Over 125 stores and we continue to grow.

1953

W.C. Jones establishes the Walton Grocery chain in 1953. Originally, it was a small supermarket chain known as Thriftway Grocery, based in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

1962

Jr. Food Stores, the first spin-off of Thriftway Grocery, opens one store in Crestview in 1962. Rapid growth follows as the company moves into beach store locations and into smaller rural communities.

1967

By 1967, roughly 70% of all store locations have gasoline supplied by a variety of third-party sources.

1978

The Company purchases a 16-store C-Store chain in North Alabama and Georgia, bringing the total number of stores to 102.

Construction begins on a new 4,000 sq. ft. office and 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Crestview, Florida.

1979

The Company merges three family-owned businesses (Buy Quik, Walton Grocery and Jr. Food Stores) into what is now known as Tom Thumb Food Stores. Rodney Jones, son of W.C. Jones, is named President of the new company.

The company begins to offer a fast-food program, Crispy Chicken, at a small number of store locations.

1982

Tom Thumb Food Stores experiment with providing unbranded fuel at new locations named TomCo Speedy Marts.

All sixteen Alabama and Georgia sites are sold.

1984

Early in the year, the company buys Graceville Oil, the primary gasoline jobber supplying most stores. Citgo Petroleum becomes the supplier at nearly all Tom Thumb store locations.

Tom Thumb Food Stores, now eighty-six stores, is acquired by Dillon Companies in July.

1985

Tom Thumb purchases a 12-store competitor, Handi-Pak. The company also purchases Koolie, a local supplier of FCB machines and products.

The Thumbs Up mug program is introduced and becomes an instant hit with the fountain drink crowd.

1986

The Crestview office is expanded to include an additional 3,000 sq. ft. of office space and 15,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space.

1987

Rodney Jones retires. Steve Johnson, former Director of Operations, is named President.

1990

Tom Thumb Food Stores is recognized by then Governor Martinez as one of the first retail organizations in Northwest Florida to become a Drug-Free Workplace.

1993

Cigarette sales take off after Sundance, a private Kroger brand, is introduced.

The first Pay at the Pump system is installed.

1995

Disaster strikes Tom Thumb: a tragic car accident in June results in the death of President Steve Johnson, Vice-President Wyatt Fuqua and Dillon Group Vice-President Bob Meyers.

Darel Pfieff (brought in from Loaf'n Jug) is named President. Mark Salisbury is named Vice President, Director of Operations. In August, Hurricane Erin, a category 2 hurricane, makes landfall on the Gulf Coast, narrowly missing all but a few Tom Thumb stores. In October, Opal, a late-season category 5 hurricane, takes aim for Ft. Walton Beach, the center of Tom Thumb's market area. The storm rapidly degrades to a category 3 as it makes landfall, but causes substantial damage along the Gulf Coast.

1996

The first Mission and Vision Statements are created.

1997

Mark Salisbury is named President, and Robbie Cartledge is promoted to Director of Operations.

The company begins to build new stores in Panama City, a new market for Tom Thumb.

2002

Tom Thumb begins selling pre-paid cell phones.

2004

On September 16, Hurricane Ivan, a Category 3 hurricane, makes landfall in Pensacola. Several stores are impacted with severe building and canopy damage. Total loss from the storm is over $9 million.

2005

The Company introduces the corporate image program with Store #146 in Panama City, and all the new canopies and building faces are replaced due to Hurricane Ivan damage.

On July 10, Hurricane Dennis, a category 3 hurricane, makes landfall in Navarre. Several stores are severely impacted with building and canopy damage in the Navarre and Pensacola markets. Total loss due to the storm is over $2 million.

2007

Tom Thumb opens its first Kroger Pharmacy inside store #125 in Pensacola.

Turbo Tom, the corporate mascot, is born!

2008

Scanning begins, starting with Store #13.