Foodarama

Foodarama, also known as Cox's Foodarama, is a supermarket chain in Texas, with its headquarters in Foodarama Store #1 in Brays Oaks, Houston. In Greater Houston, Foodarama operated ten stores.
Retail Merchandiser, ''Foodarama'' (3 August 2015)Monroe, Melissa S.
La Fiesta adds two S.A. sites Houston chain will be taking over Handy Andy stores on West and Southeast sides.
" '' San Antonio Express-News''. March 2, 2004. Business 1E. Retrieved on December 1, 2011. "La Fiesta is an affiliate of Houston-based Foodarama, which has nine stores icin Houston. Catlett said La Fiesta also is successful because it's tight on .. Carrol Cox is the founder and president of Foodarama.Hassell, Greg.
CHRONICLE 100 LEADING COMPANIES OF HOUSTON / Grocers getting food for thought
" ''Houston Chronicle''. May 23, 1999. Special Section, Page 38. Retrieved on December 1, 2011. , 1,000 people worked for Foodarama. , the Cox family were still the owners of the chain.

History

The first Foodarama location was opened in 1973 by Carrol Cox. He had gained grocery-store managerial experience in Arizona and Utah before moving to Houston.

In 1993, after AppleTree Markets put many of its stores up for sale, Cox's Foodarama acquired one. Foodarama acquired the 1805 Ella Appletree, currently Foodarama #4. On February 28, 1999, Cox's Foodarama had seven locations. It had $74.4 million in annual sales and 1.4% of the grocery market. It also had 814 Houston-area employees. In the period between February 1999 and February 2000, Foodarama opened two locations and remodeled two locations. In 1999, Cox's Foodarama had 1.5% of the Houston grocery market. Foodarama occupied a Randall's location that was closed in 2006.

La Fiesta

The Foodarama group also operates a chain of seven stores in Greater San Antonio, under the banner ''La Fiesta''. La Fiesta is headquartered in La Fiesta Supermarket #10 in San Antonio.
About Us." La Fiesta. Retrieved on December 1, 2011. "La Fiesta Corporate Office 5103 S. Flores Rd. San Antonio, TX 78214"

In 2002, 80% of the chain's customer base was Hispanic. To cater to Hispanics, the chain devotes large portions of its stores to meat and fresh produce. Ronnie Catlett, the vice president of Foodarama and general manager of the San Antonio division, said that the stores were intended to cater to groceries.Allen, Elizabeth.
In the shadow of a grocery giant A thrifty strategy La Fiesta caters to Hispanic market and keeps overhead to a minimum
" '' San Antonio Express-News''. December 31, 2002. Business 1E. Retrieved on December 1, 2011. Elizabeth Allen of the '' San Antonio Express-News'' said that the company's niche was "modest but profitable".

In order to cope with small profit margins, La Fiesta tries to reduce its overhead as much as possible. It uses bulk buying, requires store managers to work on the shop floor instead of in offices, and, , has low labor costs. most of its locations are in western San Antonio, serving Hispanic populations there. La Fiesta's designated wholesaler, Grocers Supply, has a buying coalition which allows its customers to get goods at lower prices. Individual locations are permitted to make pricing and scheduling decisions.

Prior to 1998 La Fiesta operated a location in Eagle Pass, Texas, a community along the Mexico–United States border. It was across the street from an H-E-B location that was, as of 1998, being remodeled. In addition the future of the Mexican peso as a currency was uncertain. Also the Government of Mexico enforced a $50 import limit upon Mexicans returning into Mexico, affecting La Fiesta's business among Mexican national shoppers. Because of the issues involving Mexico and competition from H-E-B, the Eagle Pass La Fiesta store was closed. it was the only location ever closed in the history of La Fiesta.

The chain's first store opened in 1981. In 2002 the chain had six locations. Starting in 2004 it laid plans to open two additional locations. the largest location was a former Handy Andy at Callaghan and Ingram, which includes a bakery and restaurant. The store had replaced a smaller location that was across the street.

After a La Fiesta manager fired a pregnant employee, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against Foodarama, saying that the termination was wrongful because the store did not accept a full medical release from a doctor that was intended to allow her to work without restrictions. Foodarama settled with the EEOC; it gave the employee $10,000 and posted notices saying that it is making a discrimination-free workplace.

Headquarters

Foodarama's headquarters are in Foodarama Store #1 in Brays Oaks, Houston.Contact Us
" Foodarama. Retrieved on December 1, 2011. "Mailing Address 10810 South Post Oak Rd. Houston, Tx 77035." In February 1989, Carrol Cox, the owner of that Foodarama location, opposed the plan of a Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)-implemented grade separation at Willowbend and South Post Oak since he believed it would reduce the number of parking spaces at the store. On September 10, 1989, a woman was murdered in a robbery in the store parking lot.Asin, Stephanie.
Family of slain woman fights murderer's release
" ''Houston Chronicle''. August 31, 1993. A15. Retrieved on December 1, 2011.

References

External links

FoodaramaLa Fiesta

{{Supermarkets of the United States

Companies based in Houston
Supermarkets of the United States
Retail companies established in 1973
1973 establishments in Texas