HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It has been a staple in Kansas now for 100 years. Dillons Food Stores announced plans to mark its centennial year with service to Kansas communities.
“The 100th anniversary of Dillons is a monumental milestone,” Steve Dreher, president of Dillon Food Stores, said. “In reflecting back, I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard our customers refer to one of our locations as ‘my Dillons’ and it always brings an overwhelming sense of pride. At Dillons, we’ve been a guest at our customers’ tables all these years and it has been a privilege to be a part of cherished celebrations, holiday gatherings, and everyday family meals with more time at home. We share our appreciation for our customers’ loyalty in allowing Dillons to be a part of our communities with a rich history in Kansas.”
After his initial venture in selling groceries at his general store in Sterling, Kansas, in the early 1900s, John S. Dillon was considered a visionary when he opened the area’s first Cash Food Market in Hutchinson in 1913. Although the store was slow to catch on, the savings offered for paying cash soon attracted enough customers to make it a viable business. By 1915, Dillon opened a second store, placing his son, Ray E. Dillon, in charge of the original store until joining the Army in 1918. J.S. Dillon & Sons Store Co. was opened in 1919 and later incorporated on May 13 1921, a date now celebrated 100 years later. By the end of the 1920s, the company had grown to 15 stores in 10 Kansas communities.
The business steadily grew over several decades until 1957 when Ray Dillon expanded the company with additional stores in the Wichita market. By 1968, Dillon Companies, Inc., began acquiring regional banners across the western and central states, such as King Soopers, City Market, Fry's, and Gerbes, more than 300 convenience stores in five states, and Jackson's Ice Cream dairy. Dillon Companies, Inc., merged with The Kroger Co. in 1983.
Today, more than 12,000 associates are employed at 80 stores, two distribution centers, and one corporate office in the Dillon Stores Division spread across Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. Dillons offers a store format for nearly every kind of shopper with small hometown markets, supermarkets, Marketplace stores, price-impact stores, fuel centers and even online shopping with pickup, delivery, and ship-to-home.
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