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Importing Wikidata short description: "Grocery store chain headquartered in Houston, Texas"
 
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{{Short description|Grocery store chain headquartered in Houston, Texas}}
{{Infobox_Company |
{{More citations needed|date=October 2019}}
⚫
company_name = Lewis Food Town |
{{Infobox company
company_type = Grocery Store|
⚫
| name = Lewis Food Town
⚫
foundation = 1994|
| type = Private

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| foundation = 1994
company_logo = [[Image:FoodTownLogo.JPG|300px|Food Town Logo]]|
| founder = Ross Lewis
location = [[South Houston, Texas]]|
| logo = Lewis Food Town logo.png
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locations = 26|
industry = [[Retailer|Retail]]|
| location = [[South Houston, Texas]]
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| locations = 29
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|products = Beer, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, general merchandise, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, wine, poultry, cereal, pasta, bottled water, canned soup, cigarettes, magazines, bread, cheese, orange juice.|
| industry = [[Retailer|Retail]]
⚫
| products = Beer, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, general merchandise, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, wine, poultry, cereal, pasta, bottled water, canned soup, cigarettes, magazines, bread, cheese, orange juice.
}}
}}
[[File:Food Town Webster.jpg|thumb|Food Town store in Webster, Texas.]]
'''Lewis Food Town, Inc.''', doing business as '''Food Town Grocery Stores''', is a chain of grocery stores located in [[Greater Houston]], founded in 1994.<ref>"[http://foodtownshopper.com/about-us.html About Us]." Food Town. Retrieved on January 13, 2011.</ref> The headquarters are in [[South Houston, Texas|South Houston]].<ref>"[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=5970101&privcapId=4752640&previousCapId=4752640&previousTitle=Lewis%20Food%20Town,%20Inc. Lewis Food Town, Inc.]" [[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] [[BusinessWeek]]. Retrieved on January 13, 2011. "CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 3316 South Shaver Street South Houston, Texas 77587"</ref> Ross Lewis founded it as he came out of retirement. He currently has over 40 years of Grocer experience.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}


'''Lewis Food Town, Inc.''', which does business as Food Town, is an independent grocery chain with 30 stores throughout Greater Houston. The chain got its start with founder Ross Lewis and six associates<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/our-story/ “Our Story”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.</ref> in late 1993, but officially launched on April 28, 1994, with the opening of its first store in Pasadena, Texas. Although the company’s founder died in December 2020,<ref>The Shelby Report. [https://www.theshelbyreport.com/2020/12/30/texas-grocery-executive-lewis-leaves-legacy-of-generosity-caring/ “Texas Grocery Executive Lewis Leaves Legacy Of Generosity, Caring”], Staff Report, The Shelby Report. Published December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> younger generations continued the family business. Food Town was named among the honorees for the Houston Business Journal’s inaugural Family-Owned Business Awards in 2023.<ref>Houston Business Journal. [https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2023/06/15/family-owned-business-awards-2023-profiles.html “Take a closer look at HBJ's 2023 Family-Owned Business Awards honorees”], by Griff, Brianna, Houston Business Journal. Published June 15, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> Today, its footprint extends throughout the Houston metro region, from Spring down to Webster, and from Sugar Land to Baytown.<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/locations/ “Locations”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.</ref>
As of 2003 the chain had 14 stores in [[Greater Houston]], more densely located in the south part of the city, and took a 2.57% market share in that market. As of that year the [[Shelby Report]] stated that Lewis Food Town was the sixth largest grocery store chain in Greater Houston.<ref name="Foodtown">Wollam, Allison. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2003/06/09/newscolumn5.html Food Town to occupy portion of shuttered Auchan hypermarket]." ''[[Houston Business Journal]]''. Sunday June 8, 2003. Modified on Thursday June 5, 2003. Retrieved on January 13, 2011.</ref> As of 2011 the chain had 26 stores in the area.{{fact}}

==Company Growth==
Food Town took a swift approach to growth from the start. The chain’s first store, in Pasadena, launched in April 1994, while two additional locations opened their doors the following month.<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/our-story/ “Our Story”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.</ref> The company grew to 24 stores in fewer than 10 years,<ref>Houston Historic Retail. [https://houstonhistoricretail.com/grocery/food-town/ “Food Town”], Houston Historic Retail. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> moving into stores such as former Albertson’s operations and Houston’s Auchan hypermarket.<ref>Houston Business Journal. [https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2003/06/09/newscolumn5.html “Food Town to occupy portion of shuttered Auchan hypermarket”], by Wollam, Allison, Houston Business Journal. Published June 8, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> In April 2015, Food Town acquired Houston’s Gerland’s grocery chain.<ref>Houston Business Journal. [https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/money-makers/2015/04/exclusive-food-town-acquires-houston-grocer-gains.html “Exclusive: Food Town acquires Houston grocer, gains six new stores”], by Edwards, Suzanne, Houston Business Journal. Published April 30, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> Although 10 of the Gerland’s stores already boasted the Food Town name due to franchise agreements, the purchase added another six stores to Food Town’s roster. The [[Gerland Corporation]] stores brought Food Town to 32 locations total, two of which the company later closed.

