Bashas'
Encyclopedia
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
.
in 1886; he and his wife Najeeby moved to Arizona in 1910. The family struggled for years in retail sales in the Arizona mining towns of Ray and Sonora, facing numerous setbacks but remaining determined to succeed. The first store to officially carry the Bashas name, opened in 1932 in Goodyear, Arizona, as a company store where employees of J. G. Boswell could purchase groceries with company scrip
. Bashas' was founded by Najeeb and Najeeby's sons, Ike and Eddie Basha, Sr. The current CEO is Eddie's son, Eddie Basha, Jr.
, Payson
, and Winslow
. With all the layoff
s in 2009 and store closures, Bashas' employees total approximately 8,500.
Bashas' has doubled in size in the last decade with stores under the Bashas' name, as well as AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City, bringing the total to more than 166 stores.
Most Bashas' stores are non-union; however, nine stores that Bashas' acquired from previous chains continue to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers
, which campaigns against the chain. In October 2007, an Administrative Law Judge sided with the UFCW and an NLRB ruling that Bashas' violated federal law by withdrawing recognition to the UFCW at the inherited stores http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/ALJ%20Decisions/2007/JD-SF-30-07.
, citing the weak economy, increased competition, and their ongoing legal fight with the UFCW union. In doing so, the company plans on closing ten under-performing Bashas' and Food City stores. The company emerged from bankruptcy in late 2010.
AJ'S Fine Foods: "Experience the Difference"; "The Purveyors of Fine Foods"
Food City: "Mucho Value!"
Bashas' also has a Distribution Center, located in Chandler, which includes over 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) of under-roof space, as well as a full mechanic shop. The perishables area of the Center is temperature- and climate-controlled and includes ripening rooms and areas that vary in temperature from a base temperature of 55 °F year-round to freezer rooms of -10 °F.
left.
In response, Kroger
-owned Fry's Food and Drug
another Arizona competitor has launched "Fry's Mercado" as a competitor to the Hispanic food market.
The Food City
locations outside of Arizona are unrelated.
. They specialize in the needs of Navajo customers with products such as Blue Bird flour for fry bread, mutton and wool. Stores are labeled in both Navajo
and English.
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
grocery store chain, primarily located in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with two locations outside the state; one each in Needles, California
Needles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
, and Crownpoint, New Mexico
Crownpoint, New Mexico
Crownpoint is a census-designated place in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,630 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crownpoint is located at ....
. Its headquarters are in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Maricopa County
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, near Chandler
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
.
Bashas' history
Najeeb Basha came to the United States from LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1886; he and his wife Najeeby moved to Arizona in 1910. The family struggled for years in retail sales in the Arizona mining towns of Ray and Sonora, facing numerous setbacks but remaining determined to succeed. The first store to officially carry the Bashas name, opened in 1932 in Goodyear, Arizona, as a company store where employees of J. G. Boswell could purchase groceries with company scrip
Company scrip
Company scrip is currency issued in certain industries to pay workers. Such scrip can only be exchanged by wage-earners in company stores owned by their employers and often charging inflated prices. In the UK, such systems have been formally outlawed under Truck Acts.In the United States, mining...
. Bashas' was founded by Najeeb and Najeeby's sons, Ike and Eddie Basha, Sr. The current CEO is Eddie's son, Eddie Basha, Jr.
Eddie Basha, Jr.
Eddie Basha, Jr., is the Chairman & CEO of Bashas', Inc. His father, Eddie Basha Sr. and his uncle Ike Basha, founded Bashas' in 1932. The first store under the Bashas' banner was opened in Chandler, Arizona....
Bashas' today
The Bashas' Family of Stores includes four distinct formats: Bashas', Bashas' Diné, AJ's Fine Foods and Food City. The company has more than 165 stores serving every county in Arizona, as well as Needles, California, and Crownpoint, New Mexico. The company recently added a new format called Bashas' Farmers Market. This newest format is only in PrescottPrescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, Payson
Payson, Arizona
- History :Payson considers its founding year as 1882, at which time it was known as Green Valley or Union Park. On March 3, 1884, the town officially established a post office. Postmaster Frank C. Hise recommended that the town be named after a man named Levi Joseph Payson. Senator Payson was very...
