Ukrop's Super Market

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Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc.

Type	Family business
Founded	1937
Headquarters	Richmond, Virginia
Products	Grocery
Website	http://www.ukrops.com/

Ukrop's is a family-owned and operated grocery store chain located in central Virginia and headquartered in Richmond.

Contents 1 Background 1.1 Sale of Ukrops 2 Other Corporate Ties 3 Community Outreach 4 Fuelperks! 5 Manufacturing 6 External links 7 References

[edit] Background

The chain was founded in 1937 by Joseph Ukrop. The company has 26 stores^[1], mostly in the Richmond area, as well as one store in Williamsburg, and one each in Colonial Heights, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg. An additional Williamsburg location ^[2] and a Roanoke location ^[3] closed during 2009 due to low sales and poor recognition of the Richmond-based Ukrop's brand name in other cities saturated with other stores. Ukrop's also operates a specialty store in Richmond called Joe's Market, named after the founder. The company chairman in James Ukrop, son of Joseph; James' brother Robert is president and chief executive officer. In July 2009 a trade magazine reported that Ukrop's was for sale, and was courting Supervalu and Harris Teeter as potential buyers. Ukrop's stores historically have been closed on Sundays and have not sold alcohol, limiting the stores' revenue compared to other retail supermarkets, particularly Food Lion.

[edit] Sale of Ukrops

On December 17, 2009, Ukrop's announced that the Giant-Carlisle Division of the Dutch-based conglomerate Ahold will acquire all twenty-five of Ukrop's stores for $140 Million. This marks the end of the Ukrop family's retail venture. The sale will be finalized in February 2010. The transition away from the use of the Ukrop's store name to Giant-Carlisle's Martin's brand is expected to take up to two years. However, certain baked goods will still be produced by Ukrop's Bakery division and labeled as such. The deal did not include the Ukrop's store in Fredericksburg or Joe's Market, which are expected to close.

[edit] Other Corporate Ties

Many locations feature a pharmacy, First Market Bank and a cafe. Ukrop's has Starbucks Coffee stores in some locations.

In 1997, Ukrop's established a unique partnership with National Commerce Financial Corporation in which it co-owns 25 First Market Bank branches in Ukrop’s locations and 10 free-standing branches First Market Bank. The company also co-owns the Richmond Kickers, which CEO Bobby Ukrop bought for his aspiring professional soccer player son, Robert Ukrop.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Community Outreach

Each year, Ukrop's gives a minimum of 10 percent of its pre-tax profits to the community. Part of this donation takes place through the "Golden Gift Program". Customers shop at the store during a certain period of time and receive points for their purchases. They then can choose who their "points" go to. This can include churches, nonprofits or other community organizations. The money is distributed accordingly.^{[4][not in citation given][citation needed]} Ukrop's courtesy clerk workers also take customers' groceries to their car and load them into the car.

Ukrop's sponsors the annual Ukrop's/SuperValu Christmas Parade on Broad Street in Richmond. It also sponsors one of the largest 10k running events in the United States, The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K. Ukrop's has also provided financial support to the University of Richmond and many other local educational and arts charities.

[edit] Fuelperks!

In June 2008 Ukrop's teamed up with Uppy's gas stations and launched a gas saving program called fuelperks!. When the program started out customers received a discount of 10 cents off per gallon of gas on a fillup for every $50 they spent in the store. The savings are stackable so there's no limit to how much a customer can save. On January 5, 2009 due to the declining fuel prices and in an attempt to cut prices in the store, the Fuelperks! savings went from a 10-cent to a 5-cent discount for every $50 spent.^[5] The company's website has stories up from customers who have literally received FREE tanks of gas or paid as low as $2 to fill up their vehicle.^[6]

[edit] Manufacturing

The Ukrop's Food Group, a division of Ukrop's Super Markets Inc., operates a central bakery and kitchen featuring baked goods and prepared meals. In 1976, Ukrop's bought Dot's Pastry Shop, a well-known bakery in Richmond. It used the name Dot's Pastry Shop for years before changing it to Ukrop's Bakery. Ukrop's was also one of the first companies to launch a chilled prepared foods line with entrees customers could heat in the microwave for a quick, easy meal. In 2009, Ukrop's launched Oven Bakes, a line of family-size entrees, side dishes and desserts that can be heated in the oven and enjoyed without any extra preparation.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] External links

• http://www.ukrops.com
• http://www.ukropsfoodgroup.com
• http://www.firstmarketbank.com
• http://www.fuelperks.com
• http://www.vagazette.com/news/local/va-news1_123108dec31,0,2655735.story

[edit] References