Philadelphia Grocer Receives Big Honor for His Work Improving Communities

Last Wednesday, a Philadelphia grocer received a very big honor from the White House. I (Senator Vincent Hughes) am very pleased to let you know that First Lady Michelle Obama recognized ShopRite’s Jeffrey Brown for his work in providing healthy and affordable food to local communities in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. I know you join me in congratulating Jeff for his acknowledgment by the First Lady and for all of his work to improve our communities.

Mr. Brown is President and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, a family owned and operated supermarket chain of 10 Philadelphia area ShopRite supermarkets. Additionally, in 2009, Mr. Brown founded the non-profit, UpLift Solutions, to assist retailers and governments in successfully addressing issues of access to quality, affordable food. UpLift allows Mr. Brown to share his supermarket model and experience, on a national basis.

Mr. Brown was invited to join Mrs. Obama at the White House as she outlined the progress of her campaign to bring healthy and affordable food to every community across the country. Mrs. Obama made special announcements in support of significant expansion of access to healthy and affordable food as part of her “Let’s Move” campaign.

Jeff’s efforts to make quality, reasonably priced foods available to the people in my District are commendable, and the honor given by the White House is very well deserved. His ShopRite supermarket at Parkside Plaza is a perfect example of successful community leadership and development. Not only did putting a ShopRite in the Parkside neighborhood allow individuals in that community access to affordable food, it went a long way in helping to revitalize the community. The same is happening in the current development of Baker’s Square in North Philadelphia.

The development of these stores and the shopping complexes that they anchor are important for so many reasons, but the most important may be the jobs they bring with them. The ShopRite stores alone provide good jobs to those in the neighborhood, and the additional retail outlets that are built around them do the same.

In a time when an economy is struggling, and a state with a budget that does not put the priorities of Pennsylvania’s people first, job creation becomes even more vital. And because of that, I again say, “thank you” and “congratulations” to Jeffrey Brown for investing in communities others might overlook, for listening to the people in the neighborhoods and for giving back. You are a true leader.