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Ralphs
usinfo | 2013-08-09 14:58
A Ralphs Marketplace in Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California
A typical Ralphs in Torrance, CA
Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 by George Albert Ralphs. The original store was located at Sixth and Spring Streets inLos Angeles, California. In the 20th century, Ralphs became a grocery pioneer, offering self-service markets with checkout stands in distributed locations. The company employed notable architects in designing its stores, and the former Ralphs Grocery Store buildingbuilt in 1929 in Westwood Village has been photographed by AnselAdams, declared a Historic Cultural Monument and listed in theNational Register of Historic Places. In the 1980s, it created a chain of hybrid supermarket/warehouse stores called The Giant, which failed, but the concept returned with the company's merger with the Food 4 Less discount chain. In 1994, Ralphs was acquired by theYucaipa Companies for $1.5 billion. Yucaipa owned ABC Markets, Alpha Beta, Boys Markets, and Cala Foods. Soon, all ABC Markets, Alpha Betas and Boys Markets were rebranded as Ralphs. At the same time, Food 4 Less was merged with Ralphs. In 1997, Yucaipa sold the Ralphs Grocery Company to Fred Meyer, Inc., owner of several chains in the west. Soon, Ralphs Marketplace stores started opening; these stores are based on the Fred Meyer model but without apparel. In October 1998, the parent company, Fred Meyer, merged with The Kroger Company of Cincinnati, Ohio.
In 1999, Ralphs purchased about 30 Albertsons and Lucky stores, mostly in northern California. The stores were divested as a result of the Albertsons and American Stores merger. Ralphs operated the stores until January 2006, when they announced that all but one Ralphs in northern California would close. In August 2006, the one remaining Ralphs in northern California was given a 60 day notice of closure. Also in August 2006, Ralphs finalized plans to sell 11 (of 13 remaining) Cala-Bell Stores to Harley DeLano, who previously ran the chain. Ralphs' expansion into northern California did not work out as previously thought.
On July 20, 2007, Ralphs opened a new 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) store on 9th and Hope St in the South Park neighborhood ofDowntown Los Angeles. This was the first full-run supermarket in Downtown in 50 years. In 1950, Ralphs had closed a store at 7th Street and Figueroa.
Today, Ralphs competes with Albertsons, NorthGate Market, Vons, and Stater Bros. The current slogan is "Great food. Real Low Prices!". Ralphs is the current market leader in Southern California.
2003–2004 strike
Ralphs Grocery Company has contracts with the United Food and Commercial Workers, the largest grocery union in the United States. In late 2003 and early 2004, Ralphs locked out its workers who were members of the UFCW in sympathy with competitor Vons (owned by Safeway Inc.) in Southern California, after the UFCW had declared a strike against Vons. The issues in contract negotiations included healthcare benefits and wage structure, which the supermarkets contended were necessary to reduce their costs and make themselves competitive with discount chains such as Walmart. In March 2004, the strike ended with a settlement regarded as a victory for the grocery chains: new hires would be on a much lower pay scale than existing workers and receive far less generous health benefits.
On October 16, 2006, Ralphs agreed to pay $70 million to settle felony charges that it illegally rehired locked out employees using false names and social security numbers during the strike. Fifty million dollars of the settlement was to be paid to eligible UFCW members, with the remainder being paid in fines to the federal government.[2]
In popular culture
The photorealist painter Robert Cottingham depicted a Ralphs supermarket in his 1968 painting Ralph's II, currently on display in the Milwaukee Museum of Art.
In the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, the character Jeff Lebowski's only form of identification is a Ralphs Club card. The film begins with Jeff Lebowski buying cream at a Ralphs in Venice, CA.
In the 1992 film Forever Young Mel Gibson's character emerges from 50 year cryogenic sleep and attempts to returns to his house and finds a Ralph's supermarket in the house's former location. He makes a phone call on a pay phone in front of the store and mentions that his house is no longer there and some guy name Ralph (referring the store sign in the background) lives there.
The supermarket is featured in a scene in the 1973 film Messiah of Evil, first in an establishment shot from the parking lot, followed by a crucial scene from within.
The supermarket is also featured in a scene in the 1976 Walt Disney comedy film Gus, with Tom Bosley as Spinner and Tim Conway as his cohort in crime, Crankcase.
In the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Pangs" (season 4, episode 8), Buffy Summers says " It was more like a riot than a Ralph's. I thought I was going to have to use Slayer moves on this one woman who was completely hoarding the pumpkin pie filling." [1]
Drug Information
Your Ralphs Pharmacy is an excellent resource for learning about the medications you and your family are currently taking. Often, your Ralphs Pharmacist can recommend less-expensive, generic versions of your medications to save you money. They will also keep an eye on your medication list to protect you from negative drug interactions or unwanted side effects. And when you have an expired medication or one you no longer need, you can bring it to your Ralphs Pharmacist for safe disposal, helping you prevent health risks and prescription drug abuse, especially among teens. Your Ralphs Pharmacist can even fill prescriptions for your furry friends, because we know your pet is part of the family too!
Wellness Services
Ralphs Pharmacists are more than just your medication experts. To serve your overall health needs better, Ralphs Pharmacists now provide health and wellness services such as health screenings, expanded vaccine administration and personal health coaches to help you meet your individual wellness goals.
These new services are provided by a specialty-trained Pharmacist and carefully designed to meet your needs. Whether it's managing your diabetes more completely, identifying ways to optimize your medication therapy, assisting with your desire to quit smoking or supplying vaccinations before traveling abroad, your Ralphs Pharmacist can help.
Below, you will find samples and descriptions of some of the Wellness Services your Kroger Family of Pharmacies provides. And as always, you can see your Ralphs Pharmacist for more details.
