Houchens Food Group

We want to welcome our newest store to the Houchens Food Group family! HFG recently acquired Ace Hardware in Roaring Spring, PA. We are excited to grow our company and serve the communities where our stores are located. Welcome to the family of employee-owners! #acehardware #houchensfoodgroup #houchenshappenings

Friday night, Houchens Food Group proudly supported the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers as they launched their sports season at TopperFest. Our team was out in full force with representatives from Priceless IGA, Sonic, Slim Chickens, Ace Hardware, and our Shell convenience stores. We greeted Topper fans with prizes, swag, and plenty of hometown pride during this family-friendly event. Today, we continued our support at Welcome Back Western, meeting WKU students and introducing them to our employee-owned company and our family of brands. We handed out t-shirts, stickers, coupons, and more, welcoming students back to campus and into our community. At HFG, we live our mission - Proudly empowering employee-owners, serving customers, and supporting communities, including our newest residents here in Bowling Green. #HFG #ESOP #EmployeeOwnership #WKU #TopperPride #CommunitySupport #CollegeLife #WelcomeBackWestern

We’re delighted to share that HFG’s Misty Bryant, Director of Merchandising Support, has been selected for Leadership Bowling Green Class of 2026. Misty joins other professionals from across local Bowling Green businesses to take part on a 10 month program to gain hands-on experience in healthcare, education, local and state governments, economic development and more. Congratulations Misty!

We were honored to have Doug Haworth from FMS Solutions join us last week at our SMAA event in Jasper, IN, to speak with our store managers. Doug shared his inspiring career journey, beginning in the grocery industry with his family’s meat-packing plant. He has remained dedicated to the grocery business ever since, and his deep understanding of its challenges and opportunities truly resonated with our managers. He left us with several powerful takeaways: Be present, enjoy life, and make a positive impact Always keep learning Never is dangerous to your growth A positive attitude changes everything Thank you, Doug, for your words of encouragement and for supporting our store managers. We deeply value our partnership with FMS Solutions and the positive impact it brings to HFG.

We recently wrapped up our July Store Manager Appreciation Award events in Jasper, IN, honoring our outstanding Indiana and Illinois managers. Our president, Greg Rush, joined us in person to share insights on our mission, rules, and values. Stephen D.Black appeared via video to emphasize how these principles guide us in the people business. We also welcomed Doug Haworth from FMS Solutions, who shared his inspiring journey in the industry. Throughout the event, we recognized and celebrated managers who exemplify excellence in customer service, training, leadership, and more. The evening’s highest honor, Manager of the Year, was awarded to Matt Hinderliter from Mt. Carmel, IL. As we continue these events, we extend our gratitude to everyone who attends and supports our store managers. Your presence strengthens our mission of empowering our employee-owners and celebrating the people who make a difference every day.

Houchens Food Group, Inc. (HFG)is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Shillinglaw as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective Monday, August 4th, 2025. Brian brings over 24 years of leadership experience in grocery retail, specializing in Merchandising, Operations, and Human Resources. Throughout his distinguished career, Brian has held key operational roles at renowned grocery retailers, including Winn-Dixie, Southeastern Grocers (parent company of Winn-Dixie, Harvey’s, and BI-LO Stores), Rouses, Harris Teeter, and Target Corporation. His leadership spans managing store operations, overseeing large multi-state regions, and developing growth strategies for independent grocers. Greg Rush, President of Houchens Food Group, expressed his enthusiasm about Brian's addition to the leadership team: "Brian has a proven track record of building and supporting teams to achieve excellence in profitable operations. His people-first approach to leadership is well-aligned with our HFG culture." For the complete story, click here http://bit.ly/4lpfMBl.

We were honored to welcome Michael La Kier to Madisonville, KY, as part of our regional managers' celebration event. His presence brought energy, wisdom, and a deep appreciation for the grocery industry. Michael shared his personal journey in the industry and delivered a powerful message centered on three key takeaways: Effectively adapt to change Recognize the value of hard work Always be yourself These reminders couldn’t have come at a better time for our store managers. They are constantly navigating industry challenges—from supply chain disruptions and vendor changes to staff turnover and even natural disasters. Through it all, they continue to show resilience and dedication, often taking on many roles to ensure their stores thrive. Michael’s message was a heartfelt reinforcement of the values that drive our store leaders each day. Thank you again, Michael, for joining us and helping celebrate the incredible efforts of our store managers. Your support means a great deal to the entire Houchens team.

On Friday, August 1st, Houchens Food Group proudly celebrated the Grand Opening of the new Price Less IGA in Decatur, AL! It was an exciting day as we welcomed the community to their brand-new cost-plus grocery store. The energy was contagious with over 100 enthusiastic customers lined up bright and early, eager to receive a free bag of groceries. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was truly memorable, featuring an inspiring performance of our National Anthem by the talented Austin High School Band, alongside members of the Decatur, AL Chamber of Commerce. Truly living our mission, we were honored to present a donation to the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama, highlighting our commitment and support of the vibrant Decatur community. A heartfelt thank you to our outstanding vendor partners, dedicated community members, and all our incredible HFG employee-owners for their hard work and passion in bringing this fantastic store to life. Welcome to your new Price Less IGA, Decatur!

Last week, Houchens Food Group had the pleasure of hosting our second Kentucky and Tennessee SMAA events in Madisonville, KY. These gatherings are always a special opportunity to come together as a team, but this year, they hold even greater significance as we continue to dive deeper into our new mission statement, core values, and the 5 Rules that are shaping the future of HFG. We were honored to welcome Michael La Kier from IGA, INC., who shared his journey in the grocery industry with our store managers. His message was a powerful reminder of the resilience required in our business and provided words of encouragement for our leaders to carry with them when the challenges of retail grow tough. His insights resonated deeply with our teams, reinforcing the importance of leadership presence and staying grounded in purpose. A hallmark of every SMAA event is the opportunity to recognize and celebrate excellence across our stores. We were proud to present awards to several outstanding managers whose dedication to training, customer service, leadership, and merchandising is making a tangible impact in their stores and communities. And a special congratulations goes to John Pendley, who was named our Regional Store Manager of the Year, the day's top honor. John's leadership, commitment to his team, and focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience exemplify the very best of what HFG stands for. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended for their participation and support. These events affirm our commitment to empowering our people, serving our customers, and strengthening our communities. Thank you to our store managers for the passion and pride you bring to your roles every day. You are the heart of HFG.

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Anna Mancini from Associated Wholesale Grocers for joining us last week at our Clarksville, TN SMAA event to speak with our store managers. Anna and her team collaborate closely with many of our store managers, and we’re always grateful for her willingness to show up, speak, and support our events with such enthusiasm. During her talk, Anna shared powerful insights on the grocery store's role in the heart of the community and reminded us of several key principles that continue to inspire strong, people-centered leadership: Lead by example Give people ownership Be the calm in the chaos Celebrate the small wins Never underestimate your influence Anna, thank you for your continued support of our store managers and for helping us recognize and celebrate the meaningful work they do every day.