Associated Food Stores (official)

05/22/2026

Kent’s Market in Plain City turned its parking lot into a staging ground of gratitude on Armed Forces Day, hosting its annual Meals for Military event in partnership with Operation Homefront, Associated Food Stores and dozens of national and local vendors.

On Saturday, May 16, volunteers lined up early to greet more than 400 military families, many of whom are lower-income service members stationed at nearby Hill Air Force Base. From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., each family drove through and had their vehicles loaded with bags of groceries, household essentials, fresh produce, gift cards and other donated goods.

This year, organizers were able to reach even more families and provide larger individual donations than in previous years, building on a track record of steady growth. Since the program launched in 2021 with 50 families and two bags of groceries, it has grown exponentially. Last year, each family received roughly $700 worth of groceries and a $50 Kent’s gift card, bringing the total value of donations to nearly $300,000. This year each family received over $800 in groceries and an additional $5,000 in giveaways were also distributed. Over 225 volunteers participated and Kent’s donated over $30,000 in labor, $30,000 in groceries and an additional $15,000 cash donation to Operation Homefront.

“It’s incredible to see how this event has grown year after year,” said Allen Christensen, marketing and advertising manager for Associated Food Stores. “Kent’s puts their all into this for their communities. When you see these families drive through and the looks on their faces, you realize just how meaningful this support is. It’s an honor for AFS to stand alongside Kent’s and our vendor partners in giving back to the men and women who sacrifice so much for our country.”

Kent’s Market President and CEO Jon Fawson personally invited AFS team members to participate, noting that more than 800 military members are currently deployed from Hill Air Force Base. “This is our way of giving back to those families who are sacrificing so much during this time,” Jon said.

According to Operation Homefront, one in four junior enlisted military families report food insecurity. The Kent’s program has been recognized as best in class nationally by the nonprofit, which has exclusively partnered with Kent’s and AFS in Utah.

This memorable event encapsulates the spirit of Kent’s Market, Associated Food Stores and its tremendous partners, all dedicated to serving the communities that serve us.

05/15/2026

Looking for a hands-on role where you stay active, drive locally, and play a key part in supporting operations across the company? Come join our team as a Mail Services Specialist! This position combines mailroom operations, local deliveries, and warehouse coordination in a structured, team-oriented environment.

The Mailroom Associate is responsible for daily mailroom operations, shipping and receiving, and local delivery driver support. This role helps ensure time-sensitive materials, such as payroll, equipment, and retail communications, are processed, tracked, and delivered accurately and on schedule. Apply now!

Work as a Mail Services Specialist for Associated Food Stores, Inc at 1850 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, US, UT, 84119

05/08/2026

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, fresh, handcrafted tortillas are now available at your local grocery store. Macey’s, Dan’s, Lin’s, Dick’s Market and Fresh Market, locally owned stores in Utah and northern Nevada, are bringing shoppers authentic, small-batch flavor every day.

The tortillas are made fresh, exclusively for these stores, and offer a high level of quality and authenticity. Each batch is crafted using time-honored methods, ensuring a soft texture, rich flavor and a fresh experience.

Guests can choose from both corn and flour varieties, available in a range of sizes from street taco to burrito-ready. Unlike mass-produced tortillas, these are made fresh in small batches and delivered directly to stores, giving guests a noticeably softer texture and more authentic, homemade flavor. The traditional family recipe brings a level of local craftsmanship and freshness that sets them apart from other options.

Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year, making it the perfect time for taco night. To make mealtime even easier, the new tortillas pair perfectly with the stores’ Fiesta Fixin’s trays. Guests can add their favorite protein for a quick, fresh and flavorful meal. Tortillas can be found in the bakery department.

“We are so excited to bring these tortillas into our fresh bakeries,” said Jill Carter, bakery sales manager. “They are incredibly fresh and soft and a flavorful foundation for countless meals!”

