Corporate Headquarters in Waycross, GA.

We can trace our beginnings to a small grocery store in Folkston, Georgia in 1952 operated by J. C. Jones, Jr., and his father J. C. Jones, Sr., from that time through the 1960's the grocery store business was expanded to a number of such stores in Southeastern, Georgia.  A small wholesale grocery distribution center located in Alma, Georgia was acquired to supply the stores.

As the grocery store industry evolved toward ever larger stores which were part of even larger shopping centers and mall developments it became obvious that the smaller, more traditional, grocery stores operated by Mr. Jones would soon cease to exist.   A fundamental change in the business would be required if it was to survive.

One of the grocery stores in Waycross, Georgia located at the corner of Lee and Reynolds Street was selected to be a test for a new type of store, one with a more limited variety of staple grocery items, meats, vegetables and frozen items, and emphasizing individually sized products, snacks, and drinks. Most importantly it would be open for business when the supermarkets were closed.  It was a success.  The business model continued to be refined and more stores, convenience stores as they were called, were added.  By the mid 1970's there were 25 stores known in their communities as Flash Food stores.

 Gasoline pumps began to be installed in Flash Foods parking lots, usually as part of a joint venture consignment arrangement with a local oil company distributor.  This concept, brought about by the legalization of self-service fueling, revolutionized the marketing of motor fuels and unforeseeably set the stage for Flash Foods to become its own fuel supplier.  In 1981 an affiliated corporation was created, now known as Fuel South, Inc., to purchase fuels directly from refiners and distribute to Flash Food stores.  In 1982 The Jones Company was created to serve as a holding company for Flash Foods and the other affiliated companies.

During the 1980's the company experienced significant growth.  We purchased Frazier Oil Company headquartered in Hazlehurst.  This included distributorships in Vidalia, McRae and Fitzgerald along with 22 convenience stores.

Frazier was merged with Fuel South and is now located here in the Waycross Ware County Industrial Park.      

In 1985 The Jones Company corporate headquarters was moved from Alma to Waycross.  Jones’ executive and data processing offices were relocated as well.

In the late eighties we purchased a 48 store chain headquartered in Macon, Georgia known as Kwickie Food Stores.  This undertaking did not come without great risk and the ultimate challenge for our folks.

Then there were the 90's.  J. C. Jones, Jr. (Carl) turned his attention to the Banking Industry and assigned ownership control and Executive Management responsibility to his sons Jimmy and Patrick. They had grown up in the business and were anxious to lead the company into the modern era of today’s convenience store. 

Flash Foods has continued to expand its market area and its number of stores.  Fast food restaurants began to be added to Flash Foods stores in 1995.  A separate restaurant management group was created within Flash Foods to manage this new venture.

Today Flash Foods operates over 170 convenience stores in Georgia and Florida. Internally or through other subsidiaries of The Jones Company, Flash Foods distributes its own grocery products and motor fuels with its own transports to its retail locations. It designs and builds its own stores and manages its real estate.  Nearly all property and equipment maintenance is handled in house.

Information processing and financial reporting is done internally, accomplished in part by proprietary systems and software developed by our own employees. Every Flash Foods stores has at least one computer system and all stores scan merchandise at the checkout counter.  Communication between stores and other points within our company is electronically transmitted and we have all stores directly online with our data processing office at all times.   

Insurance, risk management, and environmental compliance are evaluated internally.  Our human resources department ensures proper payroll processing and compliance with the ever increasing myriad of labor related regulations and taxes.  Store security is also administered by our own people to make our stores safer for our employees and invitees.

Such vertical integration is uncommon but is one of our company’s unique strengths. It is achieved only through focusing the energies of many motivated people with diverse backgrounds and talents toward the accomplishment of one goal: to make our companies the best we can be.

Our subsidiaries include...
Flash Foods, Inc., Fuel South, Inc., Walker-Jones, Jones Company Restaurants, and Distribution South.