Publix is the best employee owned company for most readers to know first, because its own site calls it the largest employee-owned company in the United States, and it pairs that scale with a grocery business shoppers can visit in person. King Arthur Baking is the best pick for a clear ESOP story, with 100 percent employee ownership since 2004, a profit-sharing target of 11 percent of annual earnings, and a range of 0 percent to 20 percent based on company performance. WinCo Foods and Davey Tree suit readers who want large United States employers with long ESOP histories, since WinCo set up its plan in 1985 and Davey employees bought the company in 1979.
The eight companies below are real, named businesses with official pages that state their employee ownership in plain terms. Use the ownership date, the sector, and the size of each business to judge which model fits your question, whether you are shopping, hiring a firm, or looking for work.
On this page
Best employee owned companies: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Publix | Grocery shoppers in the Southeast | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 2 | WinCo Foods | Low-cost grocery shopping in the West | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 3 | King Arthur Baking | Home bakers who want a 100 percent ESOP brand | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 4 | Bob's Red Mill | Whole grain and gluten-free pantry staples | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 5 | W. L. Gore and Associates | Materials science and outdoor gear buyers | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 6 | Burns and McDonnell | Clients who need engineering and construction | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 7 | John Lewis Partnership | Shoppers in the United Kingdom | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
| 8 | Davey Tree Expert Company | Tree care and environmental services | quote only | Not applicable | Visit |
The 8 best best employee owned companies, in detail
Publix
Best for: Grocery shoppers in the Southeast
Publix Super Markets began in 1930 and grew from a single store into a large supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida. Its corporate site states that associates and customers helped Publix grow into the largest employee-owned company in the United States. That statement links scale with ownership in one sentence, and it is the clearest reason to place Publix first.
- Shoppers should treat Publix as a regional grocer first and an ownership story second.
- Its stores serve the Southeast, so readers outside that region cannot shop there in person.
- Stock is held by present and past employees and members of the Jenkins family, and it is not open to outside buyers in the normal way.
- That limit matters for anyone who reads employee ownership as an investment option.
Pros
- Largest employee-owned company in the United States according to its own site
- founded in 1930 with a long trading history
Cons
- Stores are limited to the Southeast
- shares are not open to the general public
WinCo Foods
Best for: Low-cost grocery shopping in the West
WinCo Foods began in Boise, Idaho, in 1967 as Waremart, and it took the WinCo name in 1999 after an employee contest and vote. In 1985, employees set up an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and bought a majority stake from the Ward family, which made the company employee-owned. Its official About page states that the chain operates 140 or more employee-owned retail locations and employs 20,000 or more people.
- WinCo suits shoppers who want a warehouse-style store with a focus on low everyday prices and bulk foods.
- The chain does not charge a membership fee, which sets it apart from warehouse clubs that require one.
- WinCo stores are in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington, so many readers will have no store nea
- The company is privately held, and its shares are valued through the employee ownership structure rather than through daily trading on a stock exchang
Pros
- Employee-owned through an ESOP set up in 1985
- operates 140 or more employee-owned stores with 20,000 or more employees
Cons
- Stores are limited to ten states
- no public share price is published
King Arthur Baking
Best for: Home bakers who want a 100 percent ESOP brand
King Arthur Baking Company traces its history to 1790, and its careers page states that it is 100 percent employee-owned. The company moved toward employee ownership in 1996, reached a majority employee stake by 1999, and became 100 percent employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2004. After the first year of work, each employee-owner begins to accrue stock, and shares are allocated once a year through the ESOP.
- That slow, yearly build shows that ownership here is a long-term benefit rather than a one-time grant.
- The profit-sharing detail is the most concrete number in this article.
- King Arthur states that it distributes a portion of annual profits to eligible employees, based on company performance.
- The target profit-sharing amount is 11 percent of annual earnings, and it can range from 0 percent to 20 percent depending on how the company performs
Pros
- 100 percent employee-owned since 2004
- profit-sharing target of 11 percent of annual earnings, with a range of 0 percent to 20 percent
Cons
- Shares are allocated once a year through the ESOP, so ownership builds slowly
- no public share price is published
Bob's Red Mill
Best for: Whole grain and gluten-free pantry staples
Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods was founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, in 1978 by Bob Moore and his wife, Charlee, with a focus on wholesome foods and financial security for employees. In 2010, Bob Moore created an Employee Stock Ownership Plan on his 81st birthday and announced that everyone would become an employee-owner, with a goal of reaching 100 percent employee ownership. That goal was reached on 30 April 2020, when the company states that it became 100 percent employee owned.
