in California, with total sales topping $4 billion. The chain employs 18,000 people and says it is the largest private employer in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Stater Bros. is the largest independently owned grocery store chain in Southern California, according to its website.
Since 2008, Stater Bros. has donated more than $80 million in supplies, groceries, and funds to several organizations to provide relief for families in need.