Houchens Industries is an American employee-owned company, in business since 1917 when it began as a small grocery operated by founder Ervin Houchens in rural Barren County, Kentucky. Houchens Industries currently operates more than 325 retail grocery, convenience, and neighborhood market stores across 14 states. Complemented by a strong foundation of diverse companies and over 15,000 employees corporate-wide, Houchens Industries is listed by Forbes as one of the largest 100% employee-owned companies in the world. The company is headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky.