Kentucky Ag Connection - Houchens Stores Expand Kentucky Proud Partnership

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Houchens Stores Expand Kentucky Proud Partnership
Kentucky Ag Connection - 10/20/2016

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles joined officials of Houchens Industries to announce the launch of dozens of Kentucky Proud products in Houchens-owned grocery stores in Kentucky.

"The Kentucky Proud program has a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Houchens Industries," Commissioner Quarles said during the announcement event at the Price Less IGA in Bowling Green. "This expansion of our partnership will enable Houchens customers to find the Kentucky Proud products they want while helping Kentucky farmers and small businesses make a living. We appreciate Houchens' commitment to carrying local products for its customers."

"We are very excited to include Kentucky Proud products as part of our everyday assortment," said Spencer Coates, president of Houchens Industries. "As a company founded and headquartered in Kentucky, Houchens' partnership with Kentucky Proud is a perfect fit. It allows our shoppers to get top-quality, locally sourced items, which, in turn, helps Kentucky Proud farmers and small businesses prosper. We look forward to expanding Kentucky Proud to all our Kentucky locations in the near future."

Kentucky Proud producers who sampled their products at Wednesday's event included Ranger Bees Honey of Calhoun; Catrina's Kitchen, Bourbon Barrel Foods and Mr. G's Kettle Corn of Louisville; and KHI Foods of Burlington.

The initial launch will encompass three IGA stores in Owensboro, three Houchens IGA stores in Glasgow, Crossroads IGA in Louisville, and the Price Less store in Bowling Green. Houchens plans to expand the Kentucky Proud initiative to a total of 42 Houchens, IGA, Price Less Foods, and Price Less IGA stores in Kentucky. The items were collected and distributed by Louisville distributor Fishmarket Seafood.

Established in 1917, Houchens Industries operates more than 400 retail grocery, limited assortment, convenience, and hybrid grocery and convenience stores in 17 states. With interests in various other businesses, Houchens employs approximately 17,000 people corporate-wide, making it one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States.

Kentucky Proud is the Commonwealth's official farm marketing program. More than 5,700 farmers, processors, retailers, restaurants, school systems, colleges and universities, farmers' markets, Kentucky state parks, and Kentucky Farm Bureau roadside markets are members of Kentucky Proud. For more information about Kentucky Proud, go to kyproud.com.

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