, and Winslow
Winslow, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,520 people, 2,754 households, and 1,991 families residing in the city. The population density was 773.1 people per square mile . There were 3,198 housing units at an average density of 259.7 per square mile...
. With all the layoff
Layoff
Layoff , also called redundancy in the UK, is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or a group of employees for business reasons, such as when certain positions are no longer necessary or when a business slow-down occurs...
s in 2009 and store closures, Bashas' employees total approximately 8,500.
Bashas' has doubled in size in the last decade with stores under the Bashas' name, as well as AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City, bringing the total to more than 166 stores.
Most Bashas' stores are non-union; however, nine stores that Bashas' acquired from previous chains continue to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada in many industries, including agriculture, health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile, G4S Security, chemical...
, which campaigns against the chain. In October 2007, an Administrative Law Judge sided with the UFCW and an NLRB ruling that Bashas' violated federal law by withdrawing recognition to the UFCW at the inherited stores http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/ALJ%20Decisions/2007/JD-SF-30-07.
Chapter 11 filing
On July 12, 2009, Bashas' filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
, citing the weak economy, increased competition, and their ongoing legal fight with the UFCW union. In doing so, the company plans on closing ten under-performing Bashas' and Food City stores. The company emerged from bankruptcy in late 2010.
Slogans
Bashas', Bashas' Diné Markets: "Where You've Got a Friend"; "From Our Family to Yours Since 1932"; "Sensational Savings... and Service too!"AJ'S Fine Foods: "Experience the Difference"; "The Purveyors of Fine Foods"
Food City: "Mucho Value!"
Bashas'
Bashas' Supermarkets are traditional grocery stores.Bashas' also has a Distribution Center, located in Chandler, which includes over 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) of under-roof space, as well as a full mechanic shop. The perishables area of the Center is temperature- and climate-controlled and includes ripening rooms and areas that vary in temperature from a base temperature of 55 °F year-round to freezer rooms of -10 °F.
AJ'S Fine Foods
AJ's Fine Foods are gourmet and specialty stores. The stores feature chef-prepared entrees, an extensive wine collection with trained cellar staff, and specialty baked goods. These are the few former Bayless MarketsBayless Markets
Bayless Markets, also known as AJ Bayless, was a supermarket chain headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. It sold off the last of its stores in the late 1980s to Bashas’. dead link- References :...
left.
Food City
Food City was acquired by Bashas' in 1993. Since acquiring the original Food City store, several Bashas' stores have been converted to this format. Food City offers a full range of ethnic and Hispanic food varieties. Although there is nothing in the name that suggests that the store focuses on Hispanic foods, inside most stores offer various Hispanic-themed foods. Some of these stores were previously Bayless Markets.In response, Kroger
Kroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
-owned Fry's Food and Drug
Fry's Food and Drug
Fry's Food & Drug Stores, Inc., is a chain of supermarkets that has a major presence in the state of Arizona. Fry's also operates under the banner of Fry's Marketplace, a chain of multi-department stores. Fry's is a division of The Kroger Company....
another Arizona competitor has launched "Fry's Mercado" as a competitor to the Hispanic food market.
The Food City
Food City
Food City may refer to:Food stores*K-VA-T Food City, a U.S. supermarket chain with stores located in Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee.*Food City, an Arizona ethnic/specialty food store acquired by Bashas' in 1993....
locations outside of Arizona are unrelated.
Bashas' Diné Markets
Bashas' Diné Markets are located on the Navajo NationNavajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
. They specialize in the needs of Navajo customers with products such as Blue Bird flour for fry bread, mutton and wool. Stores are labeled in both Navajo
Navajo language
Navajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
and English.
External links
- Bashas' Homepage
- Food City homepage
- AJ'S Fine Foods homepage
- "Bashas' customers get treats for store's industry award", The Arizona Republic, December 15, 2005.