Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores has announced the July 1 death of its former Chairman and CEO Roger Collins.
He began his career at Harps in December 1986, serving as VP of finance. From his initial role, Collins quickly became an integral part of shaping the future of Harps Food Stores.
Under his guidance, the grocer transitioned from being family-owned to employee-owned in 2001. Following the retirement of Gerald Harp, Collins took on the roles of chairman and CEO, leading Harps Food Stores through the first 15 years of employee ownership. His tenure was marked by remarkable growth and success, with the number of locations expanding from 42 to 82 and sales increasing by 110 percent.
“Roger will be remembered for transforming our company culture and for his indomitable competitive spirit,” the company shared in a release.
“His passion for excellence, integrity and a people-first approach inspired everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. Roger was not just a leader; he was a mentor, a friend and a source of inspiration. We owe him a great deal, as today we stand on his shoulders as employee owners with a bright future made possible by the foundation he helped forge.”
Harps Food Stores is a 100 percent employee-owned company, which operates 148 stores in six states including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Kansas. Harps is the largest employee-owned company in Arkansas. Harps was founded by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale, Arkansas, in 1930. Since then, the company has grown to have more than 7,200 employees.
[RELATED: ECRS, Birdzi Partner On API Integration With Harps Food Stores]
