Vons is a supermarket chain which mainly operates in Southern California and Southern Nevada. It became a subsidiary of Albertsons Companies after its acquisition. The parent corporation Albertsons is one of the biggest food and drug retailers in the US. Even though it is a banner of Albertsons now, Vons has a long and interesting history, over a century.

In 1906, Charles Von der Ahe managed to open a 20-foot wide Groceteria in Los Angeles, California. He had only $1,200 in savings to invest in his enterprise. Back in the time downtown Los Angeles was more like a town than the city it is today. So, his Groceteria served as a neighborhood store which would cater to the needs of the locals and their families. However, unlike his competitors at the time, Von der Ahe pioneered "cash and carry" for a change. It was such a profitable model, by 1928 Vons had expanded to 87 stores. Surprisingly, Charles Von der Ahe sold his grocery chain in 1929. After a few years, right in the middle of the Great Depression, his sons Ted and Will decided to relaunch Vons.

In the decades that followed, the growth of Vons has been unstoppable. By 1948, Ted and Will brothers managed to open numerous stores and introduced many innovative ideas. For example, they offered pre-packaged perishables as well as self-service fruits, vegetables, and deli items. This was a breakthrough in the grocery industry and it definitely influenced the way Americans do their grocery shopping.

By the 1970s, Vons had over 150 stores and employed more than 16,000 people. Those figures made Vons one of the largest grocery retailers in Southern California. In 1985, Vons introduced a different format and named it Pavilions. At these specific stores, they offered upscale products and in-store pharmacies. In 1987, Vons got listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Today, Vons is headquartered in Fullerton, California.