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New Seasons Market
Company typeGrocer
IndustryRetail
Founded1999
Founders
  • Brian Rohter
  • Stan Amy
  • Chuck Eggert [note 1]
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon[2]
Number of locations
21 (2024)
Key people
CEO: Nancy Lebold
ProductsLocal and conventional foods, homegoods, deli meats and baked goods.
Number of employees
2,700+ (2022)[needs update]
ParentGood Food Holdings (subsidiary of Emart; 2020–present)
Websitenewseasonsmarket.com

New Seasons Market is a chain of neighborhood grocery stores operating in the Portland, Oregon metro area, and southwestern Washington. Some of the products offered are organic and produced locally in the Pacific Northwest, but conventional groceries are also sold.

Founded locally in 1999, the company was majority acquired by private equity firm Endeavour Capital in 2013 and purchased California-based New Leaf Community Markets in 2013, which it later sold. In 2019, it was sold to Good Food Holdings, a subsidiary of South Korean retail conglomerate Emart.

The company currently operates 21 stores in the greater Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area, including Hillsboro, Beaverton, Happy Valley, Vancouver, Tualatin, Lake Oswego and Milwaukie. The company has faced criticism and a worker unionization drive starting in 2022[3] has led 11 Portland-area stores to vote to unionize and the National Labor Relations Board to charge New Seasons Market with unfair labor practices in regard to anti-union activity.[4][5][6]

History

[edit]

New Seasons Market was founded in the Raleigh Hills neighborhood in the metropolitan area of Portland, Oregon, in 1999 by three families and 50 friends.[7] By 2008, it had grown to nine stores and about 1,800 employees. By November 2013, New Seasons had grown to 15 stores and 3,000 employees, when it purchased California-based New Leaf Community Markets[8] and New Leaf founder Scott Roseman joined the New Seasons Board. In June 2013, New Seasons became the first grocery store to be B Corporation certified.[9]The company earned re-certification in 2015 and 2017.[10]

New Seasons corporate headquarters in the former Washington High School building

In November 2013, Endeavour Capital, an investment firm, invested $17.5M in New Seasons Market, according to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.[11] Bradaigh Wagner and Stephen Babson, managing directors at Endeavour, later got seats on the board of New Seasons Market.[12] In December 2017, New Seasons Market employees and the Northwest Accountability Project asked B Lab to review the company's B Corp certification based on claims of anti-union activity and Endeavour's financial ties to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.[13]

In February 2018 CEO, Wendy Collie stepped down amid a failed expansion into California and an active employee union organizing campaign.[14] Also in February 2018, two New Leaf stores in California ended their franchisee relationship with the company citing “big changes at the company”.[15]

Orenco Station store

In December 2019, parent company Endeavour Capital announced that it would be selling the grocery chain to South Korean retailer E-mart, specifically to its West Coast grocery chain subsidiary, Good Food Holdings, in a sale transaction that was finalized in early 2020. Details of the transaction include the retention of CEO Forrest Hoffmaster (who later departed in March 2021),[16] the continuance of the organization as a B Corp, the halt of existing plans for expanding the chain, the closure of the store located in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle, the sale of New Leaf Community Markets to Good Food Holdings as a separate subsidiary,[17][18][19] and transition of the Mercer Island store to a Metropolitan Market,[20] which is also owned by Good Food Holdings. With the sale, the company reiterated its commitment "to B Corp standards and will continue to support the regional food economy to help solve social and economic problems, including giving 10% of after-tax profits to the local community."[21] New Seasons Market also introduced a mission advisory council, "chartered with ensuring continuity of the companies' social and community benefit, will provide guidance to the board of directors and company leadership.[22]" Nancy Lebold joined New Seasons Market as CEO in April 2021. [23]

