Bashas’ Family of Stores will open its ninth grocery store on the Navajo Nation and its second New Mexico location on July 21, reports Supermarket News. The Bashas’ Diné Market in Shiprock will occupy what is currently a Kroger-owned City Market. Bashas’ will hire a majority of the City Market associates who worked at the location.
Through its history serving the Navajo Nation, Bashas’ said it has learned a great deal about creating stores by and for the Navajo people, including what products are on store shelves and the visual elements that emphasize native design, symbols, and decorative art.
“Bashas’ Diné Markets exist and succeed because of our commitment to the Navajo people,” said Johnny Basha, vice president of special projects for Bashas’ Family of Stores. “From the beginning, we’ve considered it a privilege to work side-by-side with the Navajo, to learn about and from them, and to share in a vision for stimulating economic growth. The strength of this partnership rests largely on the value and emphasis we’ve put into developing our cultural proficiency and creating markets that serve the unique needs of shoppers.”
Each Bashas’ Diné Market location gives back 25 percent of its profits to the Navajo Nation. Through this profit-sharing arrangement, in addition to rent and percentage rent, Bashas’ has contributed upwards of $48 million to the Navajo Nation for educational scholarship and economic development.
“We appreciate the Basha family’s commitment to acquire the grocery store in the Shiprock/Tse' Bit' A'i Shopping Center,” said Navajo Nation vice president Myron Lizer. “We welcome this new Bashas’ Diné Market to Shiprock and look forward to seeing the many ways the Navajo Nation will benefit from this partnership.”
Across the Navajo Nation, at least 95 percent of Bashas’ Diné Market employees are Native American. According to its most recent employment figures, Bashas’ currently employs nearly 500 people on the Navajo Nation. Full Story
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Image: Bashas' Family of Stores