Your in-depth resource for everything about Stater Bros.—from its Great Depression origins and twin founders to its famous full-service meat departments, community commitment, and 89 years of serving Southern California families.
If you’ve lived in Southern California, you know Stater Bros. It’s the grocery chain that feels like home—where the butchers actually cut your meat to order, where prices stay low without a membership card, and where employees greet you like a neighbor. Founded in the depths of the Great Depression by twin brothers with just a $600 down payment, Stater Bros. Markets has grown into the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California, with nearly 170 stores and 18,000 employees dedicated to one simple promise: Fresh. Affordable. Community First.
Stater Bros. at a Glance
Founded
August 17, 1936 by Cleo and Leo Stater in Yucaipa, CA
Headquarters
San Bernardino, California (at former Norton Air Force Base)
Leadership
Pete Van Helden (CEO & Chairman), Greg McNiff (President)
Locations
167-171 stores across 7 Southern California counties
Employees
Annual Revenue
Years Serving SoCal
The Founders’ Story: Cleo, Leo, and a $600 Dream
The Stater family moved from Missouri to California sometime between 1912 and 1915. During the Depression, they settled in the Yucaipa Valley, struggling to keep their small farm. To help the family, twin brother Cleo Stater sacrificed his final year of high school to find work. In the winter of 1931, he walked into a small grocery store on West Yucaipa Blvd. owned by W.A. Davis and was hired at 10¢ an hour to man the cash register, sweep floors, and stock shelves.
Cleo learned every aspect of the business from Davis—inventory, accounting, even meat cutting. After five years of dedication, making $30 a week, Davis offered Cleo the chance to buy the entire operation: the store, inventory, land, truck, a 10-acre apple ranch, and a five-room home—all for $10,000. The catch? A $600 down payment, followed by $300 monthly payments.
Cleo and his twin brother Leo sold their Chevrolets to raise the $600—reasoning that with that much debt, “we were not going anywhere anyway.” But they still needed $300 for the first monthly payment. After exhausting all options, Cleo approached M.D. Holsinger, the wealthiest man in the valley, who owned the lumber company. Holsinger reportedly said, “If Davis is crazy enough to sell you his store for that small price, then I guess I’m crazy enough to loan you the money.”
On August 17, 1936, the first 1,225-square-foot Stater Bros. Market opened for business. The rest is Southern California history.
The Stater Bros. Timeline: 89 Years of Growth
- 1936: Cleo and Leo Stater open first store in Yucaipa, CA
- 1964: Company goes public
- 1968: Founders sell their interests to Petrolane Gas Service
- 1981: Jack H. Brown joins as president, beginning 35 years of transformative leadership
- 1986: Jack Brown acquires control of Stater Bros.; company becomes privately held under La Cadena Investments; also acquires 50% stake in Santee Dairies
- 1999: Acquires 43+ Albertsons and Lucky stores during Albertsons’ merger with American Stores, expanding into Antelope Valley and San Diego County
- 2004: Purchases remaining shares of Santee Dairies from Kroger Co.
- 2006: Enters Fortune 500 for first time (#493); breaks ground on new 2 million sq. ft. headquarters at San Bernardino International Airport (former Norton AFB)
- 2009: Sells Santee Dairies/Heartland Farms division to Dean Foods
- 2016: Pete Van Helden appointed President and CEO; Jack Brown becomes Executive Chairman
- 2016 (November): Jack H. Brown passes away at 78
- 2018: Sells SuperRX pharmacy division to CVS
- 2025: Opens new 46,000 sq. ft. flagship store in Highland, CA
- 2025-2026: Celebrating 89 years of service with ~170 stores across Southern California
Where to Find Stater Bros.: A Southern California Tradition
Stater Bros. operates nearly 170 stores across seven Southern California counties, with the heaviest concentration in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino and Riverside Counties), where the company is the largest private employer.
Riverside County
Los Angeles County
Orange County
San Diego County
Kern County
Ventura County
Note: In Los Angeles and Orange counties, stores are mainly east of the San Gabriel River. Northern areas include Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Pasadena. Kern County has stores in Ridgecrest and Mojave; Ventura County has one in Simi Valley.
“It’s Our Meat That Made Us Famous”
For generations, that unofficial slogan has held true. The full-service meat department is the heart of every Stater Bros. store—and the reason countless customers have remained loyal for decades.
USDA Choice & Certified Angus Beef
Premium steaks and roasts, available custom-cut by professional butchers.
Dry-Aged Beef Selection
Available at select locations, including the new Highland store.
Vacuum-Marinated Meats
Ready-to-cook options pre-marinated for flavor and convenience.
Hispanic Sausages & Specialty Cuts
Catering to diverse Southern California tastes.
