Farid Shalabi

After five years in the inner-city Chicago grocery business, Farid Shalabi and his family purchased a supermarket in southern California in 1979. Over the next 32 years, he expanded the company, known as R-Ranch Markets, Inc., to more than 16 supermarket locations. Mr. Shalabi has provided employment for over 2000 employees at his stores.

Mr. Shalabi focused on inner-city communities when growing R-Ranch Markets into a multi-location business. His expansion into these areas replaced properties destroyed in the Los Angeles riots, as well as stores that remained intact but had closed their doors. By opening in these areas, Farid Shalabi provided under-served residents of South Central Los Angeles and Orange and San Bernardino Counties with convenient places to shop and obtain jobs to support their families.

Because Farid Shalabi understands the importance of taking care of his employees, he offers them a wide range of benefits. In addition to medical and dental benefits, R-Ranch associates can participate in the company?s 401(k) retirement plan. Mr. Shalabi also encourages employee loyalty by promoting current employees to his management team, rather than hiring management from outside the company.

Mr. Shalabi has been a member of a number of professional organizations, including the National Grocers Association, the Food Marketing Institute, the Nursery Growers Association of California, and the Mexican-American Grocers Association. He previously served as the President of Modern Independent Grocers. Active in charitable causes, Farid Shalabi also donates his time and efforts to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the Jerusalem Fund, and the Palestinian Children's Fund.