Bashas'
A family-owned-origin supermarket group rooted in Arizona, operating conventional, Hispanic-oriented, Indigenous-community, and gourmet grocery formats.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Bashas' is an American supermarket company headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. Its business developed from a family retailing tradition established by Lebanese immigrants Najeeb and Najeeby Basha and their sons, Ike Basha and Eddie Basha Sr. The first store to carry the Bashas' name opened in Goodyear, Arizona, in 1932 as a company store serving employees of J. G. Boswell. Over time, the business expanded from traditional neighborhood supermarkets into a multi-format grocery group serving different customer segments across the Southwest. The company's principal banners include Bashas' supermarkets, Bashas' Diné Markets, AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City. Standard Bashas' stores focus on conventional grocery shopping, including packaged foods, produce, meat, bakery, deli, and household goods. Bashas' Diné Markets operate on the Navajo Nation and adapt their assortments and presentation to local community needs, including products associated with Navajo cooking and household traditions. AJ's Fine Foods serves a gourmet and specialty-food positioning, with chef-prepared meals, premium bakery products, wine, and other upscale offerings. Food City emphasizes Hispanic and broader ethnic grocery shopping, reflecting Arizona's large Latino customer base and competing with other ethnic and value-oriented supermarket formats. Bashas' expanded through acquisitions and conversions. It acquired Food City in 1993 and Megafoods stores in Arizona in 1996. Food City later absorbed Southwest Supermarkets locations in 2001, while other acquired or legacy stores were converted into the Food City format. The company also developed or retained AJ's Fine Foods locations connected with the Bayless Markets business. At its height, the family of stores had more than 130 locations, primarily in Arizona, with additional stores in Crownpoint and Shiprock, New Mexico. A Needles, California, location closed in 2014. The company faced substantial financial and labor pressure during the late 2000s. In July 2009, Bashas' sought protection under Chapter 11, citing the weak economy, heightened competition, and an ongoing dispute with the United Food and Commercial Workers union. Its restructuring plan included the closure of ten underperforming Bashas' and Food City stores. Bashas' emerged from bankruptcy in late 2010, with the plan providing for creditors to be paid in full. The labor dispute also produced an adverse administrative and labor-board finding concerning the company's withdrawal of recognition from the UFCW at inherited unionized stores. Leadership remained closely connected to the Basha family. After Eddie Basha Sr.'s death, his son Eddie Basha Jr. led the company until his death in 2013. Eddie Basha III subsequently became president, chief executive officer, and chairman in 2014. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bashas' faced supply and scale disadvantages relative to national supermarket chains. The company ultimately chose a combination with Raley's Supermarkets. Completed on December 15, 2021, the transaction placed Bashas', AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City within Raley's Family of Fine Stores while preserving the banners, the Chandler corporate office, and local operating continuity. Raley's stated that it would reinvest in Arizona stores, technology, market expansion, and employee compensation. Bashas' therefore remains an active regional grocery operation under Raley's ownership rather than an independent family-owned company.