Cholesterol Screening:
Includes total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL. Cholesterol Screenings are recommended every 5 years for everyone over the age of 20.
Blood Pressure Screening and Monitoring:
Recommended at least every 2 years for adults and more often for those at higher risk for heart disease.
Diabetes Screening and Monitoring:
Recommended for everyone over age 45 or for those patients under age 45 with risk factors for diabetes. A diabetes screening is recommended every 3 years. A1c testing is recommended at least twice a year for patients diagnosed with diabetes and quarterly for patients not at their optimal goal or those who have had a change in their therapy.
Body Fat Analysis:
Available for health-conscious individuals, athletes, or anyone interested in losing weight or monitoring their weight loss.
Medication Therapy Management
This face-to-face consultation service includes a comprehensive medication review to identify, prevent and resolve drug therapy problems. It includes discussions on all of your prescriptions, over-the-counter and herbal medications. During your session, your Pharmacist can identify ways to optimize your medication, as well as any potential cost-savings opportunities.
Smoking Cessation
This program is designed to help you effectively quit smoking through a series of visits and follow-up phone calls with a trained Pharmacist over a three-month time period. You will also receive guidance selecting nicotine replacement products at Ralphs, which are proven to be beneficial in smoking cessation.
Fitness, Nutrition and Weight-Loss Program
Looking to safely lose weight or maintain your weight loss? Your Ralphs Pharmacist can help. Weight loss is a proven method to help lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, and it can be achieved through diet and exercise changes - without resorting to medications.
Diabetes Education
Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is a program designed for patients with diabetes and their families that follows the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) recommended National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education. The goal of the DSME program is to provide quality education, training and tools to patients with diabetes. This enables you to understand and contribute to the management of your own health. DSME addresses the following topics: "Diabetes Basics," "Basic Nutrition," "Advanced Nutrition," and "Physical Activity and Controlling Complications." The education program is available to any patient with diabetes, but it is most likely to benefit those whose condition is newly diagnosed, poorly controlled, or for patients changing therapy modalities.
Our Pharmacists are professionally trained to administer vaccinations. Let us protect your health!
Vaccinations Available at Your Ralphs Pharmacy*:
• Hepatitis A Vaccine
• Hepatitis B Vaccine
• Hepatitis A and B Combo Vaccine
• Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine
• Influenza Vaccine and Intranasal Application
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella
• Meningococcal Vaccine
• Pneumococcal Vaccine
• Shingles (Zoster) Vaccine Live-Varicella Zoster Virus
• Tetanus-Diphtheria Vaccine (Td Boosters)
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap Vaccine)
• Vitamin B12 Injection may be available upon request
*Certain states have patient age requirements and additional limitations. See your Pharmacist for details.
Find a pharmacy near you.
Travel Vaccinations*
Our Pharmacies are equipped to administer many of the travel vaccines needed for overseas travel. Our Pharmacists use specialized travel vaccination databases to help make sure you and your family are prepared for your trip.
Common Vaccinations Needed When Traveling Abroad**:
• Influenza
• Pneumonia
• Meningitis
• Yellow Fever oJapanese Encephalitis
• Typhoid
• Rabies
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella
• Chicken Pox
*Pending Travel Clinic certification. Not all vaccines available in every Ralphs Pharmacy.
**Please be aware that vaccination requirements are subject to change. See your Ralphs Pharmacist or visit www.cdc.gov for the latest recommendations
Flu Shots
Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious complications, hospitalization or even death. Anyone can get the flu, and vaccination is the single-best way to protect against influenza. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu and spread it to family and friends.
Flu Shot FAQs
Why do I need to get a flu vaccination?
There are two common reasons for getting a yearly flu vaccination:
• Flu viruses are constantly changing, and vaccines are updated from one season to the next to protect against the most recent and commonly circulating viruses
• Your immune system's protection from a vaccination declines over time, and annual vaccination is needed for optimal protection
Who SHOULD get a flu vaccine?
Everyone is at risk for seasonal influenza. Health experts now recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against influenza. While everyone should get a flu vaccination each flu season, it's especially important that certain groups get vaccinated. These groups are either at high risk of having serious flu-related complications, or they live with or care for people at high risk of developing flu-related complications:
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 5 years of age - especially children younger than 2 years of age
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk of complications from flu, including: health care workers, household contacts of persons at high risk of complications from the flu, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
Who should NOT get a flu vaccination?
• Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children younger than 6 months of age, so they should not be vaccinated. Instead, their caregivers should be vaccinated
• People who are sick with fever should wait until their symptoms pass to get vaccinated
What kinds of flu vaccines are available?
There are two types of flu vaccine available:
• The “flu shot” is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months of age, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions. There are three different flu shots available:
o A regular flu shot approved for people ages 6 months and older
o A high-dose flu shot approved for people 65 years of age and older
o An intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that are given as a nasal spray (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant
What are the benefits of getting a flu vaccination?
• Protection for yourself
• Protection for newborns and infants who are too young to get vaccinated
• Protection for people at high risk of complications from flu
Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-related deaths in the United States ranged from a low of 3,000 people to a high of about 49,000 people. Each year, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from the flu, including an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 years of age.
What are the side effects of the flu vaccine?
Flu shots are safe and cannot give you the flu, because they are made from killed or very weakened virus. However, there may be some mild side effects from the two different types of vaccines (shot and nasal spray). The most common side effects from the flu shot are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot is given. Side effects from the nasal spray vaccine include runny nose, cough or nasal congestion.
It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu. A flu vaccination reduces your risk of illness, hospitalization or even death and can prevent you from spreading the virus to your loved ones. Protect your family from the flu - get vaccinated.
Talk to your Pharmacist for more information about the flu and flu vaccination.
