Cleveland's Urban Supermarkets: Innovation, Commitment and Results
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- Collection/Web Exhibit: Feeding Cleveland
- Program Length: 1:04:21
- Description: How important are supermarkets to healthy, livable, well functioning communities? What kind of resources are needed to eliminate food deserts in low income neighborhoods? In the early 1990's Finast Supermarkets received awards and national recognition for their innovative food marketing, financial investment and commitment to Cleveland's underserved urban market. The history of this success begins with Pick-N-Pay neighborhood stores in the 1960's, and their transition to Finast Supermarkets and Superstores via First National Supermarkets in the 1970's and 80's.
Although urban supermarkets are more expensive to operate and more challenging to manage, the strategy that Finast Supermarkets used to successfully operate 10 large, high volume, neighborhood supermarkets in Cleveland is well documented in this video. Relevant details of supermarket operations, food quality and selection, and community and government relations are discussed.
The conversation between First National Supermarkets' two primary leaders and chief executive officers, Richard Bogomolny (1978-1991), and John Shields (1983-1993) covers the major initiatives in Finast Supermarket's urban stores during these years. Susan Alcorn moderated the conversation and directed public affairs from 1982-1997. Finast Supermarkets do not exist today, and several of their locations are being operated by Dave's Supermarkets.