History
The Basha family's retail story began with Najeeb Basha, who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1886. Najeeb and his wife, Najeeby, moved to Arizona in 1910 and attempted retail businesses in mining communities including Ray and Sonora. Their early efforts encountered repeated difficulties, but the family continued in commerce and eventually established a durable grocery business. In 1932, Najeeb and Najeeby's sons Ike Basha and Eddie Basha Sr. opened the first store officially using the Bashas' name in Goodyear. It operated as a company store for J. G. Boswell employees, who used company scrip to purchase groceries. This modest beginning developed into a broader Arizona supermarket network. The company later expanded both organically and through acquisitions, creating multiple banners aimed at different shopping missions. Bashas' acquired Food City in 1993 and Megafoods stores in Arizona in 1996. Food City became an important ethnic and value-oriented format, and in 2001 it acquired Southwest Supermarkets locations. Bashas' also expanded the AJ's Fine Foods banner, associated with the remaining Bayless Markets locations and positioned around gourmet food, prepared meals, premium bakery products, and wine. By the early twenty-first century, the company had more than doubled in size and operated more than 130 stores under its various names. The company encountered serious pressure during the economic downturn of the late 2000s. Bashas' cited the weak economy, intense competition, and its continuing legal conflict with the United Food and Commercial Workers union when it filed for Chapter 11 protection on July 12, 2009. The restructuring plan called for ten underperforming Bashas' and Food City stores to close. Bashas' emerged from bankruptcy in late 2010, and the approved plan provided for creditors to be paid in full. Labor relations remained a significant part of the company's history. Most Bashas' stores were non-union, while nine stores inherited through earlier acquisitions retained UFCW representation. In 2007, an administrative law judge and an NLRB ruling found that Bashas' had violated federal labor law by withdrawing recognition from the UFCW at the inherited stores. The dispute contributed to the broader operating pressures surrounding the 2009 bankruptcy filing. Family leadership continued through successive generations. Eddie Basha Jr. took over leadership after the death of Eddie Basha Sr. Eddie Jr. died in March 2013, and in March 2014 Eddie Basha III was named president, CEO, and chairman. Darl Andersen moved from president and CEO to executive adviser, while the company also announced changes involving operations, procurement, marketing, and chief operating responsibilities. Bashas' stores served Arizona communities through conventional Bashas' supermarkets, Navajo-focused Bashas' Diné Markets, gourmet AJ's Fine Foods stores, and Hispanic-oriented Food City locations. The company operated a large Chandler distribution center with temperature-controlled perishables facilities, ripening rooms, freezer capacity, and a mechanics operation. It also introduced digital fulfillment through a 2017 Instacart partnership. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the disadvantages faced by a regional chain competing with national retailers that had greater purchasing power and more reliable access to products. Bashas' evaluated whether to buy, merge, or sell, and ultimately combined with California-based Raley's Supermarkets on December 15, 2021. The transaction placed the Bashas' family of banners under Raley's ownership while keeping the brands and Chandler corporate presence in place. Raley's announced plans to reinvest in Arizona stores, technology, market expansion, and employee wages. Bashas' consequently continues as an operating regional grocery group within the Raley's organization.
- 2021
Combination with Raley's
[1]Bashas' became part of Raley's Family of Fine Stores, while its banners and Chandler corporate office remained in operation.
- 2017
Instacart partnership
[1]Bashas' partnered with Instacart to expand digital grocery ordering and delivery capabilities.
- 2014
Eddie Basha III becomes chief executive
[1]Eddie Basha III was named president, CEO, and chairman, with additional senior-management changes announced.
- 2013
Eddie Basha Jr. dies
[1]Leadership passed to the next generation after the death of Eddie Basha Jr.
- 2010
Bankruptcy exit
[1]The company emerged from Chapter 11 under a plan that provided for full payment of creditors.
- 2009
Chapter 11 filing
[1]Bashas' sought bankruptcy protection and proposed closing ten underperforming stores.
- 2007
Labor ruling favors UFCW position
[1]An administrative law judge and an NLRB ruling found that Bashas' had unlawfully withdrawn recognition from the UFCW at inherited unionized stores.
- 2001
Food City acquires Southwest Supermarkets
[1]Food City acquired Southwest Supermarkets locations, supporting the growth of Bashas' ethnic grocery format.
- 1996
Megafoods stores acquired
[1]Bashas' expanded its Arizona presence through the acquisition of Megafoods stores.
- 1993
Food City acquired
[1]Bashas' acquired Food City, establishing a major Hispanic- and ethnic-oriented banner within its store portfolio.
Products and positioning
Regional, community-oriented supermarket group with differentiated conventional, Indigenous-community, Hispanic-oriented, value, and gourmet formats.