In May 2022, employees at stores in the Portland metropolitan area began attempts towards seeking unionization. Employees cited "changes to the company's culture and business ethics" as primary reasons behind why they began organizing. In late May 2022, New Seasons hired Ogletree Deakins, a law firm that often assists companies in campaigns against union drives, claiming the firm would help them "navigate the nuances of federal labor law.".[24] In August 2022 survey results released by Forbes Magazine in collaboration with Statista, the company was ranked 3rd overall out of employers in Oregon.[25]

The National Labor Relations Board charged New Seasons with unfair labor practices in January 2023 after employees, in collaboration with the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555, filed complaints and claimed that the company had "unlawfully threatened to rescind benefits and rewards to employees that they had been receiving in the event the employees unionized."[26] The company and union settled on a rerun, which took place in February 2024, and staff once again voted against UFCW Local 555 representation.[27]

As of 2024, New Seasons Market's B Corp. rating had dropped to 80.4 by 2021 (prior to worker unionization drives) from a high of 120.5 in 2013 - just above the 80.0 score required for B Corp certification.[28]

Lobbying

[edit]

After encouraging vendors to voluntarily certify their products as GMO free in 2013,[29] New Seasons publicly endorsed the GMO labeling campaign, Oregon Right to Know, in 2014, with continued public advocacy for non-GMO labeling and certification in 2017.[30] In 2014, New Seasons Market also publicly endorsed the marriage equality campaign, Oregon United for Marriage.[31] The following year, the grocer supported raising the minimum wage in Oregon by testifying at the Oregon State Senate hearings.[32] New Seasons Market was in favor of Measure 26–199 in the Oregon's November 2018 election, advocating for affordable housing for residents in the Portland metro area.[33] At the same time, the company announced opposition to Measure 105, which sought to repeal Oregon law prohibiting the use of state and local resources to enforce federal immigration law.[34] As of 2020, New Seasons Market is a participant in the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment, a voluntary agreement for food businesses to publicly commit to decrease food waste 50% by 2030.[35] In 2021, New Seasons Market actively engaged with Oregon state legislators on the passage of the Recycling Modernization Act,[36] aimed at reducing plastic pollution and creating a more equitable materials' management infrastructure. The following year, New Seasons Market executives Nancy Lebold and Athena Petty signed a letter to President Joe Biden with other national brands to advocate for the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act with regard to green infrastructure investments.[37]

Controversies

[edit]

Gentrification

[edit]

When New Seasons opened stores in the North Williams and St. Johns neighborhoods of Portland, some residents questioned if the stores would contribute to the gentrification of these historically black and working-class neighborhoods.[38][39] In an interview with The Oregonian newspaper in 2015 former head of store development, Jerry Chevasuss said that the grocery store targets neighborhoods in the process of gentrification, and that often the addition of a New Seasons will push rents and home values higher, adding to that process.[40]

Some long-time Seattle residents voiced concerns that a planned store in the Central District, a formerly red-lined, historically black, neighborhood in Seattle currently undergoing rapid gentrification, would cater to new residents and not serve existing communities.[41][42] Seattle labor organizations and neighborhood groups also objected to a Mercer Island store for similar reasons.[43][44]

Unionization

[edit]

2017

[edit]

In October 2017 Portland-based employees at New Seasons Market formed the group New Seasons Workers United and launched a public campaign to improve working conditions at their stores.[45] Employees cited changes implemented since Endeavour Capital acquired majority ownership as a major impetus for organizing.[45] Subsequently, New Seasons Market hired the union-avoidance firm Cruz and Associates, notable for its unsuccessful contract with Trump Hotels to prevent unionization of the hotel's employees.[13][46] New Seasons Market faced criticism and two National Labor Relations Board charges alleging illegal retaliation when they fired two employees who had appeared in a union flyer.[13] The charges were later dismissed.[13] Future Oregon Governor Tina Kotek rallied with employees outside of the Arbor Lodge location in support of unionization.[47]

New Seasons Labor Union

[edit]

