Brown & Cole LLC

• Private
• US

Dow Jones Description

For countless generations, Brown & Cole has meant food. By 1960, when George Cole's son Jack B. Cole assumed leadership of the business, it had changed and grown in many directions. The food industry was moving away from corner, full-service stores that even delivered food to the large, self-service formats we know today. Brown & Cole embraced that change, leading other businesses by enthusiastically adding such innovations as frozen food and ready-packaged meat well before its competitors. When Jack's son Craig became president in 1989, the company expanded into new markets beyond its northwest Washington roots. The company grew and remained competitive, using its size to buy in volume, and pass those savings along to its customers. While many smaller grocery companies closed their doors or sold their businesses, Brown & Cole continued to add stores and refine its offerings. Customizing each store to its unique community and its shoppers became a hallmark of Brown & Cole, and although the stores operate under different marketing group names (Cost Cutter, Food Pavilion, $ave-On-Food$, Everson Red Apple, Food Depot), each features a product selection tailored to the desires of local customers. Today, Brown & Cole continues to evolve, as competition from mega supercenter stores aim to squeeze out locally-focused traditional supermarkets. The company is aiming for friendly-sized, convenient-to-shop stores that offer value in dollars, ease and time-saving...

President & CEO

Number of Employees 1,700

Contact Information

Peer Companies

• Kroger Co.
• Safeway Inc.
• Publix Super Markets Inc.
• Whole Foods Market
• Winn-Dixie Stores Inc.
• All Companies