For Aaron Stone, working at the family’s grocery business was never really a question; it always felt like the natural path.
Category: Anniversary Issues
Mollie Stone’s Second-Gen COO Enjoys Dynamic Business, Finding Ways To ‘Get Better Every Day’
The Shelby Report of the West EVP Bob Reeves sat down with Mollie Stone’s Markets COO Elliott Stone, older son of founder/owner/CEO Mike Stone, at an Italian restaurant in Sausalito – which has a Mollie Stone’s – for a meal and a talk about the company. Stone’s grocery roots run deep, and not just through […]
Mollie Stone’s Marks 40 Years With Eye On Growth, Family Succession
Mollie Stone’s Market owner and CEO Michael “Mike” Stone gained an appreciation of good food early in his life, thanks to his grandmother. That early appreciation for food has not waned over the years and has been a key component in Stone’s enduring passion for making Mollie Stone’s a place where people can indulge their […]
Stewardship And Growth: Former AWG CEO Smith Reflects On Leading Through Change
As Associated Wholesale Grocers celebrates its centennial, former CEO David Smith looks back on his tenure with the perspective of a steward who sought to leave the cooperative stronger than he found it. Smith joined AWG in August 2003 as director of real estate. He stepped into the CEO role at the end of 2015, […]
AWG’s Cooperative Strength Positions Independent Grocers For Future
As Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, the cooperative is reflecting on a century defined by independent spirit, shared success and an unwavering commitment to its members – while keeping its focus firmly on what comes next. Founded in 1926 by a group of independent grocers who believed they were stronger […]
Vallarta Moving To Broader Appeal – ‘We’ve Got To Give Everybody Something’
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
Bringing Public Company Discipline To Longtime Family-Owned Business
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
SoCal-Based Vallarta Supermarkets Charts Path Of Growth, Change
In 1985, the Gonzalez family opened a small market in Van Nuys, California, called Carnicería Vallarta. The family focused on selling traditional cuts of meats popular in their native Mexico. They worked hard to build a name for themselves by offering high-quality authentic products, providing a high level of customer service and treating employees as […]
