Stewarts Shops Stewarts Shops
Stewarts Shops
July 31, 2010  
Stewarts Shops

Stewarts Shops Stewarts Shops Stewarts Shops
      

Stewart's Shops is:

  • An employee and family-owned business
  • 328 convenience shops in Upstate New York and Vermont.
  • In over 30 counties
  • Based in Saratoga Springs, NY
  • Founded in 1945 when the Dake family purchased a dairy and ice cream shop from Donald Stewart of Ballston Spa.
  • "We are closer to you."

 

  • Although our roots are in the dairy business, we've grown into much more than an ice cream shop.
  • Stewart's Shops are open seven days a week providing our customers with the freshest milk and homemade ice cream, piping hot coffee and food to go, and a complete line of convenience groceries and services.
  • We employ approximately 4,000 people in our Shops, Dairy, Ice Cream Plant, Distribution Center and Offices.
  • Stewart's realizes over $1 Billion in annual sales, over $30 million in profits, and contributed nearly $15 Million to our employee profit sharing plan last year.
  • Our company believes in giving back to the communities where we have shops and donates a portion of our annual profits to charity; $2 million in 2008 and a budget of $2,250,000 in 2009.

How We Got Here 

  
     Charles S., Percy W., Charles V., William P.

  • 1921 - Percy W. and Charles V. Dake began making Dake's Delicious ice cream in Greenfield, NY
  • 1938 - Dake Brothers purchased the old city water works building on Excelsior Avenue.
  • 1945 - Charles S. joined the company 
  • 1945 - The Dake family purchased the dairy and ice cream shop from Donald Stewart of Ballston Spa.
  • 1945 - The first Stewart's Shop opened on Route 50 in Ballston Spa.
  • 1950 - The ice cream manufacturing operation is moved from Ballston Spa to the "Big Barn" in Greenfield.
  • 1960 - William P. Dake joined the company.
  • 1972 - Self-service gas began at the Hudson shop.
  • 1984 - Gary C. Dake, son of William P., joined the company.
  • 1994 - The new expanded dairy and warehouse is built in Greenfield.  The  35,000 square foot building makes it possible for us to make and/or distribute what we sell in our shops.
  • 2003 - Gary Dake became President of Stewart's Shops. William P. became Chairman of the Board.
  • 2009 - Stewart's continued to increase it's donations budget to charitable organizations in local communities to $2,250,000.

OUR CULTURE

Letter from the President

We feel Stewart's is a truly unique corporation with many advantages benefiting both our customers and employees. Several of our differences have created a positive culture, allowing us to enjoy double-digit growth for decades. Our strong market presence and financial position, along with prime locations really do make us "Closer to you".

Stewart's stable, family-owned business has transitioned into an even stronger 1/3 employee- owned business. The Dake family feels that their 2/3 is even more valuable because of employee commitment; the profit sharing program promotes greater involvement and interest in pursuing success with over 10% of each employee's annual pay added to their account.

Much of our success comes from the integration of our manufacturing and distribution systems, retail and development operations. That same coordination between departments gives our shops the support they need to provide service and value to our customers.

We are really a lot of little businesses that operate under the premise, "small is nicer". This allows small groups of people (in a shop or department) to interact closely and openly. We try to allow employees the control to grow their careers for personal satisfaction as well as corporate success. While we don't get it right all of the time, we feel we have a better chance managing with "reasons vs. rules".

We are closer to you!


Gary Dake
President
Stewart's Shops


Our friendly atmosphere makes Stewart's a great place to shop or work.

What Makes Us Different:

OWNERSHIP
Stewart's is a privately held company; 1/3 of it is owned by our employees which is critical to our growth and profitability. The Dake family believes in sharing ownership with the people who built the business and feel that their 2/3 ownership is worth more today because of it. Being privately held allows us to make rational, long-term decisions. Stewart's employees enjoy a high level of involvement and long-term security.

STRONG & STABLE
The key to our being a financially strong and stable company is that we enjoy people and believe in sharing information, responsibility and growth with employees. We own our real estate and have no debt which helps us operate from a secure position. We can focus on serving customers and having fun.

SUPPORT
We provide our shops the service and support they need to serve our customers and build our business. Because we produce or distribute most of the products we sell, we have control over quality, pricing, and product availability to give our customers greater value.

SMALL IS NICER
Stewart's may appear to be a large company but we are really 300+ small shops and departments with that small business "feel". The atmosphere is comfortable and friendly for everyone and allows our employees to get to know our customers. We really are "Closer to You" in more than one way.

 

Stewart's Shops | PO Box 435 | Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 © 2002 Stewart's Shops | Privacy Statement
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