In May 2022, employees at stores in the Portland metropolitan area began attempts towards seeking unionization, organizing separately with the newly founded independent New Seasons Labor Union and UFCW Local 555,[24] with the NSLU being founded with the intention of unionized workers being independent from the UFCW.[48] New Seasons Market in response, for the second time, hired a lawyer from a law firm that previously had experience advising businesses associated with Donald Trump, Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart. The law firm also was previously hired by Powell's Books during worker unionizations.[49] The Seven Corners location filed with the National Labor Relations Board under New Seasons Labor Union, and the Orenco Station location filed through the representation of the UFCW.[50][51]

On June 23, 2022, workers at the Sellwood location filed with the NLRB under representation from the NSLU to unionize.[52] Workers at the Slabtown in downtown Portland location also filed on August 15.[53][54] On September 1, 2022, workers represented by the UFCW lost the union election at the Orenco Station store in Hillsboro by a vote of 60 to 37.[55]

On September 7, 2022, workers represented by the NSLU won the union election at the Seven Corners store, marking the first ever New Seasons Market to vote to unionize, by a vote of 62 to 15.[56][57][58][59][60] Just a day later, workers at the Sellwood location represented by the NSLU lost their union election by a vote of 33 to 29.[61] On September 16, 2022, workers under the NSLU at the Woodstock location filed to unionize,[62][63] and in October 2022 staff represented by the NSLU at the Concordia and Grant Park locations also filed.[64][65]

On October 14, 2022, representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers filed unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that New Seasons Market engaged in retaliatory tactics and fired an employee at the Orenco Station location that was involved in unionizing workers.[66] On October 20, 2022, workers at the Slabtown location under the NSLU voted to unionize by a vote of 62–14.[67][68][69] On November 15, 2022, workers at the Arbor Lodge location filed to unionize,[70] and by November 28, 2022, over half of all New Seasons Market stores had filed to unionize, with 10 of 19 filing with the National Labor Relations Board, with workers at the Cedar Hills location in Beaverton, Oregon, filing to unionize under the NSLU on that same day.[71][72][73]

On December 9, 2022, workers under the NSLU at the Woodstock location voted to unionize by a vote of 80–18, and on December 13, 2022, the Grant Park location voted to unionize by a vote of 72–22, and as of December 2023, 11 locations are now unionized.[74]

On January 13, 2023, it was found by the National Labor Relations Board that New Seasons Market engaged in unfair labor practices in regard to their attempts to stop union activities at the Orenco Station store. According to a union representative, the company threatened employees based on benefits availability in regard to unionizing. New Seasons Market released a statement disagreeing with the National Labor Relations Board findings.[4] The company and union settled on a rerun, which took place in February 2024, and staff once again voted against UFCW Local 555 representation.[27]

On September 1 2024, workers at the 10 of the 11 unionized locations staged a one-day unfair labor practice strike, which happened concurrently with a week long strike at Portland Fred Meyer locations.[75][76][77]

