Fareway facts for kids
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Trade name
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Fareway Meat & Grocery |
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Formerly
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Fareway Economical Food Stores |
| Private | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1938 in Boone, Iowa, U.S. |
| Founder | Paul S. Beckwith |
| Headquarters | Johnston, Iowa, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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141 (2025) |
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Key people
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P. Sue Beckwith, MD, Chairman of the Board Reynolds W. Cramer, CEO Garrett S. Piklapp, President |
| Products | Bakery, dairy, delicatessen, frozen foods, grocery, lottery, pharmacy, produce, meats, snack food, liquor, flowers, and Western Union |
| Revenue |  US$1.5 billion (2021) |
| Owner | Beckwith family |
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Number of employees
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12,000+ |
| Subsidiaries | FarewayMeatMarket.com Midwest Quality Wholesale McGonigle's KC BBQ + Catering Brewer Foods |
Fareway Stores, Inc. is a popular chain of grocery stores located in the Midwest region of the United States. It started in Boone, Iowa, and now has 141 stores in several states. These states include Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, and Missouri. Fareway is known for selling fresh meats and groceries.
Contents
Fareway's Story: How It Began
Starting with Fairness
On May 12, 1938, a man named Paul S. Beckwith opened the very first Fareway store. It was located in Boone, Iowa. Mr. Beckwith chose the name "Fareway" because he wanted to treat both his customers and his employees in a fair way. This idea of fairness was very important to him.
Growing Across Iowa
The first store was a success! By the year 1950, Fareway had grown quite a bit. There were already six Fareway grocery stores operating across the state of Iowa.
A Big Fire in Boone
On February 23, 1964, a large fire caused a lot of damage to the original Fareway store and its warehouse in Boone. The fire caused about $1 million in damages.
Expanding to New States
For many years, Fareway stores were only found in Iowa. However, in 2013, Fareway decided to expand. They opened their first store outside of Iowa in Tea, South Dakota. This was a big step for the company.
Helping Employees with School Costs
In December 2018, Fareway announced a special plan to help its full-time employees. This plan helps them pay off their student loan debt. Eligible employees can receive $100 each month, up to a total of $5,000. This kind of benefit is not very common, as only about four percent of companies in the U.S. offer similar help.
Moving the Main Office
In 2024, Fareway moved its main office, also known as its headquarters. It moved from Boone, Iowa, where it had been for many years, to Johnston, Iowa. The company's CEO, Reynolds Cramer, had announced this move in 2023.
