Farm Fresh Corporate Office & Headquarters

I am writing in response to Ms. Birdsong's post on 4/27/12. I personally know the manager she is talking about. She is one of the most caring, giving people I have ever met! Anyone that knows her knows that she would not profile someone because they were gay, bisexual, transgender or lesbian. It is absolutely absurd. There had to be a reason that the customer was being followed. That store has a high occurence of shoplifting and violence and she deals with it on a nightly basis. She has been threatened with knives and other sorts of violence and I would bet that the iccidents of shoplifting have decreased since she was transferred there. She has been a loyal employee of Farm Fresh for many years and I am sure was doing whatever she felt was necessary to protect the assets of the store!!

I'm sending this letter because I go to Farm Fresh about 3x a week. I will not return until the manager at the Ocean View locations is disciplined, sent to sensitivity training and attends diversity training. Further, I am contacting the Virginian Pilot to share this story. It can only be expected that your store would have a highly diverse group of shoppers. Tourists, handicapped people, old people, gay people and straight people. It is clear this customer was being followed not because he was seen stealing something but because the manager didn't like "his kind". Unacceptable. This kind of targeting of ANY individual is not only immoral, it is against the law. You must take action at once. CHristina Birdsong 256-9476 Norfolk VA A friend and LGBT ally, Melissa Richard, just shared this about her experience at Farm Fresh Ocean View. After you read, please pick up the phone and let Farm Fresh Ocean View know that this is not acceptable. OV: (757) 587-0200 and corporate: (757)306-7006 OK I just got really, really upset. Was in the Farm Fresh in OV and noticed a guy I thought (from the back) was a friend of mine, so I turned my cart and got ready to head over. Right about then, I saw a store manager following the guy...I mean, like not even trying to hide it. So, naturally, I'm intrigued and grabbing stuff for dinner as I'm following this weird duo, him apparently oblivious to this manager very obviously following him. He checked out and I was over in the produce section, still kind of watching (although I had seen at this point that he wasn't my friend but I was intrigued). What happened next made my brain implode. He paid & was heading for the door when that same manager asked to see in his bag (at this point, I should probably point out that this guy was gay, kind of flamboyant, and carrying a bag...like a man bag or something?). She said because he had a bag that it was "suspect". So, naturally (as I would have done) he gets mad! He raises his voice and says, "You think I didn't see you following me? You follow me around in here all the time!" And she says, "Why you carrying a bag in here to go shopping?" [Side note: WTF? Who cares about his damn bag?] He then says, "Oh, so because I'm a GAY man carrying a big GAY bag, you need to follow me around?" So she tells him to leave and he said, "You're going to have to call the police then, because I'm suing the shit out of this store, and you, for discrimination!" At this point, a HUGE guy steps up behind the manager, apparently a customer, and beginning posturing like he was going to jump this guy, all the while calling him a f****t. At this point, I was fuming and trying to figure out how I could help him (since I did see that manager following him) but I had my daughter with me! At this point, a security guard grabs the guy by the arm and pulls him outside the door, but instead of going back in, the manager follows him outside, pointing her finger and acting, I'm sorry, VERY ghetto..yelling and kept saying he was "suspect". Then the police arrive. The two officers split up, one talking to the guy and one talking to the manager. The general manager, a very nervous looking white guy, had come out by that point and from what I could tell was telling the manager to shut up, but she kept talking over him telling the police he "looked" like he was stealing. Um, I had seen him too....he no more looked like I was stealing than I did...or any other customer. I have a pretty big purse, too, does that mean I'm "suspect"? Because of her continued antagonizing, he kept raising his voice to defend himself. Before I knew it, this guy was cuffed against the wall! The police went through his bag....NO STOLEN GOODS. Yet they did NOT uncuff him or ask the store manager, who was obviously irate and riling everyone up, to go back in the store. So they supposedly arrested this guy for 'disorderly conduct' when the only one being disorderly was the manager? WTF?? I was pissed.... I was so mad I was shaking and was in tears by the time I went home. I'd like to call the Norfolk Police Department and offer my statement.....can you even do that? I was, honestly, terrified to get involved at the store b/c my daughter was with me and I didn't want to drag her into anything like that, but the whole situation was WRONG. WRONG WRONG WRONG. The part that ultimately turned my stomach and made me vow to NEVER go back to Farm Fresh in OV again was the comments made by EMPLOYEES while the incident was going on. I heard no less than FOUR employees, in uniform, call the man a f****t or f*g. I was horrified. I was so, SO pissed off I was shaking. The girl checking me out made a comment, so I told her nice and loud that this would be my LAST time spending my money at this store if this is how the staff treats its LGBT customers. I'm still pissed off as I'm writing this. I know that I'm straight...I know that I'll never know what it feels like to be a target or to receive direct discrimination because of how I walk, or talk, or wear my hair, or a bag I carry....but I would have hoped, in that whole store, that there would have been more people to stand up to those disgusting employees calling him a discriminatory slur. I thought we, as a human race, were really getting there. Today I saw differently. I'm calling the Norfolk PD in a bit to see if the guy was taken in, and if he was, I'm going in and giving a statement. The guy was NOT acting suspicious in any way, and from that manager's behavior and the subsequent words of the staff, it reeks of discrimination to me. I've seen guys in there with BACKPACKS on (bags much bigger than his bag), homeless-looking guys with bags, and none of them have ever been followed or accused of stealing. I'm horrified that this happened right in my neighborhood and to one of my neighbors, and I sincerely hope I can help him.