Workers at all 11 stores unionized under the NSLU voted to strike on November 27 2024, the day before Thanksgiving, and called for customers to boycott the company until a "fair contract could be reached," citing the 2 years it has taken for a union contract to be negotiated with the company, also accusing the company of proposing "non-starter" ideas during bargaining sessions. Workers pointed to the company proposing to cut wages to 20$ an hour for all union workers and cutting health insurance benefits in response to demands for "living wages" based around 27$ per hour. New Seasons Market countered by referencing the three-year period it took for Burgerville workers to reach a contract, releasing a statement saying the company is "committed to finding common ground." [78][79][80]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The main three founders. The families of Rohter, Amy, and Eggert and about 50 of their friends were also involved in the first stores opening. [1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Seasons Market". Encyclopedia.com. January 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  2. ^ Njus, Elliot (September 29, 2014). "New Seasons offices will anchor Washington High School redevelopment". The Oregonian. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ^ Sainato, Michael (2024-11-27). "US grocery workers hit by rising prices: 'We're at the bottom of the food chain'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  4. ^ a b "Federal unfair labor charges against New Seasons could result in a new union election after failed vote". opb. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  5. ^ Staub, Colin (4 January 2023). "Five New Seasons stores now unionized". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  6. ^ Del Savio, Anna (2023-12-11). "2 more Portland New Seasons locations vote to unionize". KOIN.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  7. ^ "New Seasons Market and New Leaf Community Markets close merger with Good Food Holdings". Produce Blue Book. 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2020-02-18.
  8. ^ Culverwell, Wendy (November 12, 2013). "New Seasons to buy California's New Leaf Community Markets". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  9. ^ "New Seasons Market earns B Corp certification for business practices, transparency". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  10. ^ "New Seasons Market Earns B Corp Recertification". Winsight Grocery Business. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  11. ^ "SEC Form D". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  12. ^ "Bradaigh Wagner | Endeavour Capital". Endeavour Capital. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  13. ^ a b c d "New Seasons Market's Old Baggage | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  14. ^ "New Seasons CEO steps down as grocer retreats in California". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  15. ^ "New Seasons franchisee in California bails after 'big changes' at the Portland grocery chain". Business Journal. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  16. ^ "New Seasons/New Leaf CEO to Depart". Progressive Grocer. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  17. ^ Rogoway, Mike (December 10, 2019). "Upscale Portland grocer New Seasons sold to South Korean company, scraps expansion plans". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "Natural retailer New Seasons Market sold to Good Food Holdings". Supermarket News. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  19. ^ Davidson, Kate. "New Seasons Market Selling To Good Food Holdings". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  20. ^ "New Seasons Market closes, transitioning into a Metropolitan Market location". Mercer Island Reporter. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  21. ^ "Natural retailer New Seasons Market sold to Good Food Holdings". Supermarket News. 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  22. ^ Steeve, Dan (1900-01-01). "New Seasons Market and New Leaf Community Markets close merger with Good Food Holdings". Produce Blue Book. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  23. ^ "New Seasons Market taps Nancy Lebold as CEO". 16 April 2021.
  24. ^ a b de Leon, Kristine (2022-06-09). "New Seasons workers launch union push at 2 Portland-area stores". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  25. ^ "America's Best Employers by State 2022". Forbes.
  26. ^ "Federal unfair labor charges against New Seasons could result in a new union election after failed vote". opb. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  27. ^ a b "New Seasons Market LLC | National Labor Relations Board". www.nlrb.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  28. ^ "New Seasons Market - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  29. ^ Hashman, Marissa (October 19, 2023). "Local farmers come down on both sides of I-522". The Columbian.
  30. ^ Anderson, Jennifer (July 8, 2014). "New Seasons endorses GMO label campaign". Portland Tribune.
  31. ^ Szott, Denise (July 8, 2021). "Pride in the Workplace 2021: Corey Routh of New Seasons". Portland Business Journal.
  32. ^ "New Seasons supports Oregon minimum wage hike". KGW-TV. September 24, 2015.
  33. ^ "Washington County Voters' Pamphlet". Washington County Board of County Commissioners.
  34. ^ "Oregon Measure 105, Repeal Sanctuary State Law Initiative (2018)". Ballotpedia.
  35. ^ "Case study: Pacific Coast Collaborative". City of Portland.
  36. ^ "Recycling Modernization Act Passes Oregon Legislature". Association of Oregon Recyclers.
  37. ^ "Letter to President Biden" (PDF). E2.org.
  38. ^ "New Seasons Market: Fans and critics agree new North Portland store will change neighborhoods". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  39. ^ Korn, Peter. "When new store moves in, who has to move out?". Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  40. ^ "New Seasons plans 2 California stores, sets date for Woodstock store opening". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  41. ^ "New Seasons announces Central District store, to mixed local response". The Seattle Times. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  42. ^ "Planned Grocery Store Raises Representation, Labor Concerns in the Central District". The Stranger. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  43. ^ "Controversy, competition greet New Seasons Market as it opens on Mercer Island". The Seattle Times. 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  44. ^ "New Seasons grocery chain runs into labor controversy". The Seattle Times. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  45. ^ a b "New Seasons workers move to unionize". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
