Brigido’s Fresh Markets joins Allegiance Retail Services

Grocery retail cooperative Allegiance Retail Services has added Brigido’s Fresh Markets to its roster of supermarket banners.

Brigido’s, with three stores in Rhode Island, joined the co-op upon being acquired by independent grocers Mike and Melissa Fernandez, who already were members as operators of stores under the Foodtown banner, Iselin, New Jersey-based Allegiance said Monday.

With the ownership change, Brigido’s will keep its name and continue to operate under its current retail model. Its stores include locations of 20,000 square feet in North Scituate, 14,000 square feet in Slatersville and 7,000 square feet in Pascoag.

“This was an ideal opportunity for our family,” according to Mike Fernandez, whose family has been in the supermarket business for over 30 years and owns and operates three other stores, including one in New Hartford, Connecticut, and two in Queens, New York. “We wanted to expand our footprint and as a family hoped to move further up the East Coast. When Brigido’s markets became available, it was a perfect match for both families. The Brigidos were looking to sell the markets to someone who would run them as a family fresh market, and we only operate family-owned stores.”

Brigido’s was founded in 1943 by Portuguese immigrant Augusto Brigido, who opened a store in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Serving markets in the northern part of the state and outside Providence, the fresh market-style stores specialize in premium deli, prepared foods, meat, seafood and fresh-baked goods and are known for an extensive offering of fresh produce and a high level of service.

Brigido's announced its new ownership on its website. / Image courtesy of Brigido's Fresh Markets

Allegiance noted that the Brigido’s stores were recently updated, and customers will find a bigger product assortment, a “more robust” promotional program, new lines of organic and natural foods, expanded dairy and prepared foods departments, and an island of imported meats and cheeses. The Brigido’s stores, too, now offer a shopper rewards program, home delivery and curbside pickup.
 
“The changes we made have positioned us to be more competitive with other grocers in the area while maintaining a fresh product line in all departments, especially in our perishable department,” stated Fernandez, a premier member of Allegiance, which will supply the Brigido’s stores.
 
Plans call for grand reopenings and special events at the Brigido’s stores in early September, though the three locations are already operating under the new ownership, announced on the banner’s website.

Overall, Allegiance’s retail network encompasses over 140 supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island under the Foodtown, Freshtown Marketplace, D’Agostino, Gristedes, Pathmark, Morton Williams, LaBella Marketplace, Brooklyn Harvest Market, Market Fresh, Big Deal Food Market, Green Way Markets, Food Basics and and Shop n Bag banners. The company’s private brands include Foodtown, Green Way and Rancher’s Legend.

The most recent banner addition was Morton Williams Supermarkets, an upscale Manhattan grocery chain that joined the Allegiance co-op in November. Morton Williams operates 14 locations in the city plus one in the borough of the Bronx and another in Jersey City, New Jersey.