Business & Tech

New Leaf Community Markets Joins with Portland Company

From New Leaf's website.

New Leaf Market employees were told Tuesday about a merger with 13-year-old Portland-based New Seasons Market. 

It's a major step for the the longtime independent company based in Santa Cruz, which has expanded from a garage in the Westside to eight stores, four in the county and others in San Jose, Pleasanton and Half Moon Bay.
New Seasons Market has 13 stores in the Portland-Vancouver area. New Leaf owner Scott Roseman, who founded the company 28 years ago, will take a position on the board of New Seasons. The current management team will stay in place, according to a release from New Leaf. Both companies are recognized as "B Corporations," which salutes the benefits they give their staffs.

“Joining with New Seasons Market will advance both companies’ missions and values, and creates smart scale on our own terms,” said Roseman. “When we determined it was the right time to consider options to support our healthy growth, we wanted to align with a company that was committed to our values, to local operations and decision making, our support for local communities and our passion for high quality food. For all of these reasons, New Seasons Market is a great match, plus, they are the only grocer in the world other than New Leaf to become a certified B Corporation."

The market for healthy markets has become crowded in Santa Cruz, with competition from Staff of Life and Whole Foods, not to mention regular farmer's markets. 

"Together, the companies will gain long-term benefits from collaboration and sharing best practices in a fast growing marketplace," the company said in a release. "Over time, they will look for opportunities where their combined strength and scale can be leveraged, including providing farmers and local food producers new opportunities to grow their businesses, and giving staff more opportunities for professional advancement."


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