PRESS RELEASE
MEEKER | Clark’s Market, a family-owned, Colorado-based company, is excited to announce that it will assume ownership of Watt’s Ranch Market in Meeker, Colorado, effective Monday, Aug. 26.
“We are thrilled to expand our family of markets and serve the Meeker community,” said Tom Clark, Jr., Clark’s Market President and CEO. “We know that we have huge shoes to fill. The Watt family have been incredible stewards of Watt’s Ranch Market and have given their heart and soul to this community and surrounding areas. We look forward to continuing their legacy while bringing our own unique offerings to the store.”
Watt’s Ranch Market has been a staple in the Meeker community since 1955. The Watt family is happy to see another independent, family-owned grocer continue to serve Rio Blanco County.
“We are pleased to pass the torch to Clark’s Market, a company that shares our dedication to high standards of quality and community. We believe they will continue to serve our loyal customers with the same care and commitment that we have over the years,” said owner JC Watt. “We will continue to be a part of the community, so choosing our successors isn’t a decision we took lightly.”
Though ownership will change, the Watt’s Ranch Market name will not change immediately and Clark’s Market will continue to employ the current Watt’s Ranch Market team.
Day-to-day operations should be seamless for customers as Clark’s Market will not make any immediate changes to the point of sale system, product assortment within the store or product pricing.
About Clark’s Market
Founded in 1978 in Aspen, Colorado, Clark’s Market is a family-owned independent grocery chain with a commitment to quality, community, and sustainability. The company operates seven stores in Colorado, one in Blanding, Utah, and one in Sedona, Arizona.
Clark’s Market offers a wide range of products, including local and organic options, and prides itself on excellent customer service and a strong connection to the communities it serves.
Questions and answers about the coming change:
The HT reached out to Clark’s Market representative Samantha Johnston Tuesday with questions from the Meeker community. The questions and their responses are as follows:
‘Will prices increase under new ownership?’
The short answer is “no.” Clark’s Ranch Markets utilize the same wholesaler that Watt’s Ranch Market does – Associated Food Stores.
There will be no incremental price increases just because Clark’s Market is the new owner. In fact, we hope that the volume we currently buy through the wholesaler will result in some price decreases on staple items. Clark’s Market does have stores in resort areas (Telluride, Aspen, Snowmass, Crested Butte and Sedona), one urban store in Lowry, Denver and Ranch Markets in Norwood, Battlement Mesa and Blanding, Utah. We are extremely sensitive to inflation and the cost of groceries, and we ensure that our product mix and pricing matches what the markets can bear. There is no doubt that it costs more to buy tomatoes in Aspen than it will in Meeker – the cost of doing business in some towns is just astronomically higher. Of course, Clark’s Market is not immune to the same market fluctuations that impacted Watt’s Ranch Market (prices increasing and decreasing on eggs, beef, milk or other commodities that have price changes based on farming and ranching variables), but customers should not expect a price increase just because Clark’s is the new owner.
‘The Battlement Mesa store is not stocked well.’
When the Clarks were approached in 2009 about leasing the commercial grocery space occupied by City Market, they said “yes” to bring a local grocer and pharmacy to a small community. We are aware of past complaints that this store was not consistently well stocked and didn’t offer the product mix that customers expected. Because the volume of sales in this location can vary depending on I-70 traffic and weather (among other variables that don’t impact our other stores), there are times when our product stock volume can vary more in this market than we’d expect in others. Clark’s Market is working hard to solve for more consistency in this location, but these unique challenges are not representative of our other Ranch Market locations in Norwood and Blanding, Utah. Earlier this year, the Battlement Mesa store underwent a complete reset of products and positioning in the store as well as a change in store leadership. Community feedback has been very positive.
‘Will a local store manager be chosen, or will Clark’s bring a new manager to Watt’s? ‘
Clark’s Market will advertise locally and internally for the new store director position. Interested candidates from Meeker, Watt’s Ranch Market and Clark’s Market are encouraged to apply for the position, which will be posted on www.clarksmarket.com and in the Rio Blanco Herald Times. No final decisions have been made about who will lead the Meeker store, but Clark’s Market does have at least one strong internal candidate. Clark’s develops and hires from within wherever and whenever possible and rarely advertises outside of the company or local community for store leadership positions.
‘Will plastic bags still be utilized?’
As of Jan. 1, 2024, Colorado has a statewide ban on single-use carryout bags for supermarkets. Watt’s Ranch Market as a single independent store fell into an exempted class for the single-use plastic ban; Clark’s Market does not. Because we have more than three stores, we are required to eliminate single-use plastic bags and charge a .20 fee for single-use bags. Customers participating in state or federal food assistance programs are exempt from paying the fee. There are a lot of benefits that our small chain can bring to the Meeker community, but there are also things that our size makes more complicated – such as operating with more stores and falling under different state guidelines for the single-use plastic ban.
We will work with the Watts to utilize all plastic bags that remain on hand in the transition so that plastic bags will not be phased out immediately.
Clark’s Market will also provide complimentary Clark’s signature heavy duty burlap shopping bags to interested customers during our transition.
‘Will employees receive a pay cut and/or will there be any layoffs?’
No and no. Watt’s Ranch Market is a great grocery store with a fantastic staff. There will be no pay cuts for any current team members and there will be no layoffs. Clark’s Market will employ all Watt’s Ranch Market employees on the day of the transition. Clark’s Market will honor years of service for all Watt’s Ranch Market employees. If an employee has worked at Watt’s Ranch Market for 10 years, they will join Clark’s Market with 10 years of tenure. In addition, Clark’s Market will offer its full benefits package to all eligible employees, which includes paid time off, health, dental, vision, 401k with company match and Health Savings Account with company match.
