Food 4 Less/Foods Co. — a Los Angeles-based grocer known for affordable prices and no-frills shopping — recently marked its 35th anniversary by gathering associates, customers and community partners for an '80s-themed celebration during which it made a donation to Los Angeles Southwest Community College in support of its food pantry and hunger relief efforts.
The Oct. 26 donation presentation underscores Food 4 Less/Food Co.’s commitment to its Zero Hunger, Zero Waste strategy that included 22.7 million meals donated and 81% of waste reused, recycled or composted in 2022 with its partner, The Kroger Co.’s Ralphs, according to a news release.
"We are on a mission to enhance educational opportunities throughout our college district. While we wish there were no need for hunger relief or food pantry programs for our students, poverty is still a very real issue,” Nichelle Henderson, elected first vice president of Los Angeles Community College District, said in the release. “As stated by the president, Dr. Anthony Culpepper, this donation from Food 4 Less/Foods Co. is integral so that Los Angeles Southwest Community College can continue providing its Basic Needs resource program to pupils who need it most. It will make a huge impact on their quality of life."
The 35-year anniversary event also honored the commitment of four associates who have been part of the company’s legacy since Day 1 of the first store opening in San Bernardino, Calif., in 1988. Honorees included John Snavely, district leader; Ismael Aguilar, receiving clerk, Barstow, Calif.; Alhelo Flores, cashier, Colton, Calif.; and Michele Thompson, assistant store leader, Riverside, Calif.
Today the grocer employs 9,000 associates, serving customers in 121 supermarkets across California and in the greater Chicago area.
"Since 1988, Food 4 Less has been a pillar of our communities, providing affordable, high-quality groceries to our valued customers. We are grateful we are able to savor this milestone by celebrating with our committed long-standing associates, customers and partners," Bryan Kaltenbach, president of Food 4 Less/Foods Co., said in the release. “As we look ahead, our commitment to delivering exceptional value and service remains stronger than ever. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and here's to many more years of serving your families with love and care."
As part of its mission to “Feed the Human Spirit,” Food 4 Less/Foods Co. says it works closely with regional food banks to connect its neighbors with the food they need to thrive. Through a combination of strategically directed funding and donations of surplus food from its stores, the retailer is taking important steps to support those working on the front lines of the fight against hunger, the release said.
Food 4 Less/Foods Co. says it has invested $542 million in enhancing the customer shopper experience since 2018. In addition to training and professional development, it offers an unmatched benefit for part-time and full-time associates interested in furthering their education, according to the release. Associates can take advantage of up to $21,000 in reimbursement during their careers with Food 4 Less/Foods Co. for an educational pursuit of their choosing, from a GED to a Ph.D.
Food 4 Less/Foods Co.’s more than 9,000 associates serve customers in 121 price-impact, warehouse-format supermarkets under the banners Food 4 Less in Southern California, Illinois and Indiana, and Foods Co. in central and Northern California. The company supports Kroger's Zero Hunger, Zero Waste initiative aimed at ending hunger in its communities and eliminating waste within the company by the year 2025.