Nugget Markets is a family-owned upscale supermarket chain operating within the greater Sacramento metropolitan area as well as in Marin and Sonoma counties in Northern California. It is headquartered in Davis, California. As of August 2022, the company operates 13 of its flagship Nugget Markets-brand stores, as well as Sonoma Market in Sonoma, Fork Lift by Nugget Markets in Cameron Park, and Food 4 Less in Woodland.
History
In 1926, Nugget Markets opened its first store in Woodland, California by the father-and-son team of William and Mack Stille. Mack Stille ran most of the day-to-day operations and introduced many unconventional policies to the store, such as incorporating meat departments, installing refrigerated produce cases, and employing checkout stands equipped with power belts.
In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Mack's son, Gene, and grandson, Eric, the company began its expansion outside the local Woodland community by opening a Nugget Markets store in neighboring Davis. In 1984, Nugget Markets acquired a pair of Sacramento Alpha Beta grocery stores and converted them into Nugget Markets, one in the Greenhaven-Pocket neighborhood, the other in Foothill Farms on Hillsdale Blvd. In the early 1990s, Nugget Markets opened its first Food 4 Less franchise in Vallejo, California. In the late 1990s, Nugget Markets developed their Fresh to Market concept, pairing European-style open-air marketing with higher-end products and specialty departments, such as their Cheese Specialists, Wine Stewards, Pastry Chefs in a full-range Bakery, Full-Service Kitchen, Healthy Living Department, dedicated Seafood butcher and a Juice & Espresso Bar.
In 2006, Nugget Markets leased / bought 8 former Ralphs stores in and around Sacramento.
In 2015, Nugget Markets acquired Paradise Foods with locations in Novato, Corte Madera and Tiburon. Also in 2015, Nugget Markets debuted its new “Fork Lift” market concept which was a hybrid of its Nugget and Food 4 Less brands within the same store.
In 2016, Nugget Markets acquired Sonoma Market and Glen Ellen Village Market, both located in Sonoma County.
In 2019, Nugget Markets patriarch Gene Stille died.
In 2020, Nugget Markets moved its corporate headquarters from Woodland, California to Davis, California.
In 2021, Nugget Markets was ranked #24 on Fortune's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For," its 16th year on the list.
Branding
Unique to Nugget Markets is their architectural feature at the entrance of new stores, which include a tower and/or a robed woman with a basket of food above her head. The robed woman, in particular, became the corporate logo and mascot of the company.
Locations
Active Nugget Markets stores
Downtown Woodland – 157 Main St., Woodland, California
El Macero – 409 Mace Blvd., Davis, California
Lake Crest – 1040 Florin Rd., Sacramento, California
Southport – 2000 Town Center Plaza, West Sacramento, California
Park Plaza – 771 Pleasant Grove Blvd., Roseville, California
Browns Valley – 130 Browns Valley Pkwy., Vacaville, California
Oak Tree – 1414 E. Covell Blvd., Davis, California
El Dorado Hills – 4500 Post St., El Dorado Hills, California
Elk Grove – 7101 Elk Grove Blvd., Elk Grove, California
Blue Oaks – 1509 Blue Oaks Blvd., Roseville, California
Tiburon – 1 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon, California
Corte Madera - 5627 Paradise Drive, Corte Madera, California
Novato - 470 Ignacio Blvd., Novato, California
Active Sonoma Market store
500 West Napa St., Sonoma, California
Active Fork Lift by Nugget Markets store
3333 Coach Ln., Cameron Park, California
Active Food 4 Less store
451 Pioneer Rd., Woodland, California
Defunct stores
Riverside – 6419 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, California
Hillsdale – 5731 Hillsdale Blvd., Sacramento, California
Unfinished stores
Vallejo – Was to have opened in the northeastern section of Vallejo, California. Plans cancelled in November 2006.