Clean Ocean Advocate, September 2006
SEA SCENES: COA Makes “The Dean’s List”
Through their passion for a natural organic lifestyle, Dean Nelson and his wife Loretta created Dean’s Natural Food Market in 1996. Their goal was to create a health food store in New Jersey where people could ask questions and learn about organic foods, vitamins, and healthy lifestyles. Today, in an effort to improve their community the Nelson family created a customer loyalty program to support local groups.
“Raising awareness must not stop with ourselves, but should extend out to our community. I have lived by the ocean my entire life and could not, and would not ever be away from it. It only makes sense to support COA, a local group that looks after our community’s most precise resource, the ocean,” said Dean Nelson, Owner, Dean’s Natural Food Market. “I want to be more than just a business in the community. I feel a natural food store’s purpose is to create health and well-being. This extends beyond the four walls of our stores. We want to be a role model of social consciousness for individuals and other businesses. At the end of the day, I want people to know we really care and that we made a difference.”
“The Dean’s List”: Dean’s Customer Advantage Card Program:” When you reach 250 points (each point is a $1 spent in the store), Dean’s mails you a $9 gift certificate and $1 is donated and matched by Dean’s. That’s $2 donated to local organizations (see above photo and caption). To join the “The Dean’s List”, apply for a Customer Advantage card at Dean’s stores in Ocean and Shrewsbury. For more information and store locations, visit www.deansnaturalfoodmarket.com.