Conventional supermarket · 1932
Bashas' Supermarkets
The core Bashas' format provides full-service neighborhood grocery shopping, with staple foods, fresh produce, meat, bakery, deli, dairy, frozen products, beverages, and household merchandise. The banner emphasizes regional familiarity, service, and everyday grocery needs rather than a narrowly specialized assortment.
Indigenous-community supermarket
Bashas' Diné Markets
Bashas' Diné Markets operate on the Navajo Nation and tailor their ranges and presentation to Navajo communities. Stores offer mainstream grocery products alongside items relevant to local food traditions, including flour used for fry bread, mutton, and wool-related goods. Locations use both Navajo and English labeling.
Gourmet and specialty supermarket
AJ's Fine Foods
AJ's Fine Foods is the group's upscale specialty format. Its stores feature chef-prepared entrees, premium and specialty groceries, an extensive wine selection supported by trained cellar staff, and distinctive baked goods. The banner is positioned around culinary discovery and higher-end service rather than routine value shopping.
Hispanic and value supermarket · 1993
Food City
Food City focuses on Hispanic and broader ethnic grocery demand, with a wide selection of Latin American foods alongside conventional supermarket products. Bashas' acquired the original Food City business in 1993 and later expanded the banner through store conversions and the 2001 acquisition of Southwest Supermarkets locations.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- Where You've Got a Friend
Arizona · New Mexico
A Bashas' slogan that expressed the chain's neighborhood-service and relationship-oriented positioning.
- From Our Family to Yours Since 1932
United States Southwest
A heritage-oriented message connecting the supermarket group with its family ownership and Arizona history.
- Experience the Difference
Arizona
AJ's Fine Foods used this message to support its premium, specialty-food positioning.
Brand decisions
2021
Combine with Raley's SupermarketsM&ABackground
During the pandemic, Bashas' faced product-access and scale challenges against larger national grocery chains and evaluated strategic alternatives.
Action taken
Bashas' merged with California-based Raley's Supermarkets, bringing Bashas', AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City into Raley's Family of Fine Stores.
Aftermath
The banners and Chandler corporate office remained in place. Raley's committed to reinvestment in Arizona stores, technology, market expansion, and employee wages.
2017
Add Instacart grocery deliveryStrategyBackground
Consumer grocery shopping was increasingly shifting toward online ordering and delivery.
Action taken
Bashas' partnered with Instacart to provide digital ordering and delivery services.
2009
Seek Chapter 11 protection and close underperforming storesOtherBackground
Bashas' said that economic weakness, stronger competition, and its continuing UFCW legal dispute had created significant operating pressure.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 protection and proposed closing ten underperforming Bashas' and Food City stores.
Aftermath
Bashas' exited bankruptcy in late 2010 under a plan that provided for creditors to be paid in full.
Recent events
- 2021
Raley's completes combination with Bashas'[1]
M&A
Raley's Supermarkets acquired Bashas' and brought the Bashas', AJ's Fine Foods, and Food City banners into its family of stores while retaining the Chandler headquarters and local brand operations.
- 2017
Bashas' partners with Instacart[1]
Other
Bashas' partnered with Instacart to support online grocery ordering and delivery services.
- 2010
Bashas' emerges from bankruptcy restructuring[1]
Bankruptcy
The supermarket company completed its Chapter 11 process under a plan that provided for creditors to be paid in full.
- 2009
Bashas' files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy · Lawsuit
Bashas' entered Chapter 11 protection amid economic weakness, stronger competition, and an ongoing dispute with the UFCW. The company proposed closing ten underperforming stores.
Sources6 sources
- 1Bashas'en.wikipedia.org
- 2Bashas' official websitebashas.com
- 3Bashas launches annual donut contest, winners get $500 in prizeskold.com
- 4Bashas’ partners with East Coast startup to get more Arizona products on shelvesabc15.com
- 5California grocer acquires Arizona's Bashas' supermarketsknau.org
- 6California grocer's deal to acquire Bashasâ supermarket chain finalizedfox10phoenix.com
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