  46. ^ "New Seasons Market Hires The Same Union-Busting Firm Donald Trump Used to Fight Workers At His Las Vegas Hotels". Willamette Week. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  47. ^ Harbarger, Molly (2017-12-20). "Tina Kotek to rally with unionizing New Seasons workers". oregonlive. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  48. ^ Garcia, Isabella. "New Seasons Workers Launch Independent Union Effort". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  49. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "New Seasons Hires Another Trump-Aligned Law Firm to Fight Workers Union Efforts". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  50. ^ "'We just want a say': Two local New Seasons stores file to unionize". KOIN.com. 10 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  51. ^ "Attendance policies push workers at two Portland-area New Seasons stores to seek union representation". opb. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  52. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Workers at New Seasons' Sellwood Market Join Unionizing Effort". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  53. ^ Garcia, Isabella. "Slabtown New Seasons Workers Join Push for Independent Union". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  54. ^ Staub, Colin (17 August 2022). "Fourth Portland-area New Seasons launches union". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  55. ^ Leon, Kristine de (2 September 2022). "Workers at Hillsboro New Seasons store reject unionization". oregonlive. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  56. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "New Seasons Workers at Southeast Portland's Seven Corners Market Vote to Unionize". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  57. ^ Lalley, Heather (8 September 2022). "New Seasons Market store votes to unionize". Winsight Grocery Business. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  58. ^ de Leon, Kristine (8 September 2022). "Workers at SE Portland New Seasons store vote to form union". oregonlive. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  59. ^ "First ever union win at New Seasons". nwLaborPress. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  60. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (13 September 2022). "Employees of the Division New Seasons Location Have Voted to Unionize". Eater Portland. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  61. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Workers at Sellwood's New Seasons Market Vote Against Unionizing". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  62. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Workers at Woodstock New Seasons File to Unionize". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  63. ^ Staub, Colin (7 October 2022). "Union spreads at New Seasons". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  64. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Workers at Two Northeast Portland New Seasons Stores File to Join Burgeoning Independent Union". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  65. ^ Staub, Colin (19 October 2022). "Union campaigns launch at two more New Seasons". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  66. ^ Shinn, Troy (14 October 2022). "Union says New Seasons in Hillsboro retaliated against employee". HillsboroNewsTimes.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  67. ^ Staub, Colin (2 November 2022). "A second New Seasons store votes to unionize". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  68. ^ Wong, Janey (21 October 2022). "Slabtown New Seasons Workers Win Federal Union Recognition". Eater Portland. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  69. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Workers at Slabtown New Seasons Vote to Unionize". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  70. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "Staff at North Interstate New Seasons Join Union Drive". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  71. ^ Zielinski, Alex. "The Majority of Portland-Area New Seasons Stores Have Moved to Unionize". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  72. ^ Staub, Colin (30 November 2022). "Union interest spreads to two more Portland-area New Seasons stores". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  73. ^ Bishop, Lauren (2 December 2022). "Cedar Hills New Seasons Market newest location to file for union". BizTrib.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  74. ^ Staub, Colin (14 December 2022). "Workers unionize at two more New Seasons stores". nwLaborPress. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  75. ^ Njus, Elliot (2024-08-27). "New Seasons workers plan 1 day strike at 10 Portland area locations". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  76. ^ "Workers at 10 New Seasons vote to strike in Portland Metro". www.kptv.com. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  77. ^ Crowell, Cameron (2024-09-20). "Portland-wide strike shuts 10 New Seasons stores for a day". NW Labor Press. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  78. ^ Griggs, Taylor. "Unionized New Seasons Workers to Strike on Wednesday Before Thanksgiving". Portland Mercury. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  79. ^ de Leon, Kristine (2024-11-23). "New Seasons workers at 11 Portland area stores plan 1-day strike before Thanksgiving". oregonlive. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  80. ^ "New Seasons workers at 11 Portland-area stores go on one-day strike". kgw.com. 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
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