On September 1, 2022, Paul Brauer presented the PSPA Monthly Lecture.  He is the President & Chief Operating Officer for Brown’s Super Stores, Inc., a growing twelve-store supermarket chain trading under the ShopRite and Fresh Grocer banners and part of the Wakefern Food Corporation.

Brauer and his company are deeply engaged in the supply and demand programs that are currently engaging retail supermarkets.

As one of the leading supermarkets in the Delaware Valley, the company employs 2,300 associates, who are committed to making a difference for their customers and the local communities they serve.

Brown’s Super Stores share a basic belief: Inner city supermarket customers deserve a shopping experience that includes quality products, low prices, fresh and clean stores and above all, respectful customer service.

Beyond the commitment to customer service, Brown’s is proud to support its community by assisting those in need. In the 12 communities where the stores are located, we are actively engaged in working with community groups that fight hunger and homelessness, curtail recidivism, prevent violence, and help youth have a brighter future by preparing them for viable careers. He also created the Brown’s Business Incubator working with many minority owned business owners to assist them in basic business requirements to become prepared to get their products or services ready for the corporate world.

Paul works diligently with many Philadelphia community based organizations and has set up programs including partners-in-training, a job specific training program, linking ShopRite, the Enon Tabernacle Church and Uplift Solutions, a non-profit social service partner in a collaborative training program. To date this program has taken over 500 people from unskilled and unemployed to having a great future in the ShopRite career path.

In addition, Paul also is involved with many of the Non-Profit programs in the City of Philadelphia. For several years, Paul has been working on job training programs and placement to give ex-offenders a new beginning when re-entering society. He has been a guest speaker at many events related to his work with employing ex-offenders and advocating for legislation in the area of reducing recidivism.
Paul is an executive member of the Board of Directors of the Urban Affairs Coalition (UAC), and Vice-President of the Board of the Park West Business Association. He serves as an advisory board member to Philabundance Food Bank, as well as Self-Incorporated, a non-profit running homeless shelters. He also serves as an adjunct professor teaching Integrated Marketing Communications within the Food Marketing program at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Paul graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior, and received his Masters of Business Administration from St. Joseph’s University.