Jeff Brown, Brown’s Super Stores, Inc., spoke at the Mid-Atlantic Food Trades Organization’s April 6 meeting in Philadelphia. He brought some members of his executive team to the event. From left, Marty Callahan, Joe Hallinan, Michelle Baldwin, Mark Blackwell, Steve Reed, Mouna Haidara and Sandy and Jeff Brown. Jeff Brown, president and CEO of Brown's Super Stores, kicked off the Mid-Atlantic Food Trade Organization's (MAFTO) 2016 meeting schedule on April 6 in Philadelphia.
He urged MAFTO members to oppose the Philadelphia Grocery Tax, which he said will really hurt the city's poor residents. Brown operates ten ShopRite supermarkets, many of which are located in former food deserts.
"I see it as an attack on our industry," Brown said. "We believe that it will hurt stores in food deserts."
Brown also encouraged MAFTO members to join PFMA. He said the association works to prevent burdensome legislation. Issues such as GMO labeling are a threat to businesses. Currently, Vermont is trying to enact its own GMO regulations, so grocers could be faced with following different rules in every state.
"It's so threatening," he said. "I spend more time on this than ever before."
PFMA works on our behalf on these issues.
Brown's Super Stores is enjoying its largest growth to date. Brown has two replacements and six major projects in the works. He recently purchased two former Pathmark locations and the first will open as Fresh Grocer in Wycote, Pa. on May 20.
The new stores will prominently feature fresh departments with organic, natural and upscale items.
"People really want fresh food," he said. "It's the landscape of the food business and I believe what we're doing is not going away."
As center store business moves to online sales, Brown has plans for the extra space in his stores. He envisions a café with live Jazz music, a restaurant concept and a radio station that caters to patrons in the area. He also expects wellness concerns be addressed in the stores. His new partnership with AARP — QLife — encourages dietician or nutritionist consultations and monitoring, benefits assistance and screenings and community health resources in available in some ShopRite stores.
He urged MAFTO members to oppose the Philadelphia Grocery Tax, which he said will really hurt the city's poor residents. Brown operates ten ShopRite supermarkets, many of which are located in former food deserts.
"I see it as an attack on our industry," Brown said. "We believe that it will hurt stores in food deserts."
Brown also encouraged MAFTO members to join PFMA. He said the association works to prevent burdensome legislation. Issues such as GMO labeling are a threat to businesses. Currently, Vermont is trying to enact its own GMO regulations, so grocers could be faced with following different rules in every state.
"It's so threatening," he said. "I spend more time on this than ever before."
PFMA works on our behalf on these issues.
Brown's Super Stores is enjoying its largest growth to date. Brown has two replacements and six major projects in the works. He recently purchased two former Pathmark locations and the first will open as Fresh Grocer in Wycote, Pa. on May 20.
The new stores will prominently feature fresh departments with organic, natural and upscale items.
"People really want fresh food," he said. "It's the landscape of the food business and I believe what we're doing is not going away."
As center store business moves to online sales, Brown has plans for the extra space in his stores. He envisions a café with live Jazz music, a restaurant concept and a radio station that caters to patrons in the area. He also expects wellness concerns be addressed in the stores. His new partnership with AARP — QLife — encourages dietician or nutritionist consultations and monitoring, benefits assistance and screenings and community health resources in available in some ShopRite stores.
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