Federal Employees' Distributing Company, known as Fedco, was a membership department store chain that operated in Southern California from 1948 to 1999.

It was founded by 800 U.S. Post Office employees who wanted to leverage their buying power by purchasing goods directly from wholesalers, and eliminate the additional markup of a retail store.

The Board of Directors, headed by Robert Kee, established the first store on Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles.

Over the years, the membership pool was widened to include anyone who had any relationship with the federal or local governments, as well as their employees, children, etc.

The management strove to make Fedco a one-stop shopping destination, similar to a hypermarket concept.

The customer/member was presented with a wide variety of consumer products: camera equipment, office machines, major and minor appliances, garden supplies, clothing, jewelry, liquor and groceries.

To foster smooth operation, romantic interest between employees was discouraged, and married couples were not allowed to hold Fedco jobs concurrently.

[citation needed] Some of the departments around the periphery of the building were not Fedco businesses, but instead were concessions operated by others.

Fedco offered a variety of private label items, including electronics, liquor, watches and some groceries.

In a precursor to the common practice at most membership clubs today, the sealed bags and receipts were checked at the exit.

For most of its lifetime, Fedco was closed on Wednesdays, though some employees would work, re-stocking or taking inventory.

They went on strike against the company in the summer of 1979, seeking higher pay as compared to members of the Retail Clerks Union.

The company lost $14 million caused by damages done to the La Cienega store during the Los Angeles riots of 1992.

[37] The proceeds of the bankruptcy sale were placed in a trust fund intended to charitably serve communities that had hosted Fedco stores.