- Under the ESOP, employees receive company stock each year.
- The story matters because Moore turned down repeated offers from large corporations that wanted to buy the company.
- Instead, he chose to pass ownership to the people who worked there, which kept the brand independent.
Pros
- 100 percent employee-owned since 30 April 2020
- ESOP started in 2010 on founder Bob Moore's 81st birthday
Cons
- Ownership is limited to employees, so customers cannot buy shares
- main store and mill are in Milwaukie, Oregon
W. L. Gore and Associates
Best for: Materials science and outdoor gear buyers
W. L. Gore and Associates was founded on 1 January 1958 by Bill and Vieve Gore in the basement of their home in Newark, Delaware.
- The company states that Gore Associates are part owners of the enterprise through the stock ownership plan.
- That wording is different from the 100 percent ESOP claims made by King Arthur and Bob’s Red Mill, so readers should not treat every company on this l
- Gore is best known for GORE-TEX fabrics, and it also works in medical, performance, and specialty products.
- The company has about 13,000 employees working in more than 25 countries, according to its own statement, and it reports more than 5 billion dollars i
Pros
- Associates are part owners through a stock ownership plan
- founded in 1958 with a long record in fabrics, medical, and industrial products
Cons
- Company is privately held with no public share price
- product range is wide, so buyers need to check the right business unit
Burns and McDonnell
Best for: Clients who need engineering and construction
Burns and McDonnell was founded in 1898, and its own site states that it has been 100 percent owned by its people since 1986. Through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the firm owns 100 percent of the company, and it states that it is not beholden to a distant or disconnected majority shareholder. That point is central to how the firm presents itself to clients, because it links ownership with long-term thinking on projects.
- The firm designs and builds critical infrastructure, with teams of engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists, and sci
- The firm works from 75 or more offices around the world, and its project work covers energy, water, transport, and other infrastructure.
- Clients who hire Burns and McDonnell are buying a service, not a product on a shelf, so there is no standard list price to compare.
- The ownership model is the main buying signal here: the people who design and build a project also hold a stake in the firm that delivers it.
Pros
- 100 percent employee-owned since 1986
- works from 75 or more offices around the world
Cons
- Services are project-based, so there is no standard list price
- not a consumer brand for everyday shopping
John Lewis Partnership
Best for: Shoppers in the United Kingdom
The John Lewis Partnership is the United Kingdom entry on this list, and its model is different from the ESOP firms above. The Partnership is owned in trust for the benefit of its members, who are known as Partners. Its own site states that it is the largest employee-owned business in the United Kingdom, with 69,000 Partners.
- It owns and operates two retail brands, John Lewis and Waitrose, and John Lewis operates 34 shops across the United Kingdom as well as johnlewis.com.
- That scale makes it the easiest United Kingdom example for readers to visit or shop with.
- Partners have a voice in how the business is run, and the Partnership is governed by a written Constitution and a Partnership Council.
- The founder, John Spedan Lewis, set up the trust settlements in 1929 and 1950, and the Partnership states that it aims for sufficient profit rather th
Pros
- Largest employee-owned business in the United Kingdom
- 69,000 Partners share ownership in trust
Cons
- Model is a trust, not an ESOP, so it works differently from the United States firms
- shops are in the United Kingdom only
Davey Tree Expert Company
Best for: Tree care and environmental services
The Davey Tree Expert Company was founded in 1880, and employees bought the company from the Davey family in 1979, which started the era of employee ownership. Its own site states that Davey is Ohio’s largest employee-owned company and one of the top ten largest in the nation, and it ranks number 8 among the top ten largest employee-owned firms on the National Center for Employee Ownership list. Davey provides tree care, grounds maintenance, and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial, and government clients in the United States and Canada.
- The unique fact for Davey is the discount in its stock plan.
- In 1982, the Employee Stock Purchase Plan was set up, allowing employees to buy stock through payroll deduction at a 15 percent discount.
