The chain got its start with founder Ross Lewis and six associates[1] in late 1993, but officially launched on April 28, 1994, with the opening of its first store in Pasadena, Texas.

[11] In previous years, the company also regularly hosted the Food Town Golf Tournament benefiting Special Olympics Texas, and has taken part in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

[13] In addition, for more than a decade Food Town has joined with vendors to provide Thanksgiving meals to needy families throughout Houston.

With help from lists provided by area churches and school districts, 250 to 300 families receive boxes of shelf-stable dry grocery goods, meat and cheese products for holiday meals.

In 1989, Russia’s soon-to-be-President Boris Yeltsin stopped by a former Randalls in Webster, Texas, (today, Food Town’s El Dorado location) [14] for a firsthand look at an American grocery store.