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Last week, MOM’s Organic Market opened its 21st store and first New York location in Dobbs Ferry, a suburban town about 20 miles north of New York City in Westchester County.
"This is our first MOM's location outside of the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Scott Nash, MOM’s founder and CEO. “Dobbs Ferry is essentially the gateway into the Northeast for us—so we're really excited to finally open up NY and beyond."
Scott Nash, Founder and CEO, MOM's Organic Market
Like all MOM’s markets, the Dobbs Ferry store will feature 100-percent certified organic produce, with a focus on high-quality loose (rather than packaged) items.
“We are proud of our produce departments and confident in our setup and strategy,” said Chris Miller, MOM’s produce director and meat and seafood coordinator. “And we're excited to bring that to a new region.”
MOM's Organic Market, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Miller said Four Seasons Produce, which services MOM’s Mid-Atlantic locations, will also be the main distributor partner for the Dobbs Ferry store. “They’ve done an amazing job supporting us through all of COVID and all the snowstorms, and we're excited to keep our partnership rolling in the Northeast as well.”
We are proud of our produce departments and confident in our setup and strategy, and we’re excited to bring that to a new region.” -Chris Miller
In terms of direct grower relationships, Miller said MOM’s Dobbs Ferry location is partnering with Lancaster Farm Fresh, a Pennsylvania-based Amish farmer cooperative that also supplies MOM’s Mid-Atlantic stores.
Chris Miller, Produce Director and Meat and Seafood Coordinator, MOM's Organic Market
“Lancaster Farm Fresh does a lot of business in New York City, so hopefully it's a familiar and prized brand in Westchester as well. They will be our primary regional supplier in season,” Miller said, adding that he expects to bring on some new local grower relationships after the Dobbs Ferry location is more established.
“We’re excited to build the New York state local organic selection,” he said. “As we’re set up and rolling, that's usually when we tend to start getting local grower inquiries and start getting a feel for the region and the local suppliers that will be in the store.”
MOM's organic produce section in Dobbs Ferry, NY
Miller said he anticipates strong consumer demand for organic produce in Dobbs Ferry and surrounding towns. “The New York metro area is a pretty food-educated region,” he said. “We typically do find a receptive organic customer base in metropolitan and suburban areas. So I feel the customer base in the Dobbs Ferry area is definitely already in tune with organic products and organic produce.”
In terms of competitive strategy, Miller said MOM’s will take the same approach in Dobbs Ferry that it has in its Mid-Atlantic stores. “We believe in going forward in areas that we're strong in,” he said. “We know we're good at organic. We’re passionate about organic! And we're focused on quick turns, high quality, and excellent customer service. We want to build community and build it in a natural way by being true to who we are as a company and having honest interactions with people.”
MOM's Organic Market, Dobbs Ferry, NY
“We typically do find a receptive organic customer base in metropolitan and suburban areas. So I feel the customer base in the Dobbs Ferry area is definitely already in tune with organic products and organic produce.” -Chris Miller
MOM’s is highly dedicated to the well-being of the communities it serves, and it has pledged to donate 5 percent of its Dobbs Ferry sales to local environmental nonprofits during the new location’s first month of business. Each week, the donations will go to a different organization—Groundwork Hudson Valley (Feb 19-21), Sustainable Westchester (Feb 26-28), Federated Conservationists of Westchester County (March 5-7), and Greenburgh Nature Center (March 12-14).
MOM’s Dobbs Ferry has also partnered with Sustainable Westchester to sponsor a local community solar project in nearby Yonkers, New York.
“We believe in going forward in areas that we're strong in. We know we're good at organic. We’re passionate about organic!” -Chris Miller
Miller said one of the things he’s most excited about when it comes to the new store is the opportunity it represents to educate people and further MOM’s mission “to protect and restore the environment.”
MOM's cold case section, Dobbs Ferry, NY
“It's such a cool thing to see new customers who may not have even heard of us and bring them into the fold and really teach the community our values of environmental restoration,” he said.
“And I’d say the other cool side is all the new staff members that get to learn what we're all about. We do a lot of employee education around environmental initiatives and the products we sell. The new store is just such a great opportunity to widen MOM’s influence and have more new interactions with great people.”
