From Classroom to Checkout: My Experience with Brown’s Super Stores Inc.

My co-op at Browns Superstores Inc. was a fantastic opportunity provided to me by Saint Joseph's University, allowing me to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world application. As a food marketing student, I've spent plenty of time studying consumer behavior and retail theory. However, there is no substitute for the "real deal". I had the incredible opportunity to trade my textbooks for a name badge at Brown's Super Stores Inc., working across their diverse portfolio of brands including Shoprite, The Fresh Grocer, and the iconic Di Bruno Bros. This experience not only enriched my understanding of the retail industry but also honed my skills in various areas such as customer service, merchandising, and marketing strategies. Working alongside dedicated professionals, I gained invaluable insights into the operations of a successful grocery business, fostering both personal and professional growth that will undoubtedly benefit my future career.

Photo Taken at Brown's Small Buisness Incubator

The Digital Side: Understanding eCommerce Operations

My main project focused on optimizing Di Bruno Bros.’ performance on DoorDash and Instacart. At first, it seemed like a purely digital project, but I quickly learned it was just as much about operations as it was about marketing.

Working under Jenna, the Social Media and Marketing Supervisor, I supported the digital side by analyzing existing reports and turning them into visual graphs and summaries. In addition to this, I worked closely with the marketing team to create graphics used across DoorDash and Instacart throughout the year, ensuring everything aligned with each brand’s visual standards. Being involved in both the analytical and creative sides of the project gave me a more complete understanding of how digital performance is supported.

While the reports provided a foundation, what really shaped my understanding was going beyond the data and talking directly to the people managing the process day to day. I conducted interviews with store managers at Di Bruno Bros., ShopRite, and The Fresh Grocer. Since ShopRite and The Fresh Grocer are already well-established on these platforms, they served as strong examples of what effective execution looks like. These conversations gave me insight into the coordination required to manage online orders, maintain accuracy, and deliver a consistent customer experience.

From there, I focused on improving the digital storefront itself. I identified gaps such as missing product images and listings that didn’t fully reflect the brand. To address this, I searched through Di Bruno Bros.’ Dropbox for existing assets and took product photos when needed to ensure the online presentation matched the in-store quality.

Getting Hands-On: Learning the Business in Store

While working on the digital side was valuable, getting hands-on experience in stores was just as important. Throughout my time at Brown’s, I shadowed professionals across different areas of the business. Observing management gave me insight into leadership and decision-making, while working alongside merchandisers deepened my understanding of product placement and inventory management. These experiences helped me see how all aspects of the business connect. I also spent time at ShopRite locations working in roles such as scanning and assisting in the bakery. Scanning was something I really enjoyed, I worked alongside the scanning team locating items, creating shelf tags, and placing them on the floor.

This role gave me a new perspective on how stores operate. The scanning office plays a key role in keeping products organized and easy to find for customers, which directly impacts both in-store navigation and digital ordering.

The Deli Signage Project

One of the most impactful projects I worked on was revamping deli signage across stores that needed updates. I met with deli managers to understand their vision and how I could help execute it. Some stores wanted branded signage, such as “Dietz & Watson American Cheese,” while others preferred simpler labels like “American Cheese” so they could easily change products as needed.

My role was to remove all old or broken signage and completely redo it. The goal was to make everything clear, readable, and consistent so customers could easily select pre-sliced meats without confusion or needing to squint. This project showed me how much impact small details can have. Clear signage and thoughtful organization can improve the shopping experience and guide customer decisions without direct interaction.

This is an example of the finished product of my mini project redoing the pre-sliced deli signage.

Merchandising, Branding, and the Customer Experience

Through my work, I developed a strong understanding of merchandising and visual execution. I created and maintained signage, worked on shelf displays, and helped with product placement to improve customer engagement. I also collaborated with grocery managers and merchandisers to build seasonal and holiday displays, seeing firsthand how much strategy goes into what customers see in-store.

I learned how in-store elements like placement, signage, and flow can drive sales without direct interaction. This gave me a strong sense of sales awareness without direct selling and helped me recognize opportunities where products could be better positioned or promoted.

One of the biggest takeaways from this experience was understanding the difference between a functional shopping trip and a brand experience. ShopRite locations, especially in the city, are fast-paced and high-volume, while Di Bruno Bros. offers a more upscale, specialty-focused environment. Adapting across these distinct retail markets helped me better understand different customer expectations, presentation styles, and business models.

Collaboration and Problem Solving

Throughout my co-op, I worked across multiple stores and with different teams, which strengthened my ability to communicate and execute projects consistently.

I learned how to manage my time across locations, prioritize tasks, and work independently when given a goal without step-by-step direction. In fast-moving store environments, I also developed real-time problem-solving skills, addressing issues like missing signage or inconsistencies to keep operations running smoothly.

Over time, I became more efficient, more confident, and more comfortable taking initiative.

Creativity, Content, and Community

In addition to operations and merchandising, I had the opportunity to contribute to marketing initiatives. A highlight was collaborating on a content project with HERR’S, Di Bruno Bros., and Philly 250, which showed me how cross-promotional efforts come together.

I also visited Brown’s Small Business Incubator at the Island Avenue location, where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas in 30-minute sessions to receive feedback on product development, marketing strategy, and retail readiness. Seeing how Brown’s supports local businesses through opportunities like pop-ups and shelf placement was incredibly inspiring.

Key Takeaways

• Understanding the difference between a functional shopping trip (ShopRite) and an experience-driven environment (Di Bruno Bros.)

• Learning how in-store elements like signage, placement, and flow drive sales without direct selling

• Developing the ability to compare different retail business models and customer expectations

• Strengthening adaptability by working across fast-paced and specialty retail environments

• Building cross-functional communication skills by coordinating with store teams and managers

• Improving operational time management by balancing responsibilities across multiple stores and deadlines

• Gaining hands-on experience in merchandising and visual execution through signage and displays

• Developing real-time problem-solving skills by addressing in-store issues quickly and efficiently

• Learning to execute tasks independently without step-by-step guidance

• Recognizing sales opportunities through product placement and in-store strategy

• Increasing efficiency and improving time-to-completion through experience

Looking Ahead

Looking back, this co-op gave me a complete view of how the grocery industry operates—from the digital storefront to the store floor.

I finished my semester by presenting my findings and overall project to the operational team at Brown’s. It was a full-circle moment, taking what I had learned through hands-on experience, interviews, and project work, and sharing it with the people behind the business. It reinforced not only how much I had grown, but also how all the pieces of the operation connect.

This experience changed how I think about marketing. It’s not just about campaigns or promotions it’s about execution, consistency, and how everything works together to create a seamless customer experience.

I’m walking away from this co-op with a stronger skill set, greater confidence, and a clear vision for my future in food marketing. I’m incredibly grateful to Saint Joseph’s University and Brown’s Superstores Inc. for a semester I won’t soon forget!