Fareway Stores opened its first store 75 years ago this May. The company’s first circular advertisement featured 14 cent a pound coffee and T-Bone steaks for 25 cents a pound. Now, the $1 billion grocery retailer operates over 100 locations across four states. The retailer has been instituting ‘green’ initiatives long before it became trendy, using reclaimed heat for its stores back in 1955. Today, Fareway recycles 4.5 million plastic grocery bags a year while also consistently looking for new ways to reduce waste.
Top Five
Fareway Markets
| CBSA Market |
Area Stores |
Market Share |
| DES MOINES-WEST DES MOINES, IA |
13 |
8.1% |
| CEDAR RAPIDS, IA |
5 |
8.0% |
| DAVENPORT-MOLINE-ROCK ISLAND, IA-IL |
4 |
4.3% |
| IOWA CITY, IA |
4 |
11.9% |
| SIOUX CITY, IA-NE-SD |
4 |
10.9% |
Fareway operates 60 stores within 26 Core-Based Statistical
Areas (CSBA), while the remainder of its 100+ locations falls
outside of the CBSA realm in rural areas throughout Idaho,
Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska.
Total Corporate Revenue Growth
Sales in Millions
No. 4 in Des Moines, IA CBSA
Fareway faces stiff competition in its biggest market of West Des Moines, IA
where it operates 13 stores. The area is regional player Hy-Vee’s hometown,
which has 17 stores and 29.7% grocery market share. Walmart also has a strong presence in the market with 7 super-centers in the area. In 2012, Fareway opened a new location in this market.
Sources: Chain Store Guide Supermarket, Grocery and Convenience Store Chains Database; Chain Store Guide Grocery Industry Market Share Report.
