WinCo Foods was previously known as Waremart Foods. It changed its storefront name and the corporate name in 1999. “WinCo” stands for “Winning Company,” as is stated by the website, WincoFoods.com. Eighty percent of the company is employee owned.
About WinCo
The beginning of WinCo Foods occurs back to 1967, when Bud Williams and Ralph Ward started a discount-grocery warehouse in Boise, Idaho. They named their store Waremart, and the name stayed the same until 1999. In 1985, the president at the time, Bill Long, purchased a majority interest of WinCo from the Ward family and gave it to the employees so that they had some real stake in the company. Ever since, the company has continued to grow.
The company has fostered their success, it claims, by focusing on very large stores with a wide selection of national brands, but keeping their prices below the competition’s. Employees are said to have seen their employee stock ownership plan grow at an annual compounded growth rate of 21.51%. This makes for an extremely dedicated workforce. In 1998, WinCo was listed as the 266th on Forbes Magazine’s List of the 500 largest privately held companies, and in 2010 it was listed as the 65th on the list. They are considered 29th out of the 50 top grocery retailers, with a 0.6% share of the market.
Stats
Annual Sales: By the end of the fiscal year 2010, the company reached $4.3 billion in total sales.
Employees: WinCo currently has 13,000 employees and is continuing to grow.
Store Locations: Currently there are 75 WinCo Supermarkets located in five states. These are:
- California
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Washington
Corporate Responsibility
WinCo Foods is committed to making the shopping experience greener. For example, they do not put an ad in the paper each week, which also helps save money for their customers. Their newer locations also have skylights to help save electricity. They are currently researching solar power technologies and other ways to reducing their carbon footprint. Other things that they are doing/considering are:
- Implementing energy efficient refrigeration and freezer equipment in their new stores and updating their old stores
- Using light systems with motion sensors so that the lights are only used when needed in certain areas
- Using LED lights wherever possible
Responsible fuel consumption also is a focus of this company. They try to conserve fuel in the best way possible by using a transportation team to plan each trip, using the best route, and a maintenance team to ensure that each truck is kept in top shape. They also use state-of-the-art equipment to make the most out of every gallon of fuel.
Aside from being green, WinCo Foods contributes to the community through its donations. For example, it donates to fundraisers for state-accredited schools nearby WinCo locations. This can be for the entire school or just a group related to the school. You can get information about how to apply for a donation by visiting their website: WinCoFoods.com.
Please consider Greenville, NC. for a location! I currently live in Az. and absolutely love your stores. I’m relocating to NC and I’m going to miss you tremendously. I’m sure they would like it as well. I would be your store ambassador for the entire state. Keep up the great work.
Love your store. Best prices in town. Especially love the bulk foods section. It would be my one stop shop for groceries except that you dont carry “Caspers” hot dogs. It sure would be great if you did, and, of course extra long hot dog buns for them.
I shop in the Henderson Nevada store and spend $ 350.00 a month in your store. I was in the store a week ago and buy all my meats in that store. I am and my family are steak people and cook outside a lot. I am wondering if I have a advertisement for a steak sale in another store in my area would you match there price if i showed you people the ad. It seems when we shop in the store there are not many steaks on sale.
To Winco Corporate We have just learned our small Wal mart is closing. We desperately need affordable groceries here in Perry Ok. There is a grocery Homeland which is incredibly expensive. We are the County Seat. There are many of us who want affordable shopping here. But due to high prices we 9will be forced to shop out of town. Please please would you consider us.
does winco carry panko bread crumbs in the bulk section?
Winco Foods in Bremerton, WA has a great selection and good prices. But that’s the only reason I go there. The isle workers are the rudest people I’ve ever seen in any store ever. You almost get run over by employees working the isles. Today at 6:15 am when I went to the checkout line, I had an employee named Everett stand behind me and start pushing a stack of hand carts back and forth with his foot.
Just annoying behaviors that you can’t even avoid in the early morning.
Where do they get these people?
I would like to know where your winco brand of Apple Juice comes from. There is a lot of Seafood I don’t buy from your Store because it comes from China and other foreign Country’s. I know you are in business to make money but you don’t have to poison people while you do it.
Then shop at Wal-Mart or somewhere else. Simple as that!!
Nobody asked you to buy the seafood. Or anything from that store. It’s people like you who make me laugh because you sound so ridiculous right now!
Bud light has a product I wish you would carry. They come in several flavors, rassberritas, appetites, and now watermelonrittas. Yum perfect for summer drinks. Please hurry.
Shopping this a.m. in Nampa, I’d…..did not find our usual Post Shredded Wheat , the original big biscuit.
Please restock, as it’s the only cereal my husband eats. The bite size were available, but that won’t cut it
Thanks for taking quick action on this request!!
I miss shopping at WINCO in Lancaster, CA. Please open a WINCO in Santa Rosa, CA.