While each opening placed Food Town in a different part of the Houston metroplex, it didn’t result in new construction. Instead of building from the ground up, the chain opted to move into spaces vacated by outgoing stores.<ref>The Shelby Report. [https://www.theshelbyreport.com/2020/12/08/food-town-celebrates-diversity/ “Food Town Celebrates Diversity Of Communities”], by Stewart, Mary Margaret, The Shelby Report. Published December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> The approach is an investment in the community, company President Mike Lewis has said, and serves to improve the neighborhoods the chain moves into.

==Community Involvement==
Food Town regularly gives back to Houston residents and the charities that support them.<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/community-involvement/ “Community Involvement”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.</ref> The grocery chain’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer efforts, for instance, invite customers and team members to donate to the [[American Cancer Society]] either online or at the cash register — and to take part in walks, as well. Food Town’s 2022 efforts brought in $50,000 in support of breast cancer research and awareness.<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/news/making-strides-against-breast-cancer-event/ “2022 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Event Brings in $50,000 for a Great Cause”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref>
In previous years, the company also regularly hosted the Food Town Golf Tournament benefiting Special Olympics Texas, and has taken part in the American Cancer Society’s [[Relay for Life]]. In 2021 Food Town joined with Houston’s [[KHOU]] news station for the Turn the Page literacy initiative,<ref>KHOU 11 [https://www.khou.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/great-day-houston/food-town-wants-you-to-turn-the-page-on-illiteracy/285-95ecb548-aa9e-4b04-8104-092ec9a2c4cc “Food Town wants you to ‘Turn The Page’ on illiteracy”], Great Day Houston, KHOU 11. Published April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> bringing in more than 45,000 books for Houston area families.<ref>Lewis Food Town, Inc. [https://www.yourfoodtown.com/news/turn-the-page-book-donations/ “Our Turn the Page Book Drive Brought a LOT of Book Donations!”], Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref>

In addition, for more than a decade Food Town has joined with vendors to provide Thanksgiving meals to needy families throughout Houston. With help from lists provided by area churches and school districts, 250 to 300 families receive boxes of shelf-stable dry grocery goods, meat and cheese products for holiday meals.

==Little-Known Facts==
Through the years, some of Houston’s Food Town grocery stores have found their place in historic moments and pop culture. In 1989, Russia’s soon-to-be-President [[Boris Yeltsin]] stopped by a former [[Randalls]] in Webster, Texas, (today, Food Town’s El Dorado location) <ref>Houston Historic Retail. [https://houstonhistoricretail.com/2022/01/12/its-your-town-boris-a-visit-to-and-the-history-behind-the-former-iron-curtain-smashing-randalls/ “It’s your town Boris! A visit to and the history behind the former Iron Curtain Smashing Randall’s”], by Mike, Houston Historic Retail. Published January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> for a firsthand look at an American grocery store.<ref>Houston Chronicle. [https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/When-Boris-Yeltsin-went-grocery-shopping-in-Clear-5759129.php/ “When Boris Yeltsin went grocery shopping in Clear Lake”], by Hlavaty, Craig, Houston Chronicle. Published January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> In 2020, Houston’s Opera in the Heights created a comic opera surrounding the historic visit.<ref>Houston Public Media. [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2020/02/21/361467/boris-yelstins-1989-visit-to-a-houston-grocery-store-is-now-an-opera/ “Boris Yeltsin’s 1989 Visit To A Houston Grocery Store Is Now An Opera”], by Hagerty, Michael, Houston Public Media. Published February 21, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.</ref> Food Town’s Wilcrest Drive location also made a small-screen debut when it served as a filming location for the first episode of comedian [[Mohammed Amer]]’s [[Netflix]] series, “[[Mo (TV series)|Mo]]”.

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== References ==
<references />


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==References==
{{reflist}}
http://foodtownshopper.com/
==External links==
==External links==
{{Portal box|Houston|Companies|Food}}
{{Portal|Texas|Companies|Food}}
* [http://foodtownshopper.com/ Food Town Grocery Stores]
*[https://www.yourfoodtown.com/ Food Town Website]
* [http://www.foodtownchallenge.org Food Town Challenge]
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[[Category:Companies established in 1994]]
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[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
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[[Category:Companies based in Houston, Texas]]


{{Supermarkets of the United States}}


[[Category:American companies established in 1994]]
{{Houston-stub}}
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[[Category:Retail companies established in 1994]]
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[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
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[[Category:Companies based in Houston]]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 10 October 2024

Lewis Food Town
Company typePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1994
FounderRoss Lewis
HeadquartersSouth Houston, Texas
Number of locations
29
ProductsBeer, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, general merchandise, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, wine, poultry, cereal, pasta, bottled water, canned soup, cigarettes, magazines, bread, cheese, orange juice.
Food Town store in Webster, Texas.

