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Raley's headquarters in West Sacramento

Raley's Supermarkets (also known as Raley's Family of Fine Stores) is a privately held, family-owned supermarket chain that operates stores under the Raley's, Bel Air Markets, Nob Hill Foods,^{[note 1]} and Food Source banners in northern California and Nevada. Founded in 1935 by Tom Raley in Placerville, Raley's employs around 13,400 workers today. Headquartered in West Sacramento, California, Raley's is the dominant supermarket operator in the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Raley’s operates 130 stores, of which 40 are located in the Greater Sacramento area under the Raley’s, Bel Air and Food Source banners. Those stores control the city’s largest market share — 28%, down from 30% in 2007 and 34% in 2003, according to Metro Market Studies, Tucson, Ariz. By comparison, other local market shares are Safeway at 16.7%, Costco 11.9% and Save Mart at 9.2%.Though it’s still the market-share leader, there appear to be chinks in its once impenetrable armor — with more than 150 corporate layoffs last year and several store closings this year. “We are struggling to sustain our business due to the economic downturn and increased competition,” Michael J. Teel, president and chief executive officer, acknowledged last November.^[3]

Supermarket News ranked Raley's No. 38 in the 2009 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2008–09 fiscal year estimated sales of $3.4 billion.^[2] The same “Top 75 Food Retailers in North America” for 2012 ranked Raley’s at No. 45, down slightly from 2009, with sales, also down slightly, of an estimated $3.0 billion.^[4] Raley’s continues to rank among the nation’s top supermarket chains, according to readers of Consumer Reports. In 2009, the company received highest marks for customer service.^[5] The same holds true for 2012, although the chain has fallen from number 4 nationwide in 2009 to its current position at number 8 behind Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Fareway Stores, Costco, Harris Teeter and Demoulas Market Basket. ^[6]

Readers of Sacramento Magazine again named Raley's and Bel Air the 'Best Grocery Store' and the 'Best Place to Buy Fruits and Veggies' in the November 2009 Best Of Sacramento issue.^[7]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Raley’s Supermarket in Tracy, California with a GreenChill Partnership Gold-Level Certification for innovative green refrigeration technology, the company's third store to achieve this honor.^[8]

Raley Field, home of the Sacramento RiverCats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, is located in West Sacramento and is named after the chain.

Notes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Raley's official website

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Darin Shapiro (born October 25, 1973) is a professional wakeboarder from Orlando, Florida and the winningest rider in the history of the sport of wakeboarding. He has not competed in the pro tour since 2004 season. He currently runs the Ride the Spot wakeboarding camp.

Shapiro competed in his first pro contest on the island of Kauai at the age of 17.

Shapiro appeared in most major Wakeboard movies and influenced the development of the sport. He is considered to be the first rider landing an Air Railey which was named after one of his coaches in Team Hyperlite. The first signature board ever in the industry was named the "Shapiro Pro Model" from Hyperlite.

He was the first to do a double-frontflip, known as speedball.

In the early days of the sport Shapiro was riding for Herb O'Brian who founded Hyperlite. The noted "Hyperlite Pro" board was responsible for the tremendous growth of the sport and Shapiro contributed with his demonstrations of excellent riding.

Shapiro also surfs and is a musician.

The first wakeboarder ever in history, Shapiro was inducted into the Water Ski Hall of Fame 2010.^[1]

Darin Shapiro is a 12 time World Champion and led the sport of wakeboarding for nearly 20 years. Shapiro has been called the "Michael Jordan" of wakeboarding and is still regarded as the most dominant force the sport has ever seen.

Tournament Results[link]

3x triple crown champ, 12 overall world titles, 3x x games, gold, silver, bronze, Gravity games gold, 4x masters champ, 3x Nautique Big Air champ, approximately 70 pro tour wins, and is the most winning rider in the history of the sport.

Personal Life[link]

Darin Shapiro was arrested on February 2, 2012 in Princeville, Hawaii on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and money laundering in conjunction with running an alleged "Pill Mill" in the Orlando, Florida area.^[2]

Masters[link]

See also[link]

• Waterskiing
• Wakeboarding
• List of Water Skiing Hall of Fame Inductees

External links[link]

• Waterski Hall of Fame
• Official Page
• Ride The Spot
• Wake Wookiee Darin Shapiro Facts (satire)
• Drugs on Kauai (1)
• Drugs in Florida
• Drugs on Kauai (2)
• Drugs on Kauai (3)

References[link]

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