Newest Haggen NW Fresh store hosts grand opening

"We put a lot of thought and research into what it meant to be a Northwest grocery store," explained C.J. Gabriel, Jr. (Gabe), president and CEO of Haggen. "The pillars that emerged from that research were community, homemade, and delight. And in every store where we've implemented the Northwest Fresh ideals, we've seen customers jump in with both feet because there's nothing else quite like Haggen."

Following the principles of the Northwest Fresh concept, celebrations in Shoreline are focused on building excitement for customers. Following a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Wednesday, August 1 with local dignitaries and Haggen leadership team, the store will hold a day-long celebration on Saturday, August 4.

Events planned for the Saturday event include:

• Northwest Food Fair (featuring more than 20 local Washington state vendors/producers)
• Splash The Otter Scavenger Hunt for kids
• Northwest Harvest Food Drive
• Surprise! Your Groceries are Free! for randomly-selected customers checking out between 11am-4pm
• Golf trip giveaway
• And much more!

Haggen is the oldest and largest independent grocery retailer in the state with 28 stores in Washington and Oregon. Its roots run deep into Northwest culture and the company is uniquely able to translate that culture into a grocery experience for a region that is three times more likely to value local, quality food than the rest of the nation, according to surveys from both Yale University and NSON Opinion Strategy.

"Local food has always been important," said Rick Haggen, whose family started the company in 1933. "But it's the little things that make all the difference. The cow, for example. People love the cow in our new Northwest Fresh stores."

The cow has become a new iconic element of the stores; a life-size dairy cow replica that is not only playfully "moooved" to different departments (to the delight of customers), and has been loaned out to community members who want to borrow her. Most recently, a 13-year-old boy from Bellevue borrowed "Betsy" (named by local students in a community contest) to help raise money for  the Heifer Foundation as part of his held at his bar mitzvah.

The newly redone Haggen Northwest Fresh Shoreline store will have its cow, too. And after the 20+ local vendors featured at Northwest Food Fair on the August 4 opening day, it will continue to feature plenty of fresh, local foods as only an independent grocer like Haggen can do.

The Shoreline store marks the fourth of ten stores to be remodeled and converted into the Haggen Northwest Fresh brand this year.  Additional stores planned for 2012 include Woodinville, Lake Stevens and several others in Bellingham.

About Haggen

Haggen, Inc. operates 28 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug names. Headquartered in Bellingham, it is the largest independent grocer and sixth-largest private company based in the State of Washington. For more information, visit www.haggen.com and www.top-foods.com.

Media Contact:
Heidi Happonen, The Fearey Group
206.343.1543
[email protected]

SOURCE Haggen