Van Winkle’s IGA sold to Texas grocery family

A business deal between two family-owned grocery store chains will have little or no impact on shoppers in Belen.

Jim Snyder, president of Van Winkle’s Supermarkets, announced on Monday, April 8, that the chain has agreed to be acquired by Lowe’s Pay & Save stores based in Littlefield, Texas.

“The general public will see no difference. There will not be name changes on the Van Winkle stores,” Snyder said in an interview on Friday. “The store employees they have been doing business with will not change.”

The acquisition will create a chain of 55 stores.

The Lowe and the Van Winkle families are old friends, said Snyder.

“In this competitive environment, the family-owned stores are aligning themselves to better compete with the large national chains. Both families have long respected each other and shared similar values in the operation of their stores. The transaction is a natural step for both the Lowes and the Van Winkles,” Snyder said in a press release.

Van Winkle’s operates a total of five stores in Alamogordo, Belen, Las Cruces and Tularosa.

The acquisition by Lowes will be contingent upon government approval, which both parties anticipate.

Current management of the Van Winkle’s stores will remain in place.

“In today’s Wall Street-driven world, the large national grocery chains and suppliers are taking care of one another and aligning for competitive strength,” said Don Van Winkle, chairman of Van Winkle’s. “Our combination will benefit our employees and our customers, as we jointly preserve and enhance those factors that distinguish us in our markets.

“For years, when we had questions or issues and needed honest and experienced input from another retailing family, we called Roger Lowe. He speaks from his heart, is experienced and honest to the core,” Van Winkle said.

“Combining our generations will preserve the culture and values we treasure. The Lowe family has always been a mentor to our family.”

Roger Lowe underscored the comparable cultures and operating philosophies of the two families.

“Maybe it’s because of our long friendship and dialogue, but I feel like I am walking into a Lowe’s store when I walk into Van Winkle’s,” said Lowe. “Van Winkle’s strong heritage, operations and employees will be a tremendous asset for our company.”

Lowe is also the chairman of Affiliated Foods Inc., a 50-year old independent grocer cooperative based in Amarillo, Texas. Affiliated Foods is Van Winkle’s current grocery wholesaler.

Lowe’s Pay & Save, based in Littlefield, Texas, is a family-owned grocer with operations in West Texas and New Mexico.

“Lowe’s owns and operates 53 grocery stores that range in size from smaller than our store in Tularosa, and as large as our Alamogordo store,” said Snyder. “Lowe’s and Van Winkle’s are known for their attention to service and excellent produce and meat.

“The recent decision to change from being an IGA store to simply a Van Winkle’s store was not tied to this transaction. The decision to move away from IGA was associated with a critical supplier issue,” said Snyder. “The stores may be able to retain the IGA banner in the future.

“I never met the founders of Van Winkle’s,” the Van Winkle chain president said. “Al, Fred and Jim Van Winkle were extraordinary grocers with great vision. Don Van Winkle and his sisters remained committed to the family’s vision and retained a family culture in the midst of huge changes in the industry. Under their watch, the company went to a new level of refinement. I am pleased to see this family-to-family hand-off.”

Belen Store Manager Rick Garcia referred questions to Snyder.