OAKLAND, Calif., March 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- FOODSCO, the nation's largest price-impact supermarket chain, will open its first store in the City of Oakland on Wednesday, March 26, following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The new 80,000 square-foot supermarket is located in East Oakland's Foothill Square Shopping Center at 10790 MacArthur Boulevard right off 108th Street and is open from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The new store will provide local customers with a new, convenient and affordable option for their grocery shopping needs, including fresh produce, meat and seafood.
"We are very excited about this opportunity to open our newest FOODSCO store in East Oakland and the opportunity it gives us to expand our presence in The Bay Area," said FOODSCO President Bryan Kaltenbach. "We believe East Oakland will be a great FOODSCO community and we look forward to offering our unique brand of friendly service to customers who appreciate quality and value at everyday low prices."
FOODSCO currently operates five stores in The Bay Area: two stores in San Francisco and one store each in Pittsburg, Redwood City and Richmond.
The new Foothill Square FOODSCO store is expected to help boost East Oakland's economic vitality and attract additional investment and development to East Oakland. The new store is the first major supermarket to open in the community in more than 20 years.
Oakland Vice Mayor Larry E. Reid, thanked FOODSCO for investing in East Oakland.
"It gives me great pleasure and honor to welcome FOODSCO to the City of Oakland, and in particular, to the new Foothill Square located in the Council District that I represent," said Vice Mayor Reid. "On behalf of the residents of Oakland, and on behalf of the entire City Council, we welcome FOODSCO as our community partner in providing quality foods, goods, and services to an area that has been anticipating this opportunity for most of my 17 years on this Council.
"It has been my honor to work with the representatives of FOODSCO to bring this dream to fruition. The relationship between FOODSCO and our residents in Oakland, will only serve as a true testimony of what can be accomplished with dedication and perseverance to bring quality to our neighborhoods."
Vice Mayor Reid added, "For so long the residents of Oakland have spent their hard earned income in other cities for quality foods and goods. Now with an organization as prominent as FOODSCO, we open our doors to surrounding cities to visit the new Foothill Square Shopping Center and to experience the changes that are finally coming true for the City of Oakland. It is a great day in Oakland. I am pleased and honored to be a part of this change, not only for East Oakland, but for the entire City of Oakland."
One-Stop Shopping Convenience and Everyday Low Prices
The new Foothill Square FOODSCO has been designed for shoppers looking for quality, selection and value – all at the lowest prices in town.
Shoppers visiting the new FOODSCO will enjoy an expanded selection of products and services, including an abundance of fresh produce; a fully staffed meat department featuring high quality meats; a fresh seafood department; a full-service bakery featuring fresh breads, rolls and desserts; and a service delicatessen with fresh items for shoppers on the go.
New Store, New Jobs
The new Foothill Square FOODSCO will employ approximately 175 full- and part-time associates, the majority of whom have been newly hired from the surrounding community. Store Manager Eric Trempel began his career in 1995 as a part-time Customer 1st Clerk. He joined FOODSCO in 2003 and was promoted to store manager in 2004. Trempel most recently managed a FOODSCO store in Fresno.
"We look forward to opening a new store in this community where residents have given our team such a warm welcome," said Trempel. "It is great having the opportunity to bring fresh foods, value and convenience to East Oakland. We invite everyone to stop by on grand-opening day and take advantage of our grand opening specials and promotions."
Grand Opening Events
The new Foothill Square FOODSCO will host a grand opening celebration at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26. FOODSCO officials, store associates and local dignitaries will participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Other special events include free product samplings through the weekend.
Community Giving
The store's grand opening celebration will also feature the presentation of $15,000 in grants from FOODSCO to the following schools and community organizations: Grass Valley Elementary School, Elmhurst Community Prep School, Castlemont High School, Ile Omode School, Elevate Oakland Foundation, and Youth UpRising.
About FOODSCO
FOODSCO is a member of the Southern California-based FOOD4LESS Stores family of supermarkets. FOOD4LESS operates 146 price-impact, warehouse-format supermarkets under the banners FOOD4LESS in Southern California, Nevada, Illinois and Indiana, and FOODSCO in Central and Northern California, from its headquarters in Compton, CA. FOOD4LESS is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE: KR), one of the nation's largest grocery retailers, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about FOOD4LESS, please visit our website at www.food4less.com.
SOURCE FOODSCO