Fry's Food and Drug

Fry's Food and Drug is a chain of supermarkets that has a major presence in the U.S. state of Arizona. Fry's also operates under the banner of Fry's Marketplace, a combination of groceries and general merchandise comparable to a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Fry's is a division of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger.

This article is about the grocery store. For another store with the "Fry's" name, founded by members of the same family, see Fry's Electronics.
Fry's Food and Drug
Subsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1954 (1954) in Contra Costa County, California
HeadquartersTolleson, Arizona, United States
Number of locations
123[1]
Key people
  • Monica Garnes (Fry's Division President)
  • Micheal Cristal (Vice President of Retail Operations)
  • Christina Groth (Vice President of Merchandising)
ProductsBakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, general grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
Number of employees
22,000
ParentIndependent (1954–1972)
Dillons (1972–1983)
Kroger (1983–present)
Websitewww.frysfood.com

History

Beginnings

Fry's was founded in 1954 by Donald Fry in northern California. With the help of his brother Charles, the chain expanded into the Phoenix market in 1960. Fry's was sold in 1972 to Dillons, based in Hutchinson, Kansas.[2][3][4] (The sons of Charles Fry used the proceeds from the sale to launch Fry's Electronics in 1985; it is otherwise separate from and unaffiliated with the grocery chain.[5]) Dillons merged with Kroger in 1983.[6]

Fred Meyer and Kroger merger
Typical Fry's Food and Drug Store in Phoenix, Arizona

In October 1998, Fred Meyer, parent company of Smith's Food and Drug based in Salt Lake City, announced a strategic merger with Kroger, based in Cincinnati.[7] Several months later, in May 1999, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the merger of the two companies, named The Kroger Co..[8]

Arizona and Texas were the only two of 31 states where there was an overlap of stores and brands from the merger. The Kroger Co., choosing to operate with one brand in the Arizona market, rebranded most Smith's Food & Drug Centers as Fry's Food & Drug Stores,[9] though Smith's Food and Drug Centers in Kingman, Bullhead City, and Lake Havasu City remained unchanged.[10] Fry's Phoenix Distribution Center and administrative offices were moved into the more modern Smith's Food and Drug Distribution Center and office space in the Phoenix suburb of Tolleson.

Fry's Marketplace

Fry's Marketplace is a multi-department store that offers full-service grocery, pharmacy and general merchandise including outdoor living products, electronics, home goods and toys. Ranging in size from 80,000–105,000 square feet (7,400–9,800 m2), the Marketplace stores are smaller than the original Fred Meyer stores. The Marketplace format was derived from the Fred Meyer concept but on a smaller scale and has since expanded to other Kroger divisions (Ohio, Virginia, Texas, etc.), including the Smith's Food & Drug Centers Division in Utah.

Fry's Marketplace started out as Smitty's, Arizona's first multi-department store. Smitty's was similar to a Wal-Mart Supercenter and even had a food court with four branded fast food options (such as Taco Bell). In 1996, Smitty's merged with Smith's Food and Drug Centers. In 1997, after the Fred Meyer-Smith's merger, Fred Meyer updated and revitalized the Smitty's concept and in January 1999, all Smitty's stores were renamed Fred Meyer. During this time, management of the chain changed from Smith's Food and Drug to Fred Meyer. Construction also started on a full sized Fred Meyer store in Phoenix.

In June 2000, Kroger transferred the management of Fred Meyer's stores to Fry's Food and Drug. The Fred Meyer stores were rebranded as Fry's Marketplace, unifying the stores under the Fry's brand. The Fred Meyer store in Phoenix was completed but never opened and was later demolished as the store was too large for Fry's to use.

Fry's Signature

Fry's Signature is marketed as a high-end, neighborhood tailored grocery store. There is one location on 20427 North Hayden Road in Scottsdale.[11] Another Fry's Signature store is located at 10450 N. 90th Street in Scottsdale.[12] There is also a Fry's Signature store at the cross streets of Cave Creek Rd and Carefree Hwy in Cave Creek.[13] In addition, there is a Fry's Signature Marketplace at the intersection of Shea Blvd and Tatum Blvd in Phoenix.[14] There is another store located at the cross streets of Gavilan Peak Pkwy and Daisy Mountain Dr in the northern Phoenix suburb of Anthem.[15]

Fry's Mercado

Fry's Mercado is geared towards Arizona's large Hispanic market. It is located at 43rd Avenue and McDowell in Phoenix. There is a check cashing store, an aqua fresca bar, a cocina (kitchen), and a gas station among other attractions at the location. Several other stores are sublet in the Fry's Mercado (including an electronics store, a women's clothing store, and a barber shop).[16]

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References
  1. Google Map of Fry's Food and Pharmacy locations
  2. "Dillon Companies Agrees to Buy Food Store Chain". news.google.com. Lawrence Journal-World. May 26, 1972. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  3. "Other" (2006-01-17). "Fry's Supermarkets Founder Donald Fry Dies at 92". Progressive Grocer. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12.
  4. Some sources state that the sale was to Modesto-based Save Mart Supermarkets.
  5. "History of Fry's Electronics, Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
  6. Kroger-Dillon merger approved
  7. KROGER TO MERGE WITH FRED MEYER ... Press Release from The Kroger Co.
  8. KROGER AND FRED MEYER MERGER APPROVED Press Release from The Kroger Co.
  9. Cliff Peale (1999-04-13). "Kroger-Fred Meyer deal brings changes in Arizona". The Cincinnati Post. E. W. Scripps Company. Archived from the original on 2005-01-18.
  10. AZ store decision offers glimpse of Kroger plan, a December 1998 article from the Portland Business Journal
  11. "Fry's is Planning Signature Stores". AllBusiness. 2006-02-13. Archived from the original on 2009-08-14.
  12. Fry's Store Locator for Signature Store #125 at 10450 N 90th St, Scottsdale.
  13. Fry's Store Locator for Signature Store #67 at 4815 E Carefree Hwy, Cave Creek.
  14. Melissa (2010-09-07). "New Upscale Grocery Store". Arizona Foothills Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-06-22.
  15. http://nophonews.com/explore/frys-signature-anthem/
  16. Erica Sagon (2006-07-04). "Fry's launches market tailored to Hispanics". Arizona Republic. Gannett. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Alt URL
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