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Randolph H. Price, Wholesale Grocery Executive
- Randolph H. Price, Wholesale Grocery Executive1912 - 1998
Facts and Events
About Randolph Price
Randolph H. Price was born 9 June 1912 in California, son of Harold M. Price (b. abt. 1891 in Michigan) and his wife Hazel Wright (b. abt. 1891 in New Mexico).
In 1934, financially unable to finish college because of the Depression, Price found work in 1934 unloading rail cars in Los Angeles' produce district Southern California Grocery Wholesale Cooperative Certified Grocers, based in Commerce, California. (now known as "Unified Grocers", Inc.), and within four years after his ground-level beginning moved from the warehouse to office manager. . He became treasurer in 1945, Controller in 1951, Vice President and Rreasurer in 1957 and senior vice president for operations in 1971. In 1973, he was elected President and chief executive, succeeding J. Murray Yunker, who had recently announced his retirement.
Price helped steer Certified Grocers through the "inflationary 1970's" and the subsequent supermarket price war among the major chains, and helped Certified's Springfield label a strong case as a regional brand name after a 1974 advertising campaign that more than doubled the line’s sales of products from the year before. Price described 1976 as “unquestionably the most trying year in recent decades.” Although, sales volume topped off at $995.7 million, a concerted price war with national chains kept the company from surpassing the billion-dollar sales mark. (Source: Certified Grocers 75th Anniversary Publication).
After a 45-year career at Certified Grocers, Randolph Price retired from the company in 1979 as president and chief executive officer, after helping to make Certified the largest wholesale grocer in the world. He was succeeded by William O. "Bill" Christy.
During his retirement, Price divided his time between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, boating, fishing, camping and traveling. Widowed twice, by the death of Evelyn Skuce in 1983 and Bonnie Gledhill in 1994, Price was survived by two daughters, Judi Clarke of Corona del Mar and Jan Steele of Palo Alto; a brother, Jack of Escondido; six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. His contributions to the wholesale food industry are many and he is remembered fondly by all of his co-workers and friends.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California, United States. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. (Sacramento, CA, USA: California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.).
California Birth Index, 1905-1995
Name: Randolph H Price
Birth Date: 9 Jun 1912
Gender: Male
Mother's Maiden Name: Wright
Birth County: Los Angeles
- United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T626).
1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Randolph H Price
Gender: Male
Birth Year: abt 1913
Birthplace: California
Race: White
Home in 1930: Redlands, San Bernardino, California
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Harold M Price
Father's Birthplace: Michigan
Mother's name: Hazel Price
Mother's Birthplace: New Mexico
Occupation: None
Household Members: Name Age
Harold M Price 39
Hazel Price 39
Randolph H Price 17
Paul A Price 14
Jack M Price 12
- United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).
1940 United States Federal Census
Name: Randolph H Price
Age: 27
Estimated birth year: abt 1913
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: California
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: San Gabriel, Los Angeles, California
Street: Chapel Street
House Number: 1818
Inferred Residence in 1935: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Residence in 1935: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Resident on farm in 1935: No
Sheet Number: 16A
Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 447
Occupation: Accountant
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 40
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 2nd year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 40
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker in private work
Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Income: 2380
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members: Name Age
Randolph H Price 27
Evelyn M Price 30
Judith Helen Price 6/12
- Los Angeles, California, United States. Los Angeles Times
18 November 1998.
Randolph H. Price; Southland Pioneer in Wholesale Food Industry
November 18, 1998|MYRNA OLIVER | TIMES STAFF WRITER
Randolph H. Price, Southern California pioneer in the wholesale food industry, has died. He was 86.
Price, who spent his entire 45-year career at Certified Grocers of California, died Nov. 10 of heart failure in Laguna Beach, where he had lived in retirement.
The innovative Price was one of the first in his industry to introduce computerized billing and inventory control, when he purchased two Burroughs electronic data processing systems in 1956. Twenty years later, he helped develop the Datachecker electronic checkout system, forerunner of those used today by major supermarkets.
The Los Angeles-born Price, financially unable to finish college because of the Depression, found work in 1934 unloading rail cars for Certified Grocers in Los Angeles' produce district.
He retired from the company in 1979 as president and chief executive officer, after helping to make Certified the largest wholesale grocer in the world. Organized in 1922 by owners of small independent grocery stores, Certified now has annual sales of $1.8 billion and serves 2,759 retail food stores from its Los Angeles, Stockton and Fresno warehouses, which employ about 2,000 people.
Within four years after his ground-level beginning, Price moved from the warehouse to office manager. He became treasurer in 1945, controller in 1951, vice president and treasurer in 1957 and senior vice president for operations in 1971. In 1973, he was elected president and chief executive.
During his retirement, Price divided his time between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, boating, fishing, camping and traveling.
Widowed twice, by the death of Evelyn Skuce in 1983 and Bonnie Gledhill in 1994, Price is survived by two daughters, Judi Clarke of Corona del Mar and Jan Steele of Palo Alto; a brother, Jack of Escondido; six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
- Deli News Magazine. (Huntington Beach, California: Pacific Rim Publishing)
pg. 15, December 1998.
Randolph H. Price, 86
Former Certified Grocers of California president and CEO Randolph H. Price died in November of heart failure at his Newport Beach home. Price joined Certified in 1934 as a laborer unloading railcars in the warehouse.
He retired in 1979, serving the final six years as President and CEO after holding numerous posts along the way.
He was appointed office manager in 1938, treasurer in 1945 and controller in 1951.
Under his direction, Certified became one of the first companies to introduce computerized billing and inventory.
He is survived by two daughters, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a brother.
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