About Us

Ragland Bros. Retail Cos. Inc. traces its beginnings back to 1922 with Ragland-Potter Wholesale Grocery. In June 1935, four Ragland brothers, Will, Butler, Harvey and Tom purchased Ragland-Potter in Knoxville, Tn. This purchase was financed by C.B. Ragland, Will’s father-in-law, who operated a wholesale grocery in Nashville, Tn. Over time, up to 18 locations were opened for business covering from Murphy, NC over to Opelika and Huntsville, Al. Ragland Bros Co. as it was then known, was the first wholesaler in the Southeast to deliver general merchandise and groceries on trucks and to utilize computers for ordering and invoicing. Stores were supplied with metal roofing, bulk barrel flour and beans, nails, and many other items needed for households in that day.