NEW SEASONS MARKET TO OPEN MERCER ISLAND NEIGHBORHOOD STORE

First Puget Sound Area Location for Pioneering Natural Grocer

Committed to Organics, Community, Local Sourcing and Friendly Staff

PORTLAND, Ore. – July 15, 2015 – A certified B Corporation with a reputation as the friendliest store in town, New Seasons Market today announced plans to bring its unique neighborhood grocery shopping experience to the Puget Sound region. Its first area store, at the former Albertsons Town Center location on Mercer Island, will feature the company's signature fresh, local produce, organic artisan breads, sustainably sourced meats and seafood, deli selections and chef-prepared specialties alongside everyday classic brands. New Seasons will remodel the building at 2755 77^th Ave. S.E. and hire friendly, knowledgeable staff to welcome Mercer Island to its new store in fall 2016.

New Seasons Market is an independent, mission-minded neighborhood grocer with 15 stores in the Portland-Vancouver metro area and a recently opened store in California’s Bay Area. Founded in 2000, New Seasons has attracted a loyal following of customers who care about their food, where it comes from and the people they share it with. Eager to create a new neighborhood store that draws on its Portland success and also reflects the unique needs of the Mercer Island community, New Seasons will join in community events and talk to locals to learn about what they’d like to see in their new store. Plans are underway to host a casual social gathering in late summer to meet the community. Those interested in learning more can connect on the New Seasons Market Mercer Island Facebook page or email mercerisland@newseasonsmarket.com for updates.

“As a progressive employer, New Seasons is dedicated to taking care of our customers and our staff. Environmental stewardship and sustainability are also at the heart of our mission. I believe our values and sense of community very much align with those of the Mercer Island residents and that’s why we chose to open our very first Seattle store here,” said President and CEO Wendy Collie, who spent nearly two decades in the Puget Sound area, including a year on Mercer Island, as an executive at Starbucks while raising two boys. “We look forward to making our Mercer Island store a welcoming, neighborhood gathering spot where people connect over delicious, quality food, get to know our wonderful staff and build community together.”

New Seasons is dedicated to sharing how food is grown, raised and made so shoppers are able to make informed choices for themselves and their families, as part of its unwavering commitment to building a food system for future generations.

A champion of the local food economy, New Seasons is known for its strong relationships with regional growers and producers, and for offering thousands of regional products. More than one third of its store items are sourced from Oregon, Washington and Northern California. Partnerships with Washington producers include those with Conan’s Hot Sauces and Marinades, Inaba Produce Farms, Kelsey Family Farm, Linda Brand Crab, Loki Fish Company, Lummi Island Wild, Mama Nano’s, Murex Cuisine, My Local Honey, OlyKraut, Pure Country Pork, Starvation Alley Farm, Sugar & Salt Bakery, Sunnyslope Farm and Torque Coffee.  As part of its mission to grow the regional food shed, the New Seasons team looks forward to partnering with more Washington vendors.

New Seasons will hire locally to fill the majority of the store’s approximately 150 positions, from floor staff and department managers to cooks, cashiers and wellness experts. Job openings will be posted online when recruiting efforts begin in the summer of 2016.

“We’ll be looking to partner with Mercer Island organizations working to end hunger, educate youth and protect the environment. We look forward to learning more about Mercer Island Youth and Family Services, its food pantry program and other deserving nonprofits,” Collie noted.

About New Seasons Market

New Seasons Market is the ultimate neighborhood grocery store and a champion for healthy regional food systems. Beginning in 2000 with a single Portland store, today it runs 16 stores company-wide − 15 New Seasons Markets in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as one store in San Jose, Calif. It also owns and operates five New Leaf Community Markets in Northern California. New Seasons is dedicated to cultivating community and delivering trademark customer service that lives up to its reputation as “the friendliest store in town.” Its stores offer a wide array of local organic produce at season’s peak, humanely raised meats from animals fed or finished on a non-GMO diet, sustainably harvested seafood, Oregon Tilth Certified Organic artisan breads, handmade freshly prepared foods and unique, artisanal local finds alongside favorite classic brands. It’s also a leader in sustainability, progressive employment and giving back to community, donating 10 percent of after-tax profits to local nonprofits and community organizations. As a result of its mission-driven approach, New Seasons became the first grocer in the world to become a certified B Corporation, which recognizes companies committed to using the power of business for good, taking as much care of staff, community and environment as they do their business.