Lewis Food Town, Inc., which does business as Food Town, is an independent grocery chain with 30 stores throughout Greater Houston. The chain got its start with founder Ross Lewis and six associates[1] in late 1993, but officially launched on April 28, 1994, with the opening of its first store in Pasadena, Texas. Although the company’s founder died in December 2020,[2] younger generations continued the family business. Food Town was named among the honorees for the Houston Business Journal’s inaugural Family-Owned Business Awards in 2023.[3] Today, its footprint extends throughout the Houston metro region, from Spring down to Webster, and from Sugar Land to Baytown.[4]

Company Growth

[edit]

Food Town took a swift approach to growth from the start. The chain’s first store, in Pasadena, launched in April 1994, while two additional locations opened their doors the following month.[5] The company grew to 24 stores in fewer than 10 years,[6] moving into stores such as former Albertson’s operations and Houston’s Auchan hypermarket.[7] In April 2015, Food Town acquired Houston’s Gerland’s grocery chain.[8] Although 10 of the Gerland’s stores already boasted the Food Town name due to franchise agreements, the purchase added another six stores to Food Town’s roster. The Gerland Corporation stores brought Food Town to 32 locations total, two of which the company later closed.

While each opening placed Food Town in a different part of the Houston metroplex, it didn’t result in new construction. Instead of building from the ground up, the chain opted to move into spaces vacated by outgoing stores.[9] The approach is an investment in the community, company President Mike Lewis has said, and serves to improve the neighborhoods the chain moves into.

Community Involvement

[edit]

Food Town regularly gives back to Houston residents and the charities that support them.[10] The grocery chain’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer efforts, for instance, invite customers and team members to donate to the American Cancer Society either online or at the cash register — and to take part in walks, as well. Food Town’s 2022 efforts brought in $50,000 in support of breast cancer research and awareness.[11] In previous years, the company also regularly hosted the Food Town Golf Tournament benefiting Special Olympics Texas, and has taken part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. In 2021 Food Town joined with Houston’s KHOU news station for the Turn the Page literacy initiative,[12] bringing in more than 45,000 books for Houston area families.[13]

In addition, for more than a decade Food Town has joined with vendors to provide Thanksgiving meals to needy families throughout Houston. With help from lists provided by area churches and school districts, 250 to 300 families receive boxes of shelf-stable dry grocery goods, meat and cheese products for holiday meals.

Little-Known Facts

[edit]

Through the years, some of Houston’s Food Town grocery stores have found their place in historic moments and pop culture. In 1989, Russia’s soon-to-be-President Boris Yeltsin stopped by a former Randalls in Webster, Texas, (today, Food Town’s El Dorado location) [14] for a firsthand look at an American grocery store.[15] In 2020, Houston’s Opera in the Heights created a comic opera surrounding the historic visit.[16] Food Town’s Wilcrest Drive location also made a small-screen debut when it served as a filming location for the first episode of comedian Mohammed Amer’s Netflix series, “Mo”.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “Our Story”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.
  2. ^ The Shelby Report. “Texas Grocery Executive Lewis Leaves Legacy Of Generosity, Caring”, Staff Report, The Shelby Report. Published December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Houston Business Journal. “Take a closer look at HBJ's 2023 Family-Owned Business Awards honorees”, by Griff, Brianna, Houston Business Journal. Published June 15, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “Locations”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “Our Story”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Houston Historic Retail. “Food Town”, Houston Historic Retail. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Houston Business Journal. “Food Town to occupy portion of shuttered Auchan hypermarket”, by Wollam, Allison, Houston Business Journal. Published June 8, 2003. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  8. ^ Houston Business Journal. “Exclusive: Food Town acquires Houston grocer, gains six new stores”, by Edwards, Suzanne, Houston Business Journal. Published April 30, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  9. ^ The Shelby Report. “Food Town Celebrates Diversity Of Communities”, by Stewart, Mary Margaret, The Shelby Report. Published December 8, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “Community Involvement”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved on January 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “2022 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Event Brings in $50,000 for a Great Cause”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  12. ^ KHOU 11 “Food Town wants you to ‘Turn The Page’ on illiteracy”, Great Day Houston, KHOU 11. Published April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  13. ^ Lewis Food Town, Inc. “Our Turn the Page Book Drive Brought a LOT of Book Donations!”, Lewis Food Town, Inc. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Houston Historic Retail. “It’s your town Boris! A visit to and the history behind the former Iron Curtain Smashing Randall’s”, by Mike, Houston Historic Retail. Published January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Houston Chronicle. “When Boris Yeltsin went grocery shopping in Clear Lake”, by Hlavaty, Craig, Houston Chronicle. Published January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  16. ^ Houston Public Media. “Boris Yeltsin’s 1989 Visit To A Houston Grocery Store Is Now An Opera”, by Hagerty, Michael, Houston Public Media. Published February 21, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
[edit]
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