A local supermarket heir has died at just 62 years old from ‘natural causes,’ the grocery chain announced.
Rick Wright, the CEO of Market of Choice, died in his mansion on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon, which is about two hours south of Portland.
The company didn’t elaborate on Wright’s cause of death. A spokesperson for Market of Choice said that they didn’t have any further details to share at this time.
Wright spent his entire professional life in the grocery store industry, learning the ropes from his father and working at the store as a young adult.
His father, Richard Wright Sr., launched the business in 1979, and Wright took the reins in 1997.
The family operated four stores in the area, which later became Price Chopper locations before Wright took over the business.
When the late CEO stepped into the position, he rebranded the chain to focus on locally grown food, instead of wholesale products.
‘Wright is remembered for his visionary leadership of Market of Choice and his philanthropic efforts in Lane County, across Oregon and beyond,’ the company said.
Rick Wright, 62, died on Sunday. He was the CEO of a popular Oregon supermarket chain
Market of Choice announced that Wright died in his home of ‘natural causes’
Wright took over the supermarket chain from his father and expanded the business to 12 locations across Oregon (file photo)
In January, Wright spoke with Oregon Business about the growth of his company, telling the publication, ‘There just aren’t a lot of companies like Market of Choice that’s willing to invest the money that it takes to keep it local and build local.’
Under Wright’s direction, the chain carried over 7,000 locally sourced products and employed almost 1,400 workers.
The chain also implemented the MOJO Program, which gave new businesses a one-year guarantee on their shelves.
Market of Choice prioritized local businesses for distribution, and supplied nearly 800 products from Oregon’s small business community.
He told Everyday Northwest in 2022 that the chain intended to stay in Oregon and prided itself on being family-owned.
Wright is survived by his three children, Zach, Staci, and Sydney. The CEO is also survived by his two grandchildren, three siblings, and his mother, Marsha (Pictured here with his family in 2009)
Wright previously said in an interview that the chain focused on small businesses and locally sourced products (Pictured in 2022)
Wright is survived by his wife Debbie, their three children, two grandchildren, his siblings, and his mother (Pictured here with his wife in 2016)
The company praised Wright as ‘one of the most recognized faces in Oregon’s grocery industry.’
‘He helped redefine what a grocery store can be — not just a place to buy food, but a force for sustaining local economies, fostering innovation and nourishing the spirit of Oregon,’ the company continued.
‘At his core, Wright was a steward of good food, of local communities, and of people.’
Wright and his wife, Debbie, had three children together, Zach, Staci, and Sydney. The CEO is also survived by his two grandchildren, three siblings, and his mother, Marsha.
