Nugget Markets

Nugget Markets was nominated by a vendor, who wrote: “They always have a quick response time to returning any and all correspondence. Always fair in working with support to vendors, all employees have a great attitude and shows that it is a happy place to work. Great selection of items and listens to the needs of their customers. I wish all my accounts would adapt their model.”

Oliver’s Market

In spite of inflation, rising prices, staffing shortages and other challenges, customers continued to support Oliver’s Market in 2022, resulting in modest increases in both sales and customer counts and paving the way for a discretionary bonus for all employees.

The company stated, “We pride ourselves on our quality, range of conventional, natural and specialty offerings, outstanding perimeter departments and our commitment to staffing twice as many employees as other grocers, resulting in superior service and an unmatched experience.

“Since 2017, we have been employee owned (43 percent). We work to educate and train our staff to fully convey the benefits of the ESOP and ‘thinking like an owner,’ with the goal of seeing that mindset reach our customers in their employee interactions.

“When we first adopted the crossover model in the early 1990s, it was innovative, though common today. What remains unique is our focus on local items, which we define as being produced in Sonoma County.

“We offer 6,000 SKUs from over 450 producers, and every customer receipt indicates the percentage of local products purchased. We work to educate our customers on the benefits of buying locally made products from a local company, namely the increased amount of dollars that stay in the county, employing others and supporting the tax base. Here in Sonoma County, customers embrace the power of shopping locally and appreciate our commitment.

“We were also the first grocery store in Sonoma County to become a certified Green Business, and we continue to build on our quest for sustainability. We have a full-time sustainability coordinator and commit to new goals each year to reduce our carbon footprint.

“We truly believe in supporting our communities where we do business and work to maintain a constant presence through ongoing loyalty programs, sponsorships and donations. Our generous Community Card program (via eScrip) averages $250,000 in donations to local charities each year. In addition, we sponsor charitable benefits and community events that enrich Sonoma County.

“Being an independent, locally focused, employeeowned grocer in these times of consolidation and change is indeed is a noble calling. We support our community and in turn, our community supports us. They value our quality and service, our diverse, locally-focused offerings, our award-winning perimeter departments and our talented team of employee owners. As we say: ‘Oliver’s Market. Real Food. Real People. Real Community.’”