Quality Food Centers (QFC) is a supermarket chain based in Bellevue, Washington, with over 75 stores in the Puget Sound region of Washington state and in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.

History

QFC was founded in Bellevue in 1956 by Jack Croco.

In the 1960s, QFC ran a memorable animated ad which made use of produce puns, such as "raise our celery".

In the mid-1990s, QFC expanded to Southern California by acquiring Hughes Family Markets (which kept its name). By the mid-1990s, many Hughes chains were sold to Ralphs, which soon was sold to Fred Meyer, before going to Kroger. QFC was then purchased by Portland-based Fred Meyer in 1997. Fred Meyer in turn merged with Cincinnati-based Kroger in 1999. QFC also bought Olsens and The Stock Market grocery in the late 1990s.

In 1996, Stuart Sloan, former owner and chairman of QFC, promised to spend at least $1 million a year for the next eight years to overhaul one of Seattle Public Schools's most challenged schools, T.T. Minor Elementary. The funds were donated in addition to public dollars and helped to pay for uniforms, smaller class sizes and a year-round schedule. It engendered much controversy as reported in a Forbes magazine article.

Positioning

QFC and Safeway are the dominant supermarkets in the city of Seattle and its surrounding suburbs. QFC is positioned as a smaller upscale market relative to Fred Meyer, although both are owned by Kroger. QFC uses a preferred customer card to track customers and offer discounts.

Popular culture

Two QFC Stores in Seattle, Washington were used for taping of the TLC Show Take Home Chef, starring Curtis Stone.

References

External links

• QFC homepage
• The Kroger Company

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