The Seafood Manager at the strawbridge store recently cooked two Lobsters for my wife and I during Super Bowl Sunday. They were the best lobsters we ever had. Sprig is always giving me vital tips in cooking seafood. Please rcognize Sprig for her extraordinary customer service. Thank you so much !

HI I am 1 of 10 senior citizens that shop at your store and we all want to know if gloria that works at the salad bar still works there, if not what happened to her. she had excellent customer service skill and a very nice personallity. she should be regcoginized for her positive attituded and the way that she treats your customers. She is a very good person and should be treated as such. It's very disappointing to hear that such a very hard worker has lost their job. I'm glad that i don't have to work in this day and age you don't give people a chance to make up for mistakes now a days, but you KNOW thats not a good thing because they say GOD don't like ugly, and what goes around comes around. So you all think about that. THIS IS AT THE BERKLEY STORE IN NORFOLK VA.

I think you should have a stop sign painted on the street at the E. little Creek road location just before you go inside the doors were the deliver truck is always park to alert the customers. The paper bags should be double bag and item that are perishable should be place inside the plastic recycle bags inside of the paper bag. You need arrow to direct your customer out of the parking lot

Hi my name is Janice. I have to tell you about this lady name Gloria that works in your Berkley store in Norfolk Va. I don't usually shop at your stores, but I was running late one evening so i decided to stop in to get some coleslaw. I was going pass the salad bar and stopped to ask her where it was, she started to tell me but then decided to take me and show me. I started talking about my husband who had passed not to long ago. I was telling her about how in North Carolina we use to make our own coleslaw and BAR-B-QUE. I found out that she was also from North Carolina. So anyway to make a long story short she started to tell me about a new Bar-b-que that was in stock,and how it didn't have as much vinergar in it so i took some home and tried it. I have to say it was very good. I must commend her on her accommodating assistance. I became a Farm Fresh shopper that day. Everytime I came in there she remmembered me and my husband, I thought that she was such a positive person. I THINK YOU NEEDED MORE PEOPLE LIKE HER INSTEAD OF FIRING HER IT WAS HEART BREAKING FOR ME. SO I WILL NO LONGER PATIONIZE YOUR STORE. I THINK THAT I WILL POST THIS ON OTHER WEB SITES TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT HER. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING

i posted a comment a few weeks ago but i forgot to put the store i was wondering WHAT HAPPENED TO GLORIA? how could you get rid of such a good customer service person. she was such a pleasant person when she was helping you, she always had a smile on her face even when she was out there pushing those shopping carts. this was at the BERKLEY STORE IN NORFOLK,VA. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN A 5TARS BUT NOW THAT SHE'S GONE I DON'T THINK SO

