Part of the community
King Soopers began as a single store in Arvada in 1947. From those humble beginnings, the local institution is now the leading grocery store in Colorado – and one of the largest employers in the state, with 23,000 employees.
King Soopers’ commitment to Colorado has become apparent in every aspect of their activities, from supporting local businesses to actively supporting local charities.
Together with their customers, associates and vendor partners, the company gave more than $16 million to Colorado non-profits in 2014.
“We have a social and moral obligation to give back
to the communities we serve, and we take that very seriously,” said King Soopers President Russ Dispense. “When people see how passionate we are about Colorado, I tell them it’s because it’s our home, too.”
Sourcing locally
From Fort Collins to Durango, and everywhere in between,
King Soopers has become the largest purchaser of locally grown produce in the state, and helped hundreds of locally made products get off the ground.
The corn you see one day at King Soopers may have been growing in the fields of Olathe the day before. The peaches may have just arrived from Palisade, the cantaloupe from southeast Colorado, or the fresh vegetables from Brighton.
Sourcing locally is good for local farmers and farm workers, ensuring that they have a reliable marketplace for their produce. It’s also good for the environment. Transporting foods a shorter distance requires less energy, ensuring that fewer fossil fuels are used in the transition from field to table.
What’s true for produce is true for products, too. King Soopers has also helped countless small businesses find space – and their first customers – on King Soopers’ shelves.
“We are so grateful for the amazing support King Soopers has given us and other local companies,” said Maddy D’Amato, the founder (and Chief Love Officer) of Love Grown Foods. “They put Colorado products front and center, which has allowed people to discover how many incredible local companies are based right here in their backyard.”
King Soopers shelves are always stocked with a wide variety of natural and organics, which has helped the grocer develop a reputation for offering many options for customers.
King Soopers also sources all of its non-organic milk from local dairy farms, and recently built their own state-of-the-art dairy plant located in old Stapleton, allowing them to deliver the freshest possible products.
The summer job that keeps on going
When Russ Dispense started as a bag boy at the local King Soopers, he had little idea that, decades later, he would become the company’s President.
Dispense is a native of Colorado, and took his first job at the local supermarket to help pay his way through school. Over the years he worked his way up, and 2015 marks 50 years with the company.
“We want to grow with our employees as they grow as a person,” Dispense said. “You may start out bagging groceries for that long summer job… but our goal is to not only offer a job, but to offer a career.”
King Soopers has long believed in creating a workplace where people are treated fairly, paid a competitive wage, and given good benefits. If you are interested in a career with King Soopers, visit www.kingsoopers.com/apply.
“In the end, we’re your community grocery store, where you can trust that you’re going to find good value, great service and fresh products,” Dispense said.
Add a policy of free cookies to children “of all ages,” and the nostalgic penny horse rides, and it becomes clear how King Soopers has become a part of everyday life in Colorado.
Locally Strong
Below are just a few, among many, Colorado brands that King Soopers has supported as they sought a marketplace for their products and ideas:
- Aspen Cornucopia
- Bella GF
- The Bear and The Rat
- Blake’s Ugly Dawg Salsa
- Eldorado
- Evol Burritos
- Flap Jacked
- Free range bulk
- Inner Eco
- Justins
- Keen One Quinoa
- KOLAT Superfood Fusions
- La Estrellita Salsa
- Lara Bar
- Lillabee Baking Mix
- Love Grown Foods
- Madhava (Natural)
- Mountain Ocean
- Nana Cakes
- Noosa Yoghurt
- Not the Same
- NovAurora
- Olde Man Granola
- Qrunch Burger
- Schultz
- Snikiddy
- Spinelli Pasta Sauce
- Third Street Chai
- Tru Pickles
- True Toniqs, LLC
- Bing
- Blue Parrot
- Boulder Ice Cream
- Celestial Seasonings (Grocery)
- Grandma’s Frozen Noodles
- Lindita’s Salsa Mix
- Rudi’s
- Women’s Bean Project
A Center for Health and Wellness
In 2014, King Soopers began offering free Wellness Festivals to the public. The festivals feature fun, interactive, and innovative events that highlight King Soopers “good-for-you” products and services. The events feature dietitian advice, free samples and valuable information on nutrition and healthy living.
King Soopers also has a wide array of tools and events to help customers stay on top of their health and wellness goals, including:
Quality Produce: An affordable fresh selection of produce is available in every store, including a wide array of ‘Colorado Proud’ and USDA organic produce.
Natural & Organics: King Soopers offers a robust selection of Natural & Organics, including 30 Optimum Wellness Natural Vitamin Centers with Nutrition Specialists who help customers choose the best supplement for their needs.
Registered Dietitians: Six registered dietitians are on staff to develop wellness programs, and provide support to customers and associates in achieving nutrition-related goals.
Pharmacy: King Soopers has over 500 pharmacists, including specially trained patient care managers who provide health coaching & wellness services.
The Little Clinic: Located in 16 King Soopers stores, these clinics are staffed by Nurse Practitioners to provide convenient, affordable, quality options for urgent care and basic health care needs.
NuVal: Look for the NuVal tags on products at the local King Soopers and join in the NuVal scoring system, available in every store, where customers can “trade up” to healthier products. The higher the NuVal score, the better the nutritional value.
HealthCENTERS: Automated HealthCENTERS are located near the pharmacy to provide an easy, user-friendly way for customers to track their key health indicators.
CU Health Partners: King Soopers’ extensive community connections include a strong affiliation with the University of Colorado to offer the best health services.
To learn more about Wellness Festivals and how your health matters to King Soopers, visit https://www.kingsoopers.com/healthmatters
