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UKROP’S CELEBRATES 70 YEARS OF SERVICE
Giveaways Planned in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Williamsburg and Roanoke to Thank Customers for Their Support
RICHMOND, Va. – Aug. 6, 2007 – FDR was in the White House, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge opened, and Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was in theaters. The year was 1937, and in South Richmond, a young couple opened a 500 squarefoot grocery store.
The couple was Joseph and Jacquelin Ukrop, and the store was Ukrop’s Super Markets, Inc. The former A&P meat manager and his wife operated their new store based on the Golden Rule: treating others the way they personally wanted to be treated.
The trust of customers and the community soon followed, but it wasn’t until 26 years later that Ukrop’s opened its second location on Midlothian Turnpike. What started as the dream of the son of Czechoslovakian immigrants has grown to include 29 retail locations in Richmond, Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, and Roanoke.
"Our parents started the family business 70 years ago focusing on their customers,” said Jim Ukrop, chairman of Ukrop’s and First Market Bank. “Over the years, we tried to provide superior customer service and fresh and delicious foods as well as new conveniences. Like our parents, we try to make every decision – big and small – putting our customers first in mind.”
Celebrating the 70th Anniversary
To celebrate the 70th anniversary and thank customers for their patronage, Ukrop’s has planned several celebration promotions:
Win a 2007 Volvo XC70
· This giveaway is valued at over $40,000.
· Ukrop’s is partnering with Mooers Volvo for a customer to win a 2007 Volvo
XC70 wagon.
· One lucky customer from each of Ukrop’s 29 stores will receive a key that could start the Volvo.
· Customers who spend $70 with their UVC Cards at Ukrop’s for three out of four weeks in August will be automatically entered for a chance to win. The promotion runs from July 30 through August 25. Win Free Groceries for a Year
· This giveaway is valued at $5,200.
· Every time customers use their UVC Cards at checkout from July 30 through August 25, they are automatically entered for a chance to win.
Win a $70 Gift Card Instantly
· Ukrop’s will have 70 instant winners from July 30 through August 25.
· Customers can scan their UVC Cards once per day at the Savings Spot kiosks located near the entrances of Ukrop’s stores for a chance to instantly win a $70 gift card. The Savings Spot kiosk is not yet available in Roanoke.
Official rules and complete details for all three giveaways are available in Ukrop’s stores at Customer Service.
Ukrop’s Related Business
Related businesses now include:
· First Market Bank opened in 1997 and includes 35 branches in the same markets as Ukrop’s.
· Joe’s Market opened in 2001 as a specialty food market on Libbie Avenue in Richmond.
· Ukrop’s Dress Express, a uniform and corporate apparel business, started in 1993 and now serves clients nationwide.
Bobby Ukrop, president and CEO of Ukrop’s, said, “Our customers have high expectations, and our 5,700 associates are committed to fulfilling and exceeding those expectations. We’re passionate about food, but Ukrop’s is much more than just a chain of grocery stores. Our vision is to be a worldclass provider of food and services.”
Highlights over Seven Decades
Highlights and innovations over Ukrop’s past 70 years of service include:
· The Ukrop’s Valued Customer card program started in 1987 as one of America’s first customer loyalty and savings program. It now includes over 500,000 active households.
· Ukrop’s began offering prepared foods in 1989. What began as a recipe file of 10 dishes has grown to several hundred rotating menu items. Today, in addition to chilled prepared foods, Ukrop’s offers a café and grill in many locations, along with hot pizza, fried chicken, and Chef’s Specials.
· The addition of two food manufacturing facilities – a Central Kitchen and Central Bakery – and a distribution center ensures that Ukrop’s can prepare and deliver fresh prepared foods and baked goods to its stores daily.
· The first Ukrop’s pharmacy opened in 1989. Now, 23 Ukrop’s have a pharmacy and 20 stores also have a Wellness Center. The Wellness Center is a private counseling area adjacent to the pharmacy and offers patient services such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose screenings? diabetes and asthma education? nutrition counseling? and medication therapy management.
· In 2000, Ukrop’s became a leader in the grocery industry by focusing on and creating awareness around natural & organic products in a mainstream supermarket. Our own line of natural & organic products, Full Circle, supports organic farming, which relies on sustainable farming methods without the use of pesticides and fertilizers. This benefits the land and water, and produces foods that are free of additives and residual chemicals.
· Thousands of items at Consistent Low Prices throughout the store became part of a new program launched in 2006 to save customers time and money.
· Ukrop’s longstanding commitment to the communities where it operates enables 10 percent of the company’s pretax profits to go back into nonprofits and community events like the annual Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10K. Since 1990, Ukrop’s has contributed more than $30 million back to the community through annual campaigns, capital gifts, sponsorships, donations, and product discounts to nonprofit organizations. Ukrop’s also has distributed $11.9 million to thousands of charitable and nonprofit organizations based on customers’ designations through the Golden Gift program.
“As we’ve grown over the years, we’ve strived to listen to our customers,” Bobby added. “Our 70 years in business reflect the support of our customers and the communities where we operate. We’re grateful for the memories, the friendships, and the opportunities.”
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About Ukrop's
Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc., founded and headquartered in Richmond, Va., with more than 5,700, associates now operates 29 retail food stores, Joe's Market (a regional specialty market), a central bakery and kitchen, and a distribution center. Since 1937, the privately held business remains dedicated to its version of the Golden Rule: “treating customers, associates, and suppliers as they personally want to be treated.” Each year, Ukrop's gives a minimum of 10 percent of its pretax profits back to the community. Ukrop's was a pioneer in both loyalty marketing and meal solutions when it launched its Valued Customer® program in 1987 and its chilled prepared foods in 1989. In 1997, Ukrop's established a unique partnership to place banks in its retail locations. Today it coowns, with Markel Corporation, 25 First Market Bank branches in Ukrop's locations and 10 freestanding branches. www.ukrops.com
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Contacts:
Mandy Burnette
Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc.
(804) 340-3094
Mandy.Burnette@ukrops.com
Jonathan Rhudy
For Ukrop’s Super Markets, Inc.
(804) 897-0763
jonathan@rhudy.biz
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