• USA Today, the national newspaper, recently mentioned The Markets in an article on electric cars.  It noted:

            "In Bellingham, Wash., a charging station was opened at The Market at Fairhaven in January 2010....the first grocery store in the country to install one...people can pull in, plug in and during a shopping trip they can get enough juice to go another 10 miles."

• More kudos for The Markets!  We received a national merchandising award for one of our signature promotions, "Bayou Bash."   The award, one of a dozen given by the National Grocers Association, recognized Bayou Bash in its Best Special Event ad category.  Bayou Bash was held during the traditional Mardi Gras celebration last February at The Market stores in Fairhaven, Birch Bay and Anacortes.  It included hot sauce tasting, a live jazz band, special Cajun foods, contests to win your weight in meat, and much more.  The Markets also received an honorable mention in the charitable cause event cagegory for its "Fundraising for Olivia."  This one-day event in May raised over $10,000 from the proceeds of The Market at Fairhaven's new MarketQ BBQ.  This is the second year in a row that The Markets have won a national merchandising award for our creative ads and promos.