Page 22 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Preface

the cultures and people that differentiate them from
other organizations.

United Supermarkets is a company not widely
known, but its story—the story I tell as the person for-
tunate enough to serve as its CEO—is central to Built

to Serve. Founded in 1916 by H. D. Snell, Sr., the son
of an Oklahoma cotton farmer, United has quietly
become one of America’s oldest family-owned corpo-
rations. Snell did not have a degree from Harvard,
Yale, or Princeton. In fact, he never earned a college

degree, yet through hard work and extraordinary per-
severance, he created a splendid legacy built on the
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= contributions of ordinary people. Today, nearly 75

grocery stores throughout Oklahoma and Texas owe
their success to Snell and his descendants.
In the supermarket industry, where size is a popu-
lar strategy, United manages not just to survive, but
to thrive. One reason for its success is that United’s

team members are genuinely considered family, and
United’s workforce displays the rhythm and innova-
tion of a seasoned team.

The family’s vision is synonymous with its min-
istry—serving people and enriching the lives of others.
The company’s mission is defined by just six words:
Ultimate Service, Superior Performance, and Positive