Fiesta Mart

In 1972, Donald Bonham and O.C. Mendenhall started Fiesta; neither were ethnically Hispanic. Bonham farmed in Belize and Guatemala and supervised the creation of a Chilean supermarket chain. Upon return to Texas, Bonham believed Houston-area businesses did not adequately cater to Mexican Americans, a large proportion of the city's population. He opened the first Fiesta, catering exclusively to Hispanic Americans, in the Near Northside.

By the late 1970s, Fiesta broadened its product range in response to changes in the demographics of Houston, introducing African, Indian, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese items. By the mid-1980s, Fiesta had 15 stores. By 1989, Fiesta had $420 million in annual sales, including $25 million in clothing sales. As the chain developed, its clientele expanded, including second and third-generation Hispanics.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Fiesta operated a very large supermarket—an early version of modern supercenters, such as Walmart Supercenter and SuperTarget. This store targeted the surrounding, more affluent, Houston suburbs. It featured a large, sloped hydroponic garden along the north wall. The floor space was sold off in portions in the 1990s. As of 2011, the location is called the NASA Value Center Shopping Center and has no Fiesta presence.

In 1994, Fiesta acquired four locations sold by Appletree Markets. In 1998, Fiesta made a marketing agreement with Conoco Inc. allowing their gas stations at Fiesta supermarkets. In 1999, Fiesta had a 10.9% share of Houston's grocery market.

In 2003, the Houston Press ranked Fiesta as the "Best Grocery Store" in Houston.

In 2004, Fiesta was acquired by Grocers Supply, a family-owned Houston-based wholesale groceries distributor. On July 23, 2008, Fiesta Mart acquired eleven Carnival Brand stores from Minyard Food Stores. In 2015, the Levit family, owners of Grocers Supply, sold Fiesta to Acon Investments, a company based in Washington, DC. Bodega Latina, and its Mexican parent company Chedraui, acquired Fiesta Mart from Acon in April 2018.

Headquarters and locations

The current headquarters is on Wirt Road, on the property of Store #8 in Spring Branch, Houston. Previously, the headquarters was in the Cottage Grove area of Houston for many years.

The property was sold, and the office was later in the Capital One building on Westheimer Road near the Galleria; it moved there in 2018.

Locations

Greater Austin

Austin (2 locations)