RIDGEFIELD Joe Ancona is a third-generation grocer who has embraced green technology and eco-friendly store design.
Founded by his grandfather, Joseph Ancona Sr., Ancona’s Market on Route 102 in Ridgefield has entered the 21st century in layout and product offerings.
Ancona grew up in the business, and after earning a bachelor’s degree in architecture and master’s of business administration degree, he returned to the market three years ago.
His architectural training is in sustainable supply and environmentally friendly designs that are community and socially responsible. His personal interest is in natural foods that promote a healthy lifestyle.
From re-usable cloth grocery bags to polished cement floors which don’t require the stripping and waxing with toxic chemicals that vinyl floor tiles do Ancona has made the market environmentally friendly.
He and his uncle, John Ancona, are in the market every day.
My father was stepping back a bit from the day-to-day of the store, which led my uncle, John (Ancona) and I to sit down and talk about how we’d proceed with upgrading the market,” Joe Ancona said. “It needed a lot of renovations.”
By adding Econofrost night shades to all the open-faced refrigerators in the store, Ancona was able to cut electric consumption by 20 percent.
Given that our electric bill is about $18,000 a month, that’s a good savings,” he said. “For our meat case, with the Econofrost night shade, the refrigeration is better, which increases the shelf life of our meats.
