Fry's Food and Drug


Fry's Food and Drug is a chain of supermarkets that has a major presence in the U.S. state of Arizona. Fry's also operates under the banner of Fry's Marketplace, a combination of groceries and general merchandise comparable to a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Fry's is a division of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger.

History

Beginnings

Fry's was founded in 1954 by Donald Fry in northern California. With the help of his brother Charles, the chain expanded into the Phoenix market in 1960. Fry's was sold in 1972 to Dillons, based in Hutchinson, Kansas. Dillons merged with Kroger in 1983.

Fred Meyer and Kroger merger

In October 1998, Fred Meyer, parent company of Smith's Food and Drug based in Salt Lake City, announced a strategic merger with Kroger, based in Cincinnati. Several months later, in May 1999, the Federal Trade Commission approved the merger of the two companies, named The Kroger Co..
Arizona and Texas were the only two of 31 states where there was an overlap of stores and brands from the merger. The Kroger Co., choosing to operate with one brand in the Arizona market, rebranded most Smith's Food & Drug Centers as Fry's Food & Drug Stores, though Smith's Food and Drug Centers in Kingman, Bullhead City, and Lake Havasu City remained unchanged. Fry's Phoenix Distribution Center and administrative offices were moved into the more modern Smith's Food and Drug Distribution Center and office space in the Phoenix suburb of Tolleson.

Fry's Marketplace

Fry's Marketplace is a multi-department store that offers full-service grocery, pharmacy and general merchandise including outdoor living products, electronics, home goods and toys. Ranging in size from, the Marketplace stores are smaller than the original Fred Meyer stores. The Marketplace format was derived from the Fred Meyer concept but on a smaller scale and has since expanded to other Kroger divisions, including the Smith's Food & Drug Centers Division in Utah.
Fry's Marketplace started out as Smitty's, Arizona's first multi-department store. Smitty's was similar to a Wal-Mart Supercenter and even had a food court with four branded fast food options. In 1996, Smitty's merged with Smith's Food and Drug Centers. In 1997, after the Fred Meyer-Smith's merger, Fred Meyer updated and revitalized the Smitty's concept and in January 1999, all Smitty's stores were renamed Fred Meyer. During this time, management of the chain changed from Smith's Food and Drug to Fred Meyer. Construction also started on a full sized Fred Meyer store in Phoenix.
In June 2000, Kroger transferred the management of Fred Meyer's stores to Fry's Food and Drug. The Fred Meyer stores were rebranded as Fry's Marketplace, unifying the stores under the Fry's brand. The Fred Meyer store in Phoenix was completed but never opened and was later demolished as the store was too large for Fry's to use.

Fry's Signature

Fry's Signature is marketed as a high-end, neighborhood tailored grocery store. There is one location on 20427 North Hayden Road in Scottsdale. Another Fry's Signature store is located at 10450 N. 90th Street in Scottsdale. There is also a Fry's Signature store at the cross streets of Cave Creek Rd and Carefree Hwy in Cave Creek. In addition, there is a Fry's Signature Marketplace at the intersection of Shea Blvd and Tatum Blvd in Phoenix. There is another store located at the cross streets of Gavilan Peak Pkwy and Daisy Mountain Dr in the northern Phoenix suburb of Anthem.

Fry's Mercado

Fry's Mercado is geared towards Arizona's large Hispanic market. It is located at 43rd Avenue and McDowell in Phoenix. There is a check cashing store, an aqua fresca bar, a cocina, and a gas station among other attractions at the location. Several other stores are sublet in the Fry's Mercado.