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 is committed to “Making Life EZR 4 U!” by aiming to enhance the quality of life of its employees and improve facilities, products and customer service, as well as support many local, regional and national charities.

E-Z Mart 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.

You can find other members of the family in the stores’ products. For the fountain graphics, the founders’ grandchildren served as the models.

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.

Headquarters:Texarkana, Texas
No. of Stores:285
Average Store Size:2,500-4,000 sq. ft.
Rank:33
Rank Last Year:32
States of Operation: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Website:http://www.e-zmart.com
Family Business:Yes