Beyond the Meat Counter: Departments & Services
Today’s Stater Bros. stores offer a full-service grocery experience with modern conveniences while maintaining that hometown feel.
Full-Service Bakery
Freshly baked Cleo & Leo cookies (named for the founders), French bread, custom cakes, pastries, and pan dulce.
Hand-Crafted Sushi
100% certified sustainable sushi, handrolls, and more—prepared fresh in-store.
Fresh Cut Produce
Ready-to-eat favorites like watermelon, pineapple, and spicy edamame, hand-cut by the produce team.
Service Deli
Sliced meats and cheeses, prepared foods, and the famous fried chicken.
Floral Department
Fresh flowers, bouquets, roses, and plants for every occasion.
Seafood Department
Free steaming available—just ask and they’ll season and steam your seafood purchase on the spot.
Convenience Services
✓
✓
✓
✓
Store hours: Monday-Sunday 6 AM – 11 PM (hours may vary on holidays).
Private Label: Full Circle Natural & Organic
In July 2006, Stater Bros. introduced the Full Circle line of natural and organic products—responding to customer demand for healthier choices at affordable prices. The line launched with 110 items including cereals, pastas, sauces, peanut butter, preserves, canned vegetables, rice, soymilk, coffee, and teas. By the end of 2007, the company expanded to roughly 200 Full Circle products, adding milk, eggs, yogurt, orange juice, frozen vegetables, and dried fruit.
Jack Brown explained at the time: “We know our customers want to live and eat the way they choose. That is why Stater Bros. is proud to now offer the Full Circle brand of all natural and organic foods to help promote a healthy lifestyle for the entire family.” These products are free from additives and residual chemicals, and cost less than comparable specialty brands found at health food stores.
Community First: Giving Back for Generations
Stater Bros. lives by the motto “not just doing business in the community, but being part of the community.” Since 2008, Stater Bros. Charities has contributed more than $80 million in food and funds to local organizations supporting hunger relief, children’s well-being, education, health, and help for the nation’s Veterans and active service members.
Stater Bros. Charities
The non-profit arm of the company, funding countless local initiatives.
Route 66 Rendezvous
From 1990-2012, Stater Bros. hosted the annual classic car cruise in San Bernardino, a beloved community tradition.
Recent Example (June 2025): For the grand opening of the new Highland store, Stater Bros. Charities donated $30,000 to six local non-profits: Highland District Council on Aging, Inc., Highland Head Start, Citrus Valley High School ASB, Loma Linda University Pediatric Clinic, American Legion Post 421, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Council.
The Jack H. Brown Legacy
No discussion of Stater Bros. is complete without honoring Jack H. Brown, who joined the company in 1981 and led it for 35 years until his passing in 2016. A proud Navy veteran born on Flag Day, Brown transformed Stater Bros. into the largest privately owned supermarket chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Under his leadership, the company grew from 89 stores to over 160, while maintaining its commitment to employees and community.
Today, Pete Van Helden (appointed CEO in 2016 and now also Chairman) carries forward Brown’s vision, supported by President Greg McNiff. The company remains privately held under La Cadena Investments.
Recent Developments: Growth and Innovation
June 2025: Stater Bros. opened a brand-new, ground-up construction store in Highland, CA, at the Greenspot Crossings shopping center. At over 46,000 square feet, this modern flagship location is nearly double the size of the store it replaced and features expanded departments, fresh sushi, fresh-cut fruit stations, dry-aged beef, and even a burrito bar and boba. The grand opening included a $30,000 donation to local non-profits and a ribbon-cutting with the Citrus Valley High School Band.
This new store exemplifies Stater Bros.’ commitment to growing with the communities it serves—providing fresh, affordable groceries in convenient, modern locations.
Slogans That Tell the Story
- Unofficial (early years): “It’s our meat that made us famous”
- Early 1990s: “The Eco-Friendly Leader in the Heartland”
- Later: “The Low-Priced Leader in Your Hometown”
- 2006 era: “Lowering Prices Everyday to Help You Save on What You Pay!”
- Current: “Fresh. Affordable. Community First.”
Stater Bros. by the Numbers
Stores
Employees
Counties
Annual Revenue
Community giving since 2008
Years in business
From a single 1,225-square-foot store in Yucaipa purchased with a $600 down payment, Stater Bros. Markets has grown into an iconic Southern California institution. Through nearly nine decades, the company has remained true to its founders’ values: quality meat, friendly service, fair prices, and deep community roots. Under the leadership of Pete Van Helden and the memory of Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. continues to serve generations of Southern California families with the same promise: Fresh. Affordable. Community First. Whether you’re picking up a custom-cut steak, grabbing fresh sushi, or donating to a local cause at checkout, you’re part of the Stater Bros. family.