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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
This management team of brothers Denis and Steve Tanner, their sister, Kathleen, and her husband, Kevin Hoyt, has been in the grocery industry for years. Kevin's family owned a market in Kamas back in the 1920s, so he's a generation grocer. Denis and Steve both worked for another large grocery chain for about 20 years.
In the early 90s they decided to team up with Kevin and Kathleen to open their own grocery store, which became Kamas Food Town. It started small, as a 13,000 square foot store and just five years later, had nearly doubled in size. Today, Kamas Food Town is 33,000 square feet and includes a pharmacy. It's connected to the gas station on site, which they also own, so shoppers can get gas discounts based on the amount of groceries they buy. By the way, Kamas Food Town is proud to be a member of Associated Foods Stores.
Kamas is known as the gateway to the Uintahs, and the owners say business at Kamas Food Town picks up by 40 percent in the summer season. These customers include those seeking Utah's wealth of recreational opportunities as well as second home owners. Denis says the spike lasts from Memorial Day through Labor Day, winding down through hunting season in the fall. Their location along Highway 248 has also been beneficial.
Denis says Kamas Food Town has grown to include around 100 employees. They've been carefully trained to take care of their customers, especially since studies also show that grocery store employees can make or break a shopper's experience. With 98 percent of grocery purchases still taking place in-store, staff quality is the No. 1 influencer on where shoppers choose to go.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Kamas Food Corporation 145 W. 200 South Kamas, UT 84036 435-783-4369