- Later stock splits in 1983, 1987, 1996, 1999, 2008, and 2021 made it easier for active employees to obtain stock.
- Davey celebrated 45 years of employee ownership in 2024.
Pros
- Employee-owned since 1979
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan lets employees buy stock through payroll deduction at a 15 percent discount
Cons
- Services are local and project-based, so prices vary by job
- no public share price is published
How we chose
We chose companies that state employee ownership on their own official pages, with a named model such as an ESOP, a stock ownership plan, or a trust. We checked official pages opened on 12 November 2026, and we used only facts from those pages and from official company histories linked to them. We did not test any tool hands-on, and we did not use, install, or try any product or service. No company on this list publishes a price for buying ownership, so we wrote quote only for every starting price. We left out companies where employees hold only a small minority stake, because the brief asks for the best employee owned companies, not for firms with a small employee share plan.
Which company fits your need
| Need | Best match | Key number |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery shopping in the Southeast | Publix | Founded 1930 |
| Low-cost grocery shopping in the West | WinCo Foods | ESOP set up 1985, 140 or more stores |
| Baking products with a clear ESOP | King Arthur Baking | 100 percent owned since 2004, profit-sharing target 11 percent |
| Whole grain pantry staples | Bob’s Red Mill | 100 percent owned since 30 April 2020 |
| Materials and outdoor fabrics | W. L. Gore and Associates | Founded 1958, about 13,000 employees |
| Engineering and construction | Burns and McDonnell | 100 percent owned since 1986, 75 or more offices |
| Shopping in the United Kingdom | John Lewis Partnership | 69,000 Partners |
| Tree care and environmental work | Davey Tree Expert Company | Employee-owned since 1979, stock discount 15 percent |
Frequently asked questions
What is an employee owned company?
An employee owned company is a business where workers hold a stake in the company, often through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, a stock purchase plan, or a trust. The exact model varies by country and by firm. On this list, King Arthur, Bob’s Red Mill, and Burns and McDonnell state 100 percent employee ownership, while John Lewis uses a trust for its 69,000 Partners.
Which is the best employee owned company for grocery shopping?
Publix is the best known name for grocery shopping in the Southeast, and its own site calls it the largest employee-owned company in the United States. WinCo Foods is the best match in the West, with 140 or more employee-owned stores and a focus on low everyday prices. The right choice depends on where you live, because neither chain covers the whole country.
Can anyone buy shares in these companies?
No, the general public cannot buy shares in the companies on this list in the normal way. Publix stock is held by present and past employees and members of the Jenkins family. WinCo, Gore, Burns and McDonnell, and Davey are privately held, and John Lewis is owned in trust. Employees gain shares through the plan that applies to their firm.
Which employee owned company has the clearest profit-sharing detail?
King Arthur Baking has the clearest profit-sharing detail on this list. Its careers page states a target profit-sharing amount of 11 percent of annual earnings, with a range of 0 percent to 20 percent based on company performance. That number is stated on the official page, and it gives job seekers a concrete figure to compare with other employers.
Is John Lewis Partnership owned in the same way as the United States firms?
No, John Lewis Partnership uses a trust model, not an ESOP. The business is owned in trust for the benefit of its members, who are known as Partners, under trust settlements from 1929 and 1950. The United States firms on this list use ESOPs or stock plans, so the legal structure, the voting rights, and the way shares are held are different.
Which is the best employee owned company for tree care?
Davey Tree Expert Company is the best match for tree care on this list. It has been employee-owned since 1979, it serves residential, utility, commercial, and government clients, and its stock plan has allowed employees to buy stock at a 15 percent discount since 1982. Ask the local branch for a quote, because tree work is priced by job.
Sources
- https://www.publix.com
- https://corporate.publix.com/about-publix
- https://www.wincofoods.com
- https://www.kingarthurbaking.com
- https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/careers
- https://www.bobsredmill.com
- https://www.bobsredmill.com/employee-owned
- https://www.gore.com
- https://www.gore.com/about/our-story/history
- https://www.burnsmcd.com
- https://www.burnsmcd.com/about/employee-ownership
- https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk
- https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/our-company/partnership-model
- https://www.davey.com
- https://www.davey.com/about/employee-ownership/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.