E-Z Mart Inc.

Operating under the slogan “Making Life EZR 4 U!”, E-Z Mart’s competitive advantage is that it is constantly striving to enhance the quality of life for E-Z Mart employees; improve facilities, products and customer service levels; and give back to the communities in which they operate by supporting many local, regional and national charities and schools. Led by the charismatic Sonja Hubbard, E-Z Mart operates in what it proudly calls Bubba Country, the rural outposts of the Deep South. That said, the chain strives to meet and exceed the needs of both its consumers and employees.

The Texas-based family-run operation was founded in 1970 by Jim and FaEllen Yates and remains a family business. In addition to Sonja who serves as E-Z Mart’s CEO, other family members in the business include CFO Stacy Yates and Sonja’s husband, Bob Hubbard, who is the company’s president and COO.

FaEllen serves as board chairman, and her presence is found in the company’s coffee program named after her and whose cups sport a female image with the tagline “artfully brewed—Fa approved” notated by her signature lipstick mark of quality assurance.

E-Z Mart continues to upgrade its stores as consumers demand fresher offerings. The company averages 20 remodels annually, and while volumes aren't as high as the industry's top quartile stores, customer loyalty ranks very strong due to the stores’ importance in the communities they serve.

Source: Convenience Digital Resource Library, Technomic