04/21/2026

Ready to take your grocery management expertise to the next level? Associated Food Stores is looking for a Retail Account Manager in Helena, MT, to partner with local retailers and drive their success.

If you’re a strategic thinker with a deep background in the grocery industry, we want to hear from you!

As a Retail Account Manager, you aren't just a consultant; you’re a business partner. You’ll work directly with store owners and managers to optimize operations, analyze financial data, and implement growth strategies.

What You’ll Do:

- Consult & Partner: Build trust-based relationships with retailers to improve store profitability.
- Analyze Performance: Use P&Ls, market share, and labor data to guide operational improvements.
- Strategic Planning: Assist with store expansions, remodeling, and long-term goal setting.
- Coach & Train: Help retail teams elevate their skills and master AFS programs.

Why Join AFS?
- Great Benefits: Health, dental, vision, 401(k), and tuition reimbursement.
- Grocery Perks: 10% off your groceries!
- Flexible Work: Hybrid schedules available for a better work-life balance.
- Immediate Pay: Access your earned wages more frequently with Daily Pay.

What We’re Looking For:
- Experience: At least 10 years in grocery management (chain experience is a plus!).
- Skillset: Strong financial acumen, a drive for results, and excellent human relations skills.
- Mobility: A personal vehicle for travel between retail locations.

Apply Today!
Help us support the independent retailers that feed our communities.

Work as a Retail Account Manager for Associated Food Stores, Inc at 2705 Airport Rd, Helena, US, MT, 59604

04/06/2026

Associated Food Stores is looking for a Senior Mailroom Specialist to join our team in Salt Lake City! If you’re a pro at keeping things moving, love a fast-paced environment, and have a knack for mentorship, we want to hear from you.

Why you’ll love it here:

- Pay
- Perks
- Benefits

Growth: Real opportunities to advance your career

What you’ll do:
From managing essential mail and payroll distribution to driving our box trucks and training new team members. This role requires meeting strict deadlines and adhering to quality control measures to support the timely shipping of weekly circulars and point-of-sale materials for member retail stores' sign programs

What you’ll need:

- Valid Driver’s License (D.O.T., Forklift, and Pallet Jack certifications required)
- 2+ years of relevant experience
- Strong organizational and math skills

Help us support local grocery retailers across the Intermountain West!

👉 Apply today!

Work as a Senior Mailroom Specialist for Associated Food Stores, Inc at 1850 West 2100 South, Salt Lake City, US, UT, 84119

03/27/2026

Relive Food Show 2026!

Food Show is an annual trade show, business meeting, and family reunion all wrapped up into one. It takes the combined efforts of AFS team members, retailers, and committed partners to pull it off. Watch the video to relive the monumental event.

This is "Food Show 2026" by AFS Communications on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/02/2026

For the second year in a row, Dan Hilgenberg, director of fresh bakery at Associated Food Stores (AFS), has claimed first place at the IFA Cowboy Poetry Roundup—this time with his original poem, Sorrel Mare. A video of his performance, shown below, was shot by ARO team member Blake Edler, who works at Macey’s Provo.

A member-owned cooperative that has supported rural lifestyles for more than a century, IFA celebrates storytellers who embody the spirit of the West. Dan has now firmly established himself among them.

For Dan, cowboy poetry is about capturing the essence of Western life through storytelling.

“It can be serious or humorous, but it’s rooted in rural experiences—riding horses, being in the mountains, or reflecting on memories,” he said.

Winning first place two years in a row—including this year’s honor for Sorrel Mare—has affirmed that commitment to craft. The award includes a $500 gift card and an invitation to perform at the Juab County Cowboy Gathering in April. But for Dan, the deeper reward is knowing his words resonate.

02/11/2026

MaKenzie Wood, a bagger from Fresh Market in Layton, Utah, earned a second-place finish at the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Competition last week, taking home $5,000 and a trophy. Her national success followed a first-place finish at the Utah Food Industry Association’s Best Bagger Competition, where she earned the title of Utah’s Best Bagger and the opportunity to compete at the national level.

