The scent of fresh tortillas and grilled chicken greets customers at a Food City store in Chandler on a sunny February morning. The in-house tortilleria is bustling, with warm corn and flour tortillas just bagged. Nearby, cinnamon sugar tortilla chips, freshly roasted chiles, and trays of buñuelos — a classic Latino dessert — offer a taste of home for many customers.
It’s still early in the day, but the deli staff are already serving breakfast burritos, caldo de res, and tamales — all made from scratch. It’s a reflection of Food City’s ethos: a deep commitment to authenticity, community, and value. So many items at Food City are fresh, handcrafted and hecho en casa — made in house — which is completely intentional, according to said Steve Mayer, president of Bashas’ Family of Stores, which operates the Food City banner. Food City is a brand on a mission to win shoppers through community, authenticity and value.
“The future looks bright,” Mayer said. “We are poised for growth as an enterprise and as an operating company. Our diverse brand portfolio is just one of the ways we meet the needs of different markets. As communities’ needs shift, we align our services with those needs, and over the years we have shifted from a Bashas’ brand to Food City with great success.”
Food City, a staple of the Bashas’ brand portfolio, now includes 46 locations across Arizona. The banner has become a cornerstone of the grocer’s mission to serve diverse communities with culturally relevant offerings. That strategy has helped it transition successfully from a Bashas’-branded store base to Food City in several markets — and the company has no intention of slowing down.
“We will continue to find ways to expand our brands inside and outside Arizona,” Mayer said.
Legacy and Purpose in a New Era
Founded in 1932 by brothers Ike and Eddie Basha Sr., the Bashas’ chain built its legacy on customer service, quality, and competitive pricing. After being acquired in 2021 by West Sacramento-based The Raley’s Companies, the business has doubled down on those core values while embracing a broader purpose: “Changing the Way the World Eats, One Plate at a Time.”
“Bashas’ founding principles… remain with us today,” Mayer said. “To remain relevant, like we have for over 90 years, we focus on our guests while advancing technology and leadership development.”
Mayer emphasized that the cultural alignment with The Raley’s Companies has allowed Bashas’ to retain autonomy while gaining access to centralized infrastructure and expertise — a setup that has enhanced innovation, analytics, and leadership training.
“It’s like having a built-in share group,” Mayer explains. “We collaborate with our counterparts in California to exchange ideas on logistics, technology and merchandising. We’re able to test and learn from each other without the competitive pressure that exists between unaffiliated companies. There’s a level of sophistication now that we didn’t have before. It helps us move faster and smarter.”
More Than a Store — A Gathering Place
Among all Bashas’ formats, Food City stands out as a living example of its community-first model. Designed to reflect and serve multicultural communities, Food City stores feature authentic tortillerias, bakeries, and scratch kitchens where shoppers can order ceviche, quesadillas, and marinated meats. The stores often include outdoor dining spaces and live music stages.
During the holidays, the stores transform with food-centered events, like in-store tamale masa preparation and seasonal product showcases.
“Food City is not about putting a few Hispanic items in an aisle,” Mayer said. “The whole store reflects the community. It’s immersive. It’s authentic. And our team members take incredible pride in that.”
That pride is visible in the staff, many of whom have worked for Food City for decades. Some have risen from entry-level roles to leadership positions, contributing to a workplace culture of ownership and belonging.
Investing in People and the Community
Leadership development is a cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy. Programs like Leader Launch and Tracker are designed to prepare employees for department head and store team leadership roles, offering classroom training, mentorship, and on-the-job learning.
“Retention improves when people see a future for themselves,” Mayer said. “We’re investing in their growth, not just their labor.”
These internal talent pipelines are particularly meaningful at Food City, where many employees come from the same communities they serve. Mayer said the approach supports both inclusion and business performance.While culture is central to Food City’s identity, value remains non-negotiable. Food City’s pricing strategy includes weekly deals like Produce Wednesdays and Meat Department Thursdays, as well as the new Mi Club digital discount program.
“Quality and affordability are key components of our business,” Mayer said. “We rely on our procurement and quality assurance teams to maintain the highest standards.”
Bilingual signage, food demos, and merchandising designed around Latino holidays — including DĂa de los Muertos and Lent — reinforce the brand’s cultural fluency.
“A great example … is our seasonal road show during key holiday seasons, like Lent and tamale season, where we set up special areas in our stores that celebrate the important role that food plays during these times of year,” Mayer said.
A Vision for the Future
The Food City model appears poised for broader growth as Bashas’ evaluates expansion both within and beyond Arizona. While Mayer declined to share specific locations, he confirmed that new markets are under review.
“We have brands that travel well,” he said. “And we have the operational backbone to support them.”
The new Bashas’ Support Center in Chandler reflects that readiness. The sleek, two-story headquarters supports around 200 employees and features flexible workspaces, digital infrastructure, and amenities like a cafĂ© and wellness resources. It’s designed as a hub of servant leadership — a space that supports the stores rather than directs them.
“This space has allowed us to bring people together who hadn’t worked face to face in years,” Mayer said. “It strengthens our culture.”
With sustainability efforts on the horizon — including solar integration and food waste reduction — and deeper investment in tech-driven customer engagement, Food City and its parent company are aiming to build a modern grocery business grounded in legacy values.
“Innovation doesn’t mean abandoning our roots,” Mayer said. “It means making them stronger.”
As Food City continues to grow, it does so with a clear sense of mission: to honor culture, serve communities, and prepare for a future that looks a lot like the diverse customers already walking through its doors.
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