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The Fresh Market pledges $300,000 to support racial equality

‘We cannot be complacent or silent,’ CEO Jason Potter says

Russell Redman

June 19, 2020

2 Min Read
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The Fresh Market plans to conduct “unconscious bias” training for all employees; sharpen its focus on diversity hiring, career progression and mentoring; and enhance the diversity of the company’s supply chain.The Fresh Market

To promote racial equity and social justice in its communities, The Fresh Market is committing $300,000 to organizations dedicated to supporting civil rights.

The Greensboro, N.C.-based specialty grocer said Friday that the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund will receive a $250,000 donation to aid its efforts in fighting racism and discrimination.

In addition, The Fresh Market has pledged another $50,000 to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. Located in the retailer’s hometown city of Greensboro, the Center honors the nonviolent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins that helped propel the civil rights movement.

The Fresh Market said its funding comes after the recent killings of three African-Americans — Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Ga. in February; Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky., in March; and George Floyd in Minneapolis in May — that triggered ongoing demonstrations nationwide calling on local, state and federal government to address racial injustice.

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“We are deeply committed to serve and make a difference in our communities to ensure inclusion, empowerment and opportunity for everyone,” Jason Potter (left), president and CEO of The Fresh Market, said in a statement. “The commitment we are making today is just a catalyst to our broader diversity action plan to make The Fresh Market an even better place to work for our team members, a better place to shop for our guests, and a stronger partner in our communities.”

Related:Grocery retailers take stand against racism

To that end, The Fresh Market plans to conduct “unconscious bias” training for all employees; sharpen its focus on diversity hiring, career progression and mentoring; and enhance the diversity of the company’s supply chain. 

The company noted that all employees have a shared responsibility to treat co-workers and customers with dignity, provide a safe and fair working environment, and not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

“We cannot be complacent or silent and must play an active role in our stores and communities to combat racial injustice,” Potter added.

Overall, The Fresh Market operates 159 stores in 22 states across the country.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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