Nugget Markets

In 1926, Nugget Markets opened its first store in Woodland, California by the father-and-son team of William and Mack Stille. Mack Stille ran most of the day-to-day operations and introduced many unconventional policies to the store, such as incorporating meat departments, installing refrigerated produce cases and employing checkout stands equipped with power belts.[1]

In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Mack's son, Gene, and grandson, Eric, the company began its expansion outside the local Woodland community by opening a Nugget Markets store in neighboring Davis. In 1984, Nugget Markets acquired a pair of Sacramento Alpha Beta grocery stores and converted them into Nugget Markets, one in the Greenhaven-Pocket neighborhood, the other in Foothill Farms on Hillsdale Blvd. In the early 90s, Nugget Markets opened its first Food 4 Less franchise in Vallejo, California. In the late 1990s, Nugget Markets developed their Fresh to Market concept, pairing European-style open-air marketing with higher-end products and specialty departments, such as their Cheese Specialists, Wine Stewards, Pastry Chefs in a full-range Bakery, Full-Service Kitchen, Healthy Living Department, dedicated Seafood butcher and a Juice & Espresso Bar. [2]

In 2006, Nugget Markets leased / bought 8 former Ralph’s stores in and around Sacramento. [3]

In 2015, Nugget Markets acquired Paradise Foods with locations in Novato, Corte Madera and Tiburon. [4]

In 2015, Nugget Markets debuted its new “Fork Lift” market concept which was a hybrid of its Nugget and Food4Less Brands within the same store. [5]

In 2016, Nugget Markets acquired Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market, both located in Sonoma County, California.[6]

In 2019, Nugget Markets patriarch Gene Stille died.[7]

In 2020, Nugget Markets moved its corporate headquarters from Woodland, California to Davis, California. [8]

In 2020, Nugget Markets was ranked #79 on Fortune's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For," its 15th year on the list.[9] Nugget Markets ranked #81 in 2019.[10]

Unique to Nugget Markets is their architectural feature at the entrance of new stores, which include a tower and/or a robed woman with a basket of food above her head. The robed woman, in particular, became the corporate logo and mascot of the company. [11]