Smart & Final

Smart & Final’s original parent company was founded in 1912 and originally called Santa Ana Grocery Company as a supply store for grain and feed in the California area. The company was purchased two years later by J.S. Smart and H.D. Final, who renamed the company after themselves, Smart & Final. It is believed to be the first supermarket to introduce “cash and carry” in the 1920’s which is the system where customers retrieve their own goods before paying rather than relying on the clerk.

In 1953, Smart & Final merged with California grocer Haas, Baruch & Co., which was almost 100 years old at that point. It was then acquired by Thriftimart in 1984 and filed for its IPO in 1991.

Known for introducing “cash and carry,” Smart & Final acquired United Groccers Cash & Carry in 1998 and later Henry’s Farmers Markets in 2007. That same year, smart & Final was acquired by Apollo Global Management which sold the company in 2012 to Ares Management before Smart & Final became a publicly traded company.

In 2019, Apollo Management once again purchased smart & Final for $1.1 billion. In May 2021, Mexican operator Chedraui announced intent to acquire Smart & Final.

Key Data: Smart & Final

Headquarters: Commerce, Calif.

U.S. Retail Banners: Homeland, United Supermarkets, Cash Saver and Price Chopper

2020 Sales: $10.6 billion

2020 Store Locations: 6

Annual Growth (Top 50)

CEO: David G. Hirz