Irene Linares: “It is an honor to continue with the company of my family”

Food Market La Chiquita is not just a Hispanic supermarket: it also serves Chicago communities with fresh produce and top-notch service.

“For me, it’s a source of pride to continue with my family’s company, to help it thrive and, one day, to pass it on to my own daughter and nephews.” – Irene Linares

By Migdalis Pérez

Irene Linares was three years old when her father acquired his first store in Chicago in 1986. She remembers that back then, “he worked seven days a week.” Almost 40 years later, Food Market La Chiquita has nine stores and 550 employees, mostly Latino, as is his legacy.

The daughter of Mexican immigrants, but born in the United States, Linares recounts growing up with her mother, father, sisters, and uncles, all sitting around the table, discussing the price of tomatoes and avocados. “It’s all I know,” she emphasizes, adding, “I even love going into the coolers at the stores and smelling all the fresh produce we have.”

A graduate in Economics from the University of Chicago, the executive acknowledges that the family business has grown considerably with locations in Chicago and the suburbs, Rockford and Cicero, “where there are immigrants and many Hispanics.” The best part, she points out, is that “the supermarkets have Mexican taco stands and bakeries.”

Although her father “is always active and still keeps an eye on the business,” she handles 95% of the operations. “I really wear many hats,” she says, “because I take care of human resources, operations, supplies… I’m also on top of equipment purchases. And I even get involved in the vegetable and meat specials.”

Of course, her father has been her mentor. “He’s taught me that this is a noble profession because we’re feeding people. He also reminds me that we have to offer the best we can at a good price. And he always tells me, ‘If you’re not going to serve it at your own table, then we shouldn’t sell it in our stores.'”

According to her, Food Market La Chiquita prides itself on this philosophy. In its stores, there’s a supply for the Hispanic market, as well as local, Italian, and Chinese products, depending on the clientele. “Here,” she points out, “you can even do your grocery shopping for the whole week.”

Like her family, Linares places great importance on community service, which she supports at every turn. Regarding her 550 employees, she highlights the fact that some have been with the business for 37 years, having started with her father the day he opened his first store.

“I am so grateful to them because they helped us grow. I have people who have been with me for 28, 15, 10 years, and now they hold very high positions in the company. I always seek their advice because you can always learn something from someone else: from the person who cleans the store floor to the manager of everyone who works here.”

As for her plans, she mentions that she would like to open more stores, as well as implement self-checkout and online grocery ordering to keep up with technological advancements.

“For me,” she concludes, “it is a source of pride to continue with my family’s company, to help it thrive, and one day, to pass it on to my own daughter and nephews.” My daughter is 12 years old, and on Saturdays, I take her with me to work. She’s already learning how I’m running the business.

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