Frequently, visitors from out of town tell me they miss us. Others say it’s a major reason why they love living here. I ask why. People tell me “we trust you. Others gush “the food is so good!” The best one is “the people are wonderful.”

What is the DLM Difference? We strive to make a difference, but different from what? The word “difference” begs a comparison. Are we talking adversarilly about DLM vs other markets? No, actually. It’s a noble task to feed others, and the biz is mostly populated by good people.

The DLM Difference isn’t about us or them. It is about you! It’s the difference we want to make in your life. We want to give you a special experience where you meet nice people and find good food … really good food. Shopping DLM is a source of joy, not drudgery. Simply put, we aspire to make your life better. Our company’s mission begins, “To make our customers happy.”

Even in the simplest ways, we want to make a difference, whether you’re coming in for a quick cup of coffee, getting a healthy salad, buying a loaf of bread, or filling a cart to feed your family. Maybe it’s just to pick up a treat, say a brownie.

A DEEPER DIVE

Take, for example, that cup of coffee. Maybe it was from Hacienda La Minita in Costa Rica. You savor its aroma and flavor. Why is it so good? Ask one of our Coffee Bar Managers, Amy, Holli, or Chris, as they just went to Costa Rica in January, not just visiting the plantation, but even picking the beans!

Everybody admires our salad bar thanks to Bertha at Oakwood, Loretta at Washington Square, and Connie at Springboro. They come in early and begin selecting, cleaning, chopping, and producing multi-colored edible works of art, composed of organic lettuces, nutrient-packed vegetables, exotic microgreens, and eye-popping garnishments.

We are willing to do the hard work to make a difference. Consider our DLM Artisan Bread, like our Sourdough … oh my, it’s so good! But it takes a lot of work and expertise to make it so. We have a talented team of artisans who mix from the best flours, hand-shape, and bake on the hot hearth of our juggernaut European bread oven. Great bread is also the foundation (crust) of great pizza. We studied pizza for years before creating our Naples-Style Pizza. This involved installing the specialized hearth ovens, creating the right dough, and stretching our own fresh mozzarella.

And that brownie? Yes, it has to be a Killer Brownie^®, of course! Our famous triple-layer brownie is so popular that this very month we are opening a brand new facility. We feature our Killer Brownie^® not just in our stores, but now distribute it throughout the country.

FOOD LOVERS UNITE

Not surprisingly, we also do business with people who think as we do and who have passion: people whose mission in life is to cultivate the sweetest pineapple, grow the healthiest chicken, or churn-out the most indulgent butter. There are many more ways you experience the DLM Difference. One other quick example is our entire Seafood department. Some people come for our seafood alone. Want to chat about fishing families in Alaska? Species of salmon? Fat content? Recipes? Cooking methods? Let’s do it!

We are a place for people who love food. And that’s the engine that drives the DLM Difference. Join us this year as we explore some of our favorite points of difference each month and highlight these great products. We love what we do. We love serving you. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to make a difference.