2016 Economic Impact Awards 16-29 Years in Operation 30+ Years in Operation Finalist: Pyramid Foods

In its nearly 50 years in business, Pyramid Foods has grown from a small set of grocery stores to a regional powerhouse.

The company now operates 47 retail stores under such brands as Price Cutter, Bistro Market, Save-A-Lot, Country Mart and Cash Saver. That’s up from four stores when the company was founded in 1967. Employed at the stores are nearly 2,800 people, a stark contrast from the company’s 100 workers in its first year.

“My dad wanted to help the Springfield economy by employing his neighbors and providing a market for their goods,” Pyramid Foods President and CEO Erick Taylor says of his father Richard via email. “By using local distribution, we’re keeping jobs and economic dollars in southwest Missouri. A lot of people don’t realize that when they shop at Price Cutter, they’re keeping their money right here.”

In late 2014, Pyramid Foods increased its community buy-in when it agreed to purchase the real estate and equipment of Springfield Dillons supermarkets after the chain exited the city in January 2015.

The company has since opened Price Cutter stores at two of the former Dillons, a Cash Saver at another and has plans in place to open a new natural foods concept at the fourth.
 
“Having multiple locations in Springfield and the surrounding area provides convenience to our customers,” says Rob Marsh, Pyramid Foods’ vice president of operations. “We are the largest local employee-owned grocer in the area.”

Pyramid Foods buys its products from Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc.’s Springfield facility, as well as milk products from Springfield-based Hiland Dairy.

Marsh adds via email that in addition to the over 30-year partnerships with AWC and Hiland, the company buys goods from local farmers.

“We’re continually increasing these efforts,” he says. “We recently hired a buyer and her job focus is specifically on sourcing from local vendors.

“It’s important from an economic and sustainable standpoint to purchase local as much as possible.”

In 2002, Pyramid Foods set up its employee stock ownership plan to transfer 100 percent ownership to the company’s associates.

Now, Marsh says the plan has 1,500 active participants.

“Our ESOP was set up as a retirement plan for employees,” he says. “Our associates know that their hard work impacts the overall company.”

Among charitable giving by Pyramid Foods, perhaps the best known example is the annual Price Cutter Charity Championship held at Highland Springs Country Club.

In its nearly 27-year history, the golf tournament on the PGA circuit has raised $12.8 million for children’s charities in the Ozarks. Pyramid Foods, which serves as title sponsor, last year contributed $900,000 to that cause.

“Community outreach is our way of giving back to the community that continues to support us, and having multiple locations gives us the avenues needed to raise awareness and funds for deserving community causes in southwest Missouri,” Marsh says. “Our entire company gets behind community involvement and fundraising; it’s something Price Cutter has always done and it feels natural to us.

“Every year, we use a portion of our earnings to support local community causes, including over 40 children’s charities right here in the Ozarks.”