April 03, 2024
Grace Dickinson/For PhillyVoice
Di Bruno Bros. was founded in 1939 and has five locations in the Philadelphia area.
After his unsuccessful mayoral run, Jeff Brown appears to have refocused on expanding his business portfolio.
A company owned by Brown has invested in local grocery chain Di Bruno Bros., the Philadelphia Business Journal reported. Just exactly how much Brown invested in the chain known for meats, cheeses and gourmet food is unclear, but Sandy Brown, Jeff's wife and vice president of Brown's Super Stores, confirmed that a family-owned entity had become a secured creditor in Di Bruno Bros.
Brown's Super Stores, which is headquartered in Westville, New Jersey, operates 12 ShopRite and Fresh Grocer stores in the region. A secured creditor is an investment that's backed by collateral. Brown was formerly the president and CEO of the company but stepped down during his campaign.
"The Di Bruno Brothers brand has a strong presence in the Philadelphia region," said Sandy Brown in a statement. "Di Bruno Brothers has been a specialty grocer in the city since 1939 and we are excited to take this unique brand and experience to the next level of retail excellence."
Most of the details of the investment remain under wraps, however the Browns plan to use their retail experience and technology to "create a new entity that is financially resilient and builds upon the exceptional quality and customer experience." Di Bruno's locations are closed Thursday for a technology update.
A source told the Inquirer that customers wouldn't notice the changes to Di Bruno Bros., and that the current owners would remain at the company. Di Bruno Bros. was founded in 1939 and has five locations in the Philadelphia area.
"Along with the entire Di Bruno family, my cousins, Emilio, Billy and I are grateful to our many employees, customers, vendors, and the 'City of Brotherly Love' for helping us make Di Bruno Brothers the extraordinary brand it is today," said DiBruno CEO Bill Mignucci. "We are confident that a like-minded family business will fuel the brand's growth and more importantly preserve the legacy that Danny and Joe started 85 years ago."
