MARYSVILLE – Most grocery stores would like to avoid going head-to-head with Wal-Mart’s low prices, but WinCo Foods says it will compete well with its new store in Marysville.
Located near Kohl’s in the Gateway Plaza on 116th Street NE, this is WinCo’s first location in Snohomish County. Previously, the closest of the Idaho-based chain’s 57 stores were in Kent and Federal Way.
More could be coming to the Puget Sound area, however, said WinCo spokesman Michael Read.
“We are looking to expand in all of our current states of operation,” Read said.
He describes WinCo as a “discount supermarket,” focused mostly on prices.
The chain’s stores also have more of a warehouse feel than some supermarkets. While the average Haggen or Safeway store occupies has about 60,000 square feet, WinCo’s new store takes up more than 90,000 square feet.
To help keep prices low, WinCo’s no-frills approach typically includes having customers bag their own groceries.
WinCo got its start 40 years ago in Boise, Idaho, where Ralph Ward and Bud Williams started a discount grocery store called Waremart. The company grew and operated stores under the names of Waremart Food Centers and Cub Foods until 1999, when it changed its name to WinCo Foods.
The company is largely owned by its employees, who are given stock in WinCo after they reach six months with the company. Unlike traditional grocery chains, but similar to Costco and Wal-Mart, the company’s 9,000 workers are nonunion.
Last year, with revenue approaching $3 billion, WinCo ranked as the nation’s 105th biggest privately owned company, according to Forbes.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
WinCo Foods
Where: 3947 116th St. NE in Marysville
When: Opens at 9 a.m. Monday
Employees: About 225
Information: 360-653-9602 or www.wincofoods.com
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