For Oliver’s Market employees, customers, community, and vendor partners, the benefits of the sale of the company to employees are significant:

• In an era of mergers and acquisitions, employee ownership secures the independence of this local favorite for years to come. Oliver’s founder and president Steve Maass opted to sell to the employees instead of another grocer to not only preserve Oliver’s as an entity, but to reward the employees, many who have worked at Oliver’s over 20 years, for their roles in building the company
• The structure of an ESOP includes annual allocation of company shares to eligible employees at no cost, which provides an additional retirement savings account in addition to the company-matched 401k.
• Oliver’s Market continues to support local companies as much as possible, many of which have worked with Oliver’s since the early years of the company’s 36 year history. As an incubator and supporter of many local producers and vendors, Oliver’s remains locally owned and operated and can remain independent for the foreseeable future.
• Oliver’s Market remains a Social Purpose Corporation, committed to supporting its employees, the local community, and the environment. Oliver’s remains a Green Business and the Oliver’s Community Card program and support of local community groups and events will continue.

Oliver’s founder and president Steve Maass founded Oliver’s Market in 1988 by opening the first store in Cotati. “When I started Oliver’s in 1988 with one store and 13 employees, I never dreamed it would grow and expand the way it has. As I envisioned the future of Oliver’s, it became clear that the only way to preserve our culture, remain independent and local, and reward the employees who contributed to our success was to create an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. I am proud of what we have built and very gratified to know that Oliver’s Market will be a part of Sonoma County for many years to come.”

About Oliver’s Market

Established in 1988, Oliver’s Market is a 100% employee-owned, independent grocer serving Sonoma County, California from four locations in Santa Rosa (2), Cotati and Windsor. Oliver’s Markets strive to offer customers the finest selection of natural, conventional, and specialty products. This mission begins with a commitment to support the community through hundreds of local partners including farmers and producers of food, beverage, and wellness products. Oliver’s carries over 6,000 locally produced products, which account for 29.6% of sales annually. Oliver’s was a founding member of Sonoma County GO LOCAL in 2009 and was the first Sonoma grocer to earn their Green Business Certification from the Sonoma County Green Business Program in 2011.

Locally, Oliver’s has been named “Best Grocery Store” by North Bay Bohemian readers annually since 2000, along with “Best Craft Brew Selection” in 2022 and “Best Cheese Shop” in 2024. In 2015-2019 and 2021-2024 Oliver’s won the “Best Local Produce” category in the Press Democrat’s “Best of Sonoma County” awards program. In 2017-2024 they added “Best Local Grocery Store” and “Best Butcher” to their honors and in 2017-2019 and 2021-2024 they added “Best Deli” to their recognition. Additional “Best of” honors in 2021-2024 included “Best Organic Grocer” and “Best Sandwich”. Oliver’s was named one of the “Best Places to Work in the North Bay” by North Bay Business Journal in 2016-2020 and 2022-2024 and received the “Inclusive Employer Award” from Down Syndrome Association North Bay in 2017. In 2021, Oliver’s earned the North Coast Rotary Ethics in Business Award.

National recognition includes the Specialty Food Association’s “Outstanding Retailers Award” in 2005 and 2013. Additionally, Oliver’s was featured in the December 2016 issue of Progressive Grocer Independent magazine and earned the 2017 Progressive Grocer Outstanding Independent Award in the multi-store category. In 2019, Oliver’s won the Progressive Grocer Outstanding Independent Award for Local Focus (multi-store category) and in 2020 Progressive Grocer honored Oliver’s with another Outstanding Independents Award in the Social Purpose category. In 2021, Oliver’s was recognized for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, named a “Remarkable Independent” by Winsight Grocery Business and an “Outstanding Independent” by Progressive Grocer. Oliver’s Market was chosen as one of Progressive Grocer Magazine’s Outstanding Independents for 2022 and 2024. They earned the Exceptional Independents Award for 2023 and 2024 from Shelby Publishing.

Oliver’s Market became an Employee Owned Company (ESOP) and a Social Purpose Corporation in 2017. Learn more at www.oliversmarket.com.

Contact:   Sara Cummings, Corporate Public & Community Relations, Oliver’s Market | Sara@Oliversmarket.com or (707)304-8176