The Local Checkout: East Coast family of grocers builds pool to save others; Oregon-based grocer plants trees

Welcome to The Local Checkout, a weekly Winsight Grocery Business column about independent grocers from Editor Diane Adam that is published each Friday.   

Grocery stores are like people—they come in all different shapes and sizes. And here at The Local Checkout, I’ll be taking a closer look through a wide lens of independent grocery stores. Because just like people—they all matter.  

A splash to save others 

Stew and Kim Leonard, of the Stew Leonard's family of grocery stores on the East Coast, lost their 2-year-old son in a tragic drowning accident over 35 years ago. In the years since, they have worked to ensure that others honor the boy’s memory, just as they do.  

They have one goal in mind: To turn their family tragedy into a potential lifesaver, by spreading the message of pool safety. The grocers have dived headfirst into making this goal a reality. How? By building a pool, of course. 

On Monday, the Leonards attended the groundbreaking and pool-filling ceremony for the Stewie the Duck Swim School in Norwalk, Connecticut.  

The state-of-the-art aquatics facility, which will teach lifesaving techniques and pool safety, plans to offer over 10,000 lessons every year to children ages 6 months to 18 years old, according to the grocery retailer’s website. 

All proceeds from the Stewie the Duck Swim School will be donated to the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation to help fund swimming lessons for children in need as well as lifeguard training at its partner organizations throughout the country.  

Grocer speaks for the trees 

Oregon-based New Seasons Market, a friendly neighborhood grocery store, partnered with cheese monger Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) to drive climate action by providing $15,000 each to plant nearly five acres of vegetation on regional dairy farms within the TCCA Cooperative. And yes, that includes trees, prompting the Lorax to report that this grocer speaks for the trees. 

Advocacy at work 

Mom’s Organic Market this week testified at Maryland’s General Assembly in favor of banning PFAS, also referred to as “forever chemicals” in pesticides, which according to the EPA can “can accumulate and persist in the human body for long periods of time.” The good news is, the bill passed, according to a tweet posted by the grocer. 

And in case you are wondering, MOM’s is always looking out for the kiddos, too. The Maryland-based grocer does not allow products to target children with licensed cartoon characters on the package and, according to the grocery retailer’s website, it has banned “over 250 ingredients from its stores, including artificial flavorings, colors, sweeteners as well as preservatives and hydrogenated oils.” Seems fitting that moms across America need to thank Mom’s Organic Market for this campaign. 

It's impressive advocacy work from a local grocer that was founded in 1987 by Scott Nash in his mom’s garage with an initial investment of $100. 

Looking out for the little guy 

Lakewood, Colorado-based Natural Grocers is looking to protect one of Earth’s smallest creatures. 

Through its partnership with Beyond Pesticides, Natural Grocers will host its sixth annual Ladybug Love campaign, aimed to protect beneficial insects and create pesticide-free local parks during Earth Month. 

"Over the last five years, our customers' commitment towards our Ladybug Love campaign have enabled Beyond Pesticides to convert a dozen parks and playing fields to pesticide-free zones from Arizona to Utah, with more in the works,” Raquel Isely, VP of marketing for Natural Grocers, said in a statement.  

Shoppers are encouraged to take or renew their pledge online by committing to not using chemicals that harm ladybugs and other beneficial insects at home and to support 100% organic produce.  

Natural Grocers' goal is to raise $25,000 in April for the Organic Parks Project with Beyond Pesticides through various in-store fundraising opportunities found here.   

Slam dunk for groceries 

This week’s shout-out that deserves the hashtag #KindessCostsNothing goes to collegiate basketball star Paige Bueckers. Bueckers and Chegg.org partnered with hunger relief and food recovery company Goodr to launch their first free pop-up grocery market in Minneapolis, during this month’s NCAA Final Four Weekend. The pop-up grocery market at the Sabathani Community Center provided 150 families with free produce, meats and seafood, shelf-stable items, bread, milk, eggs and dairy alternatives. Buckets! 

Thanks for reading The Local Checkout. Got an indie grocery story news item you think I missed? Email [email protected]