MLA Business Member Spotlight: Edwards Brothers Supermarkets

Edwards Brothers Supermarkets is first and foremost a family company. Currently run by brothers Jeremy and Jason Edwards, the business was founded by their father Dana after he retired from Hannaford after 40 years of employment. Sometime later and after a serious accident, Dana decided it was time to truly retire. His sons stepped forward.

Jeremy Edwards, right, with Dover-Foxcroft store owners Will and Melissa Wedge at the sale of the store in 2022. Photo by K. Foster.

“Customer service is at the forefront of all we do. That’s what sets us apart from the big box stores,” Jeremy said.

The two brothers have been running the company for less than 10 years. “I was at Pepsi Corporation. My father had been asking me to come back,” recalled Jeremy. “So in 2015 I bought his store in Unity with my brother. Then we bought the old Trenton Marketplace in 2020.” In 2022 they purchased the grocery in Dover-Foxcroft from the man who had bought it earlier from their father but who wanted to retire. Now they are building a new building in Winterport to serve as the company’s headquarters.

“We own and operate the stores but are supplied and serviced by Hannaford,” Jeremy explained. “Both our parents worked for Hannaford’s for years so this partnership is natural.”

The brothers pride themselves on their links to local communities. “It comes from how we were raised,” Jeremy said. “We believe in helping out.” The grocery stores support local sports leagues, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and local fundraisers. Currently the brothers are working on setting up a charitable foundation to manage grant making.

Running an independent grocery chain in a world of massive food stores is a challenge, Jeremy admits. “We keep up with the times but also keep the feel of an old-time grocery store. We emphasize quality and savings. The aim is to do the right things by our customers.”

Joining the MLA as a business member seemed the right thing to do as well. “We are blue collar folks. Our communities are blue collar too. The attacks on the lobster fishery are disheartening. We recognize that lobstering keeps a lot of these communities going,” Jeremy said.

Welcome to Jeremy and Jason Edwards and Edwards Brothers Supermarkets!