V.G.'s Food Center, Inc.

Type: Private
On the web: http://www.vgsfood.com
Employees: 2,000

V.G.'s Food Center operates more than a dozen VG's Food and Pharmacy stores in eastern Michigan. The family-owned grocery chain, run by Russell (chairman) and Lisa Van Gilder (president and CEO), operates traditional supermarket departments including meat and seafood, produce, floral, a deli, and a bakery, as well as pharmacy and photo processing services. In mid-2007 the regional grocery chain acquired three Farmer Jack stores in Michigan from owner A&P, which is exiting the market. Two of the stores are slated to reopen under the VG's banner. The third store is a real estate investment. VG's first store, which opened in 1949, wasn't much more than a renovated fruit stand in Fenton, Michigan.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending December, 2007:
Sales: $216.7M

Officers:
Chairman: Russell Van Gilder
President and CEO: Lisa Van Gilder
SVP Operations: Russell (Rusty) Van Gilder Jr.

Competitors:
Meijer
Spartan Stores
Wal-Mart