Darioush Khaledi is a first generation Persian-American who left his country to protest its dictatorship regime. Seeking freedom, he came to Los Angeles, California, with his family to start a new life.
Shortly after his arrival, he teamed up with his brother-in-law, Parviz "Paul" Vazin in selling everything they had to raise the down payment necessary to acquire their first Top Valu Market in Torrance. His first challenges were basic yet formidable. He spoke no English, did not know the grocery business, and knew nothing about the American approach to business.
Through hard work and determination, he overcame these obstacles, and today heads a chain of 23 markets, under the banners of Top Valu Markets, Valu Plus Food Warehouse, and several other banners with sales in excess of $275 million dollars, and more than 1,500 employees.
Darioush believes that the company's most valuable asset is its people and that employer to employee communication is essential in establishing long term success. His fervor for the grocery industry has inspired him to serve on the Board of Directors of the Food Marketing Institute, Unified Western Grocers, Western Association of Food Chains, Inc., and was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the California Grocers Association for the 1996-97 terms.
In June of 1996, Darioush won the Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Retail/Wholesale Distribution category for the Greater Los Angeles Area.
Following his lifelong dream and passion for winemaking, and from his vision born out of many trips to Bordeaux, he started the Darioush Winery in Napa Valley in 1998. In just a few short years his wines are now rated by Wine Critics to be among the top 100 wines in the world. Darioush is a member of the Board of Trustees of Food, Wine and Art Copia.

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