Harps Food Buys Craven Foods of Fairfield Bay

Kim Eskew, CEO and chairman of Harps Food Stores (Michael Woods)

Harps Food Stores of Springdale said it has purchased Craven Foods of Fairfield Bay.

Harps will open a store at the location on May 21, two days after Craven Foods closes. Craven Foods was owned by Jimmy and Teresa Craven.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Craven Foods into the Harps family,” Harps CEO Kim Eskew said. “Jimmy and his team have built something truly special here, and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward.”

Harps Food Stores operates 148 stores in six states since its founding in 1930. It is Arkansas’ largest employee-owned company with approximately 6,500 employees.

“Serving the Fairfield Bay community for the past several years has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Jimmy Craven said. “While it’s bittersweet to step away, I know Harps shares our same values of community, service, and quality. I’m confident they will continue taking great care of our town.”