Serving Independent Grocers Since 1940
Our Purpose
In 1940 the grocery industry was a rough place for independent retailers. Strong competition from national chains, increased prices from wholesalers and low margins left many families and independently-owned businesses with boarded windows. Determined to succeed against the competition, 34 independent retailers and Donald P. Lloyd, the then president of the Utah Grocers Association, joined together to combine their buying power and open a warehouse, leading to the birth of AFS.
OUr HISTORY
The Story of AFS
Since 1940 we have grown from 34 retailers in Utah to nearly 450 independent grocers across Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon.
Recent News
AFS Powers Feed Utah 2026 to Fight Hunger
The 2026 Feed Utah Food Drive was held in March and brought communities across Utah together to fight hunger. Food insecurity affects one in five Utah children and 445,000 people across the state. Associated Food Stores (AFS) and its Associated Retail Operations (ARO) played a pivotal role in…
Red Button’s Summer Sherbet Lineup Is Here to Keep You Cool
Summer is calling, and Red Button Vintage Creamery is answering — with a refreshing trio of limited-edition sherbets that are as vibrant and refreshing as the season itself. As temperatures…
Kent’s Fills Cars With Hope for More Than 400 Military Families
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…
Bakery Director Wins Back-to-Back at IFA Cowboy Poetry Roundup
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…
