ABCO Foods
Encyclopedia
ABCO Foods was a chain of grocery stores in Phoenix
and Tucson, Arizona
for over 15 years, formed from a mid-1980s spin-off sale by the Alpha Beta
division of American Stores
. The Arizona regional management secured private financing to purchase the Arizona stores (most Alpha Beta locations were in California). Part of the sale agreement included a 5 year term to continue use of the Alpha Beta brand in Arizona.
The name "ABCO Markets" came about when the Alpha Beta branding agreement expired. The new name was derived from Alpha Beta's initials. The agreement also included a non-compete clause: American Stores could not reenter Arizona for a specified period of time. This agreement later allowed ABCO a first right of refusal when American Stores elected to sell the Arizona locations of Lucky
supermarkets.
Originally started in 1986, the company was under the head of Edward Hill before being sold to the Fleming Companies, Inc
. in the early 1990s. Under Fleming's leadership, ABCO changed its name to "ABCO Foods Desert Market" and converted all of its stores to a Southwestern-style desert exterior and interior design format, featuring facades of adobe and a very prominent pink color on its checkstands. In 1997, ABCO Foods applied for licenses to sell liquor at nine Tucson locations http://www.tucsonaz.gov/agdocs/archive/19971124.htm.
When Fleming decided to pull out of the retail category, ABCO was one of the first chains put on the block. The result was the loss of these markets, consisting of 56 stores at the time of its closure. The last ABCO store closed in May 2001. The stores were sold separately to many different companies, including Albertsons, Bashas'
, Safeway Inc.
, Southwest Supermarkets, and many independent grocers operating as IGA (supermarkets)
stores. Over the past few years, many of these stores have, in turn, changed hands from their original buyers.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
for over 15 years, formed from a mid-1980s spin-off sale by the Alpha Beta
Alpha Beta
Alpha Beta was a chain of supermarkets. Former Alpha Beta stores have all been purchased by other grocery chains and rebranded.-History:Before Alpha Beta was the name a of store, it was the name of a marketing concept used in grocery stores founded by Albert and Hugh Gerrard; it referred to...
division of American Stores
American Stores
American Stores Company was an American public corporation and a holding company which ran chains of supermarkets and drugstores in the United States from 1917 through 1999...
. The Arizona regional management secured private financing to purchase the Arizona stores (most Alpha Beta locations were in California). Part of the sale agreement included a 5 year term to continue use of the Alpha Beta brand in Arizona.
The name "ABCO Markets" came about when the Alpha Beta branding agreement expired. The new name was derived from Alpha Beta's initials. The agreement also included a non-compete clause: American Stores could not reenter Arizona for a specified period of time. This agreement later allowed ABCO a first right of refusal when American Stores elected to sell the Arizona locations of Lucky
Lucky Stores
Lucky Stores is an American supermarket chain founded in Alameda County, California in 1935. Lucky is currently operated by SuperValu in Southern California and Nevada and by Save Mart in Northern California and Nevada.In 1998, Lucky's parent company, American Stores, was taken over by Albertsons,...
supermarkets.
Originally started in 1986, the company was under the head of Edward Hill before being sold to the Fleming Companies, Inc
Fleming Companies, Inc
Core-Mark Holding Company is a supplier of consumer package goods to retailers in the United States.-Fleming Companies:...
. in the early 1990s. Under Fleming's leadership, ABCO changed its name to "ABCO Foods Desert Market" and converted all of its stores to a Southwestern-style desert exterior and interior design format, featuring facades of adobe and a very prominent pink color on its checkstands. In 1997, ABCO Foods applied for licenses to sell liquor at nine Tucson locations http://www.tucsonaz.gov/agdocs/archive/19971124.htm.
When Fleming decided to pull out of the retail category, ABCO was one of the first chains put on the block. The result was the loss of these markets, consisting of 56 stores at the time of its closure. The last ABCO store closed in May 2001. The stores were sold separately to many different companies, including Albertsons, Bashas'
Bashas'
Bashas is a family-owned grocery store chain, primarily located in Arizona with two locations outside the state; one each in Needles, California, and Crownpoint, New Mexico. Its headquarters are in unincorporated Maricopa County, Arizona, near Chandler....
, Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
, Southwest Supermarkets, and many independent grocers operating as IGA (supermarkets)
IGA (supermarkets)
IGA is a brand of grocery stores active in more than 30 countries. Contrasting with the chain store business model, IGA operates as a franchise through stores that are owned separately from the brand. Many of these stores operate in small town markets and belong to families that manage them...
stores. Over the past few years, many of these stores have, in turn, changed hands from their original buyers.