BOISE, ID - William “Bill” D. Long, a grocery industry leader whose vision shaped one of the nation’s most successful employee-owned companies, passed away on August 18, 2025, at the age of 87. His life was defined by family, service, and a legacy of leadership that transformed WinCo Foods and the lives of its employees.
“Bill was not only an accomplished businessman but also a visionary whose integrity, energy, and unwavering belief in employee ownership shaped WinCo’s culture and success,” his obituary noted. “His legacy of leadership, community, and opportunity will continue to live on in the lives of thousands of employees and their families.”
Long’s journey from growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm to leading WinCo as Chairman and CEO reflected both resilience and foresight. After joining Waremart in 1968, he steadily rose through the company, guiding its historic transition to employee ownership in 1985—a move that secured its place as one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the country.
With these reflections on his life and leadership, WinCo Foods released the following statement:
On behalf of all WinCo employee owners, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Bill Long’s family and friends and to all who were touched by his life and leadership.
At WinCo Foods, Bill’s name carries a special place in our hearts as the first CEO of WinCo. Forty years ago, Bill and a small group of employees at a then-small chain of supermarkets came together and purchased what would become WinCo Foods, making it employee-owned!
Those who had the privilege of working alongside Bill remember him for his steady leadership, generosity of spirit, and his relentless focus on making WinCo the absolute best it can be.
His legacy lives on not only in WinCo’s continued growth, but also in the purpose he instilled throughout the organization: that through the low price grocery model he helped create, we make the lives of our customers, communities, and employee owners better.
