ABCO Foods

ABCO Markets was a chain of grocery stores in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona for over 15 years. Formed from a spin-off sale by Alpha Beta Company. The Arizona regional management secured private financing to purchase the Arizona stores. Part of the sale agreement included a 5 year term to continue use of the Alpha Beta brand in Arizona. The name "ABCO Markets" came about when the agreement expired . The new name was derived from Alpha Beta's initials. The agreement also included a non-compete clause. American Stores could not reenter Arizona for a specified period of time. This agreement later allowed ABCO a first right of refusal when American Stores elected to sell the Arizona Lucky stores.

Originally started in 1986, the company was under the head of Edward Hill before being sold to the Fleming Companies, Inc in the early 1990s. Under Fleming's leadership, ABCO changed its name to ABCO Foods Desert Market and converted all of its stores to a desert format featuring facades of adobe and a very prominent pink color on its checkstands. When Fleming decided to pull out of the retail category, ABCO was one of the first chains put on the block. The result was the loss of these markets, consisting of 56 stores at the time of its closure. The last ABCO store closed in May 2001. The stores were sold separately to many different companies, including Albertsons, Bashas', Safeway Inc., Southwest Supermarkets, and many independent grocers operating as IGA (supermarkets) stores. Over the past few years, many of these stores have changed hands from their original buyers.