OMG WHAT HAPPENED TO MS. GLORIA? SHE WAS AWESOME. I USE TO COME IN THE STORE TO GET THE SALADS. UNFORTUNATLY I CAN'T CATCH THE SALADBAR OPEN NOW THE THING I LIKED ABOUT MS. GLORIA IS THAT IF I GOT THERE AFTER SHE WAS STARTING TO TAKE IT DOWN SHE WOULD ALLOW ME TO STILL MAKE THE SALAD EVEN IF SHE HAD TO BRING SOME ITEMS BACK OUT. SHE SHOULD BE REGCOGINIZED FOR HER EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT INSTEAD I HEARD SHE WAS FIRED! WHAT PART OF THE FAMILY WAS SHE? NOT VERY IMPORTANT ONE WAS SHE!!!!!. I WILL TAKE MY BUSINESS ELSE WHERE. I MUST SAY I THINK YOU LOST A VERY ,VERY GOOD WORKER, OH WELL GUESS YOU DIDN'T CARE ABOUT PLEASING YOUR CUSTOMERS. THIS WAS AT THE BERKLEY STORE IN NORFOLK VA. I PROMISE YOU SHE WILL BE MISSED***********

not to be picky, but i posted a comment on 7/27/2010 and it is now a year later almost and still no reply from farm fresh! That is too funny...do you guys even read this stuff? why don't you hire me to work your customer complaints and clean up your stores fast. first by firing all your upper level mgmt. and corp officers who apparently do nothing anyway. sorry about the lack of caps but it's a lack of respect for you as you have shown me, your customer....

To Whom it may concern: I had an incident happen at store 911 on May 21st and a report was made by the Manager Jonathan Webber. I received a letter of apology from Dan Leighton with SuperValu and later a call closing my report stating that the store was not negligent. This finding is very disturbing considering what happened. I was shopping and reached for a can of cake icing and there were some tall cans of icing on the top shelf that are heavy aerosol cans of icing and weigh 1.06 lbs each. Five came at my face and one nailed me on my upper lip. My lip had a dent in it that lasted a week and Mr. Webber could see the dent and that I was bleeding. Mr. Webber insisted on making an incident report. I noticed on further examination in my car mirror when I got back into my vehicle that my gum was also bleeding. This discomfort lasted for several days and made eating an unpleasant experience. I made sure to take pictures two days later since I was still in pain. I now wish I had taken pictures right after since I now am being treated like this was my fault. I am writing this because I will never shop at Farm Fresh again and am shocked that no one wants to take responsibility to what happened to me on May 21st. Mr. Webber has been very professional and even gave me a number to call after I told him how unhappy I was with the findings and treatment from Mr. Leighton. I made sure the cans were not on the top shelf and asked Mr. Webber to weigh the cans for me. I called the number Mr. Webber gave me to explain my concerns when a rude lady asked me to hold, then put Mr. Leighton whom I did not want to speak to again. I work as an Assistant Manager at T-Mobile and we as a company always try to make the customer happy doing whatever it takes to save them from leaving T-Mobile. In the beginning I was not out to profit from this in any way, now I am extremely upset that the chain of command ends with Mr. Weber and Mr. Leighton. I will continue to discuss this and take further action until I have a resolution that I am happy with. Beware customers if anything happens to you in Farm Fresh, they could find you at fault. Sincerely yours, Luray L Hall

FARM FRESH SALAD BAR: The store in Great Bridge on south Battlefield has the worst lettuce condition I've ever seen on a salad bar. It's soaking wet, old, bruised and nasty. The day I was there several people complained to each other than to the salad bar prep employee. She was obnoxious. When asked for fresh lettuce, she said "No" this is all they have. What a lie! There was fresh produce right in front of her and bags of fresh lettuce too. Not only was this lettuce unsightly but it was unhealthy. My next stop is to call the BOARD OF HEALTH and complain to them. They are recycling old lettuce & spinach over and over, a nasty unsafe practice. The rest of the store is great but I'll never trust that salad bar again until the person who is responsible for it, is fired or retrained! Mark

I personally HATE being asked about "Rounding Up" for CHKD. It makes me feel like such a grinch to so NO, and, I feel I shouldn't have to explain. It is so very personal - and - heartbreaking. Not once, but, twice. Customers shouldn't be put on the spot like that. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have to explain how I look to be so cold to those around me, but, when you are directly affected by the LACK OF, and, NO Ronald McDonald House, and, expected to support something where YOUR family was in need, it hits a sore spot.

