Mrs. Green’s Natural Markets Has New Locations in Hartsdale, Tarrytown
If you prefer to purchase organic and naturally grown food products you may have noticed a sudden growth in the number of Mrs. Green’s Natural Markets in Westchester County. That’s because the business is rapidly expanding, focused to a large extent on Westchester, and now has locations in Eastchester, Dobbs Ferry, Larchmont, Hartsdale and Tarrytown.
According to Joshua Sigel, Chief Information Officer for Natural Markets Food Group, this expansion has been in the making for quite a while and will continue as the company identifies new locations.
In an interview with the Examiner, Sigel explained that a company called Planet Organic had originally acquired the locally based Mrs. Green’s, which was then picked up by Canadian-based Natural Market Restaurant Corporation, which eventually became Natural Markets Food Group.
The current emergence of many new Mrs. Green’s stores in the area is a direct result of the parent company relocating its world headquarters from Canada to Irvington, New York, last year.
Originally there were 12 stores and now there are 17. “We are actively looking for real estate,” Sigel said.
The emergence of new stores allows the company to operate with effective economies of scale and can therefore offer good prices for often hard to come by quality and unique food items.
“We come out of the gate with efficient pricing,” Sigel noted, “and then do what we can to make everything work.”
Demand for fresh, organic, pesticide free food is in high demand. And, Sigel says the demand continues to increase, as there is an almost 180-degree turn around in people’s attitudes toward the food they eat as well as other products they buy. “People are becoming more Earth friendly,” he said. “All natural means no chemicals, no antibiotics and no food stabilizers.”
Mrs. Green’s seeks to sell items grown on local farms. “It is healthier to eat regionally,” Sigel explained. “We are very supportive of local farmers and prefer to work with local farms. However, if we cannot find products in demand within a region, we will bring them in from outside.”
Farmers are not the only healthy food businesses Mrs. Green’s supports. “We like to sell products made within communities such as ice cream, cookies, cupcakes and other baked items,” Sigel said, adding that depending on the neighborhood where a Mrs. Green’s is located, there will be different unique food items for sale.
Other products within the stores include grocery dry goods and fully baked items, herbal remedies, vitamins and supplements, organic and natural cosmetics, as well as yoga and baby clothing.
Sigel is particularly proud of the deli and prepared food items for sale. “They are freshly made and unique,” he said. “We have a new line of fully baked pizzas, even cheese trays. We worked hard to develop an array of quality prepared items that people can take home and simply heat up. We’re sort of like a Super Store in that way,” he said.
While the number of farmers markets in Westchester communities is growing, Sigel says Mrs. Green’s wants to bring that farmer’s market feel within its stores.
If you do plan to take a shopping trip to a Mrs. Green’s nearby there are kiosks in the stores where you can submit your ideas. “We are always looking for feedback,” Sigel says. “Customers comments are sent directly to the corporate leadership, so you know your opinions will be heard.”
Mrs. Green’s Natural Market, Hartsdale is located at 381 North Central Avenue. Store Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Tarrytown Market is located at 45 North Broadway, Tarrytown and is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visit mrsgreens.com for the addresses of other store locations.