The national competition took place at the National Grocers Association’s conference held in February in Las Vegas, Nevada. Baggers from across the country competed and were judged in four areas: speed (10 points), proper bag-building technique (10 points), distribution of weight between bags (5 points), and style, attitude, and appearance (5 points).

After an intense but fun-filled event, Wood, who has worked at Fresh Market for five years, secured second place in the national competition.

“I had a lot of fun representing Fresh Market and Utah in the competition,” said Wood. “It’s a fun environment and I’m always impressed with the other competitors.”

Wood received strong support before and during the event from her family, leaders and team members.

“We are incredibly proud of MaKenzie for earning 2nd place at the NGA Bagger Competition,” shared Candice Fischer, director of customer relationship management for ARO. “She dedicated countless hours to perfecting her technique, and it truly paid off with a $5,000 prize. MaKenzie represented Layton Fresh Market and Associated Food Stores with excellence, and we’re grateful to have her on our team. Thank you to everyone who came out to cheer her on and show their support.”

Baggers are often the last contact guests have in stores and their positive energy, professionalism and great service can leave a lasting impression on guests and be the reason they choose to shop there again.

“The coaching and mentoring our team members receive is phenomenal,” said Greg Welling, vice president of retail operations for Fresh Market. “Our stores provide an atmosphere where team members can be successful at work and develop a pattern of accomplishment for life.”

01/14/2026

Brigham Young University officially celebrated the grand opening of its new BYU Creamery on Ninth East on Monday, January 12. The event highlighted a major milestone for one of campus’s most beloved destinations and a proud partnership with Associated Food Stores that helped bring the vision to life.

The new location, built just west of the original Creamery, is 71 percent larger, allowing for expanded grocery offerings, a larger bakery and produce section, more seating and enhanced dining options. All the improvements were designed to better serve students, employees, alumni and the surrounding community. AFS was honored to collaborate with BYU on a project that blends tradition with modern retail excellence, helping ensure the Creamery continues to thrive as a flagship grocery and gathering place for generations of students.

During the event, university leaders highlighted both the significance of the expansion and the sense of excitement surrounding the opening. BYU President C. Shane Reese captured the spirit of the moment during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, calling the new Creamery “a remarkable gathering place for this campus” and expressing gratitude to everyone involved in making it a reality. Reese also shared that his first job as President of the University was creating a new ice cream flavor—“In-Shane-ly Chocolate”, emphasizing how deeply the Creamery is woven into campus culture. The upgraded store now features expanded indoor seating, a covered outdoor patio with heaters and misters and a walk-up window, ensuring year-round comfort and accessibility.

For AFS, the project reflects the strength of collaborative partnerships and shared values. Working alongside BYU to support the Creamery’s growth shows AFS’s commitment to helping community-focused retailers and institutions succeed through thoughtful planning, operational expertise and long-term support. With the original Creamery now closed and slated for demolition later this year, the new BYU Creamery on Ninth stands ready to carry forward decades of memories—while creating many more—serving an estimated half-million customers annually and continuing its legacy as a campus pillar.

01/09/2026

We’re Hiring a Retail Technology Support Specialist!

Are you a tech-savvy problem solver living in the Eastern Washington or Western Idaho area? Associated Food Stores is looking for a Retail Technology Support Specialist to join our team in Spokane!

What You’ll Do:
Provide expert help desk support for our retail partners.
Troubleshoot and integrate hardware, software, and POS systems.
Assist with on-site installations at local retail locations.
Recommend system upgrades to keep our partners running smoothly.

What’s In It For You?
Competitive salary
Hybrid work schedule.
Career advancement and tuition reimbursement.
Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and 401(k) matching.

Requirements:
Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.
1–3 years of tech support experience.
Strong knowledge of Windows and retail technology.

Ability to travel locally for on-site support.

Ready to grow your career with a company that cares?

Associated Food Stores, Inc.