LOVE YOUR STORE BUT............... the SWEEPING at the salad bar is a bit much!!

Farm Fresh is getting toooo expensive. I know gas prices are rising the cost of every thing but 5.08 for a gallon of milk when 7-11 sells it for 3.69 is CRAZY. What is Farm Fresh doing to us?

I would like to say that I had the best experience at my Farm Fresh at 2129 General Booth Blvd. My twins birthdays was New Year's Eve and I had forgotten to order the cake. I went into the bakery at my Farm Fresh stressed out looking to buy just the characters to place on a plain cake . Stephanie in the bakery found out my situation and told me she would be getting off at 1pm but if I'd like she would stay a bit later and make me a cake and do half Minnie and half Little Mermaid for them which is what they had wanted on their cake. She was wonderful and the cake was spectacular ;she saved my sanity and my daughters were thrilled. Because of Stephanie I will be a loyal shopper for years to come. Thank you for hiring such wonderful people !

To All Concerned, I am a Life Member of VFW Post 5500 Hampton, VA. In the past years, we have had a wonderful communication relationship with Farm Fresh. This past and current year, it appears that the communication and follow-up has been poor. This is coordination is with the Corporate office only. The Store Managers at Farm Fresh in Hampton is superb ( Mr. Dalton)... however, our Poppy year is just about done and I have been patient to all the representatives to get back with me with the approval to solicit at the Fresh Store in Hampon on Colieum Dr., thus far this has not occurred. At this point, my request extends to a donation from Farm Fresh as a means to subsitidize the funds needed to be applied to our Youth and VOD Schalorship fund that we award annually. If the Corporate office can not provide solicitation priviledges to the Hampton Farm Fresh Store, then please consider a business opportunity to donate funds to William t. Allen Memorial Post #5500, ATTN: John King, Community Activity Chairman, 28 Red Robin Turn, Hampton, VA 23669, to support this important endeavor for our Youth and future leaders. Thanking you in advance. (this review reflects upon the lack of coordination with the Corporate office only) John King

Farm Fresh Franklin Va Having decided I needed a large amount of groceries, I went to Farm Fresh ,after an hour or so I went to the check out counter with identification in hand, I wrote a check for Three hundred and ten dollars, only to be told I ahd over extended, Now having shopped many years and some at Farm Fresh, I had never heard of this befores, no had my check refused, I had to tear up my check nad us a credit card, If I wanted my groceries. I will think twice before I shop there again. I called Food Lion and they do not have a policy like that for written checks for groceries, so that is where I will shop from now on. \ Gloria Sargent glorsarg@aol.com

Wow, on july 27th I posted a complaint about Chimney Hill Farm Fresh and their corp. office. It is now August 11th and STILL no response! What does it take to get you guys moving?

I want to Thank the young man I spoke to in customer service at your corp. office at Chimney Hill for not only not following up on my complaint, but also not having anyone else follow up! For a store being as close to their corp. office as Chimney Hill is, I thought it was surprising that it was run so poorly. Now I see why. If corporate does not take complaints seriously, why would the store? It's chaotic and dirty in the store and it's a reflection of your corporate office. It is dingy looking and unprofessional as well. But this takes the cake! I spoke to him a week and 1/2 ago and still no follow up? Well, like I said, it figures. I will take my business a couple of miles further down the road to Harris Teeter, where they actually greet you with a smile and it's clean! I can pay a few cents more for that. pati hennard

I registered for and attended the car giveaway on Coliseum drive today 6/19/10 -- I drove from my home fully expexting to have an equal chance to win the car --- lo and behold we were informed (by word of mouth) that 10 people had already been selected to get a key to see if their's started the car. I AM VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED -- NO WHERE IN THE LITERATURE WAS IT MENTION THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL BE PRESELECTED. The material simply stated YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!! I met individuals from as far away as Elizabeth City, N.C. and Virginia Beach, Va; these people as well as myself had no idea that we did not have a chance to win the car -- a lot of wasted gas AND TIME. This was a poorly run sweepstakes -- I will never enter another FARM FRESH SWEEPSTAKES as long as I live. I am very disappointed!!