Roth's Fresh Markets

Those in the Salem, Keizer, and McMinville know Roth's like a friend. Orville Roth's stores often sponsor music programs and other community events. My marching band in high school could count on Roth's to host our fireworks stand in their parking lot, and to help us sort bottles in our can drives. Roth's also has a reputation for offering its customers locally-grown, organic produce. Some organic farmers at my church were able to market their produce and herbs through a Roth's store.

Being founded in Oregon

Hermann C. Jochimsen and Orville N. Roth opened their first grocery store on August 5th, 1962 in Silverton, Oregon.

Being based in Oregon

Owned by Mr. Roth's son, the headquarters of Roth's Fresh Markets is found in Salem, OR.

Giving back to Oregon

Roth's is known for financially supporting a basket full of programs at area high schools. The Special Olympics also recieves support from Roth's, as does the Marion-Polk Foodshare in annual can drives.


Number of Oregon Employees

Roth's has over 800 employees in the state of Oregon, 300 of which are high school students.  Some Roth's employees receive benefits including 401(K)s, medical insurance, life insurance, as well as paid vacations.

Number of stores in Oregon

Roth's has 10 grocery stores in the Mid-Willamette Valley, including stores in Salem-Keizer, Silverton, and McMinnville.



Final Score: 5 out 5 stars



Most information gathered from:  http://roths.com/contact.php. Additional information provided by former Keizer residents.

Nike Inc.

Any Oregonian who has lived here long enough knows about the Nike headquarters. It's the envy of any business person who doesn't already work there. Nike's brand is known around the world, but especially in Eugene,  where the Oregon Ducks sports teams wear Nike apparel. Ironically, the national headquarters is located in a town named for its former beaver dams.

• Being founded in Oregon 
• Bill Bowerman, a track coach at the University of Oregon, and Phil Knight, one of his runners, co-founded Nike in 1972. Originally they called it Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), aiming to design shoes for athletes. Today the company is more widely known as Nike, named after the Greek goddess of victory. 
• Being based in Oregon
• Though Nike is famous world-wide, it is headquartered in Beaverton, OR, a Portland suburb.  
• Giving back to Oregon
• Nike is committed to reducing its environmental impact and reducing the natural resources it uses. Recently Nike released its "Environmental Apparel Design Tool" to company outsiders to improve sustainability throughout the sports fashion industry. This company also works to improve conditions for its factory workers worldwide, though they have a long way to go before their conditions meet public standards (only 17% of their factories had completed worker surveys or completed human resources training.) Despite this, Oregonians can appreciate Nike's openness about both sustainability and working conditions. Fellow companies should take note.
• As for Oregon, Nike established a grant program in May of this year called "Nike Employee Grant Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation" which seeks to improve the Portland communities through sport. It offers grants to charities that aim to make a difference in health, fitness, education, and environment. Some key benefactors are public schools in the Portland area. Portland area schools also receive help from the "Nike School Innovation Fund." Nike has also partnered with Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland and Special Olympics Oregon. 
• Number of Oregon Employees
• The Beaverton headquarters has 7,000 employees, about a fifth of their employees worldwide. 
• Near their global headquarters, Nike has a company-owned factory that produces the unique parts used in Nike shoes. They also have a factory in Tigard for their Nike Golf brand that has 84 employees. Nike contracts several third party factories in Oregon to help manufacture their products. 
• Number of stores in Oregon
• Nike has ten retail and factory stores in Oregon. Each factory store employs 40-65 full-time and part-time workers.
• Number or stores that carry Nike brand in Oregon
• Nike has a store locator on their website to help you find retailers of Nike products.  It lists 250 retailers, including Sports Authority and Foot Locker. 

Final Score: 3 out 3 stars

All information gathered from: http://www.nikebiz.com/
Additional assistance provided by: Nike USA Consumer Services

About

Where do our paychecks go?

I'm sure we could list off the usual: rent/mortgage, food, clothes, fun, etc. Still, those don't entirely answer the question. Where does our money go after purchase? Does it go back to our schools, our jobs, and our neighborhoods? Or does it go overseas? Does our spending money go back to our region, or does it go across the continent to a parent company CEO?

This blog investigates Oregon based and Oregon founded companies, restaurants, brands, stores, and entertainment. Each business is rated on a star system, one star for each of the following categories: being founded in Oregon, being based in Oregon (i.e. corporate headquarters, factories, etc) and giving back to Oregon in charitable actions.

Buy Oregon: Save Oregon is about investing in your neighbors and your family's future.

This isn't just a blog; it's a movement.