DeCicco & Sons was founded in 1973 when John DeCicco Sr. opened his first grocery store in the Bronx with the help of his brothers, Frank and Joe. The chain operates a portfolio of upscale, family-owned supermarkets focused on quality ingredients, specialty departments, and local engagement across Westchester and Putnam counties in New York. The DeCicco brothers came to America from Italy in 1958 and initially found work at New York City produce stands and butcher shops, drawing on deep expertise that would define their grocery model for decades. The chain distinguishes itself through a commitment to premium products, award-winning meat and produce departments, and extensive prepared-food selections delivered by family-centered management and substantial labor investment.
DeCicco & Sons was founded in 2006 by John Jr., Joseph Jr., and Christopher DeCicco with the opening of DeCicco & Sons Ardsley, marking a departure from the original family operation. DeCicco Family Markets, a separate business operated by Frank DeCicco, brother of DeCicco & Sons founder John DeCicco Sr., will continue operating locations in New City, Katonah and Jefferson Valley, N.Y. The DeCicco & Sons banner has since expanded into a regional chain known for premium groceries, specialty departments, and a high-touch customer service model across multiple locations in the Hudson Valley region and beyond.
Retail Formats and Where It Operates
The family-owned business currently operates upscale stores in Ardsley, Armonk, Bedford, Brewster, Eastchester, Harrison, Larchmont, Millwood, Pelham, Somers and Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., with upcoming locations in Scarsdale, N.Y., and Greenwich, Conn. DeCicco & Sons opened its largest market in Westchester in April—a 50,000 square foot superstore at the Edge-on-Hudson development in Sleepy Hollow. The first Connecticut location is set to occupy a 20,000-square-foot space at 11 Glen Ridge Road in Greenwich, the company’s 12th store overall, slated to welcome shoppers in the summer of 2025, pending town approval.
Each location is tailored to its community and typically features full-service departments focused on fresh, quality merchandise. DeCicco & Sons stores feature award-winning meat, cheese, seafood, produce, beer, bakery and in-house catering departments, as well as the grocer’s popular event catering service. The chain operates seven in-store pubs featuring rotating beer taps, growler and crowler fills, as well as wines on tap. Customers can end their day with a beer from the second-floor bar or start things off with coffee on the first floor, with people grabbing coffee and baked goods to walk right to the train station or their cars.
The company has prioritized site selection based on demographics and community demand. The chain is looking for higher-income areas for its store locations. All newer locations have been built or renovated with sustainability in mind. The company’s new market is built with environmentally-friendly features in keeping with LEED certification standards, including the company’s largest solar array and a state-of-the-art natural refrigeration system that uses the heat expelled from that system for heat and hot water.
Company Background
In 1973, John DeCicco Sr. opened his first grocery store in the Bronx with the help of his brothers, Frank and Joe. The brothers arrived in Pelham in 1984 when they took over a CTown Supermarket location, quickly making the store the focal point of the downtown. The brothers opened their first Westchester location in Pelham in 1985, and a decade later, were operating three more stores.
In 2005, the business became known as DeCicco and Sons when the owners, John and Joe, brought in sons John Jr., Chris and Joe Jr. to manage their stores. When John Jr. and two cousins opened the first DeCicco & Sons market in Ardsley in 2006, their family already had a long history of running successful markets in the area. A store in Brewster opened in 2011, followed by outposts in Harrison (2012), Armonk (2013), and Larchmont (2015). DeCicco & Sons opened its tenth location on March 25, 2022. In January 2025, the chain acquired a DeCicco Family Markets location in Scarsdale, N.Y.
Ownership, Structure and Financial History
DeCicco & Sons operates as a private, family-owned enterprise. By 2006, the first store was open in Ardsley, N.Y., and in 2013, the second-generation venture was spun off from the original family business, with John Jr.’s brother Chris, as well as his uncle Joe DeCicco Sr., and Joe’s son Joe DeCicco Jr. on board. John Sr. and Joe Sr. married sisters, making John Jr., Chris and Joe Jr. double cousins. The two seniors are in the stores every day, checking to make sure everything is running smoothly, while John Jr. oversees development projects, finance and HR; Joe Jr. is in charge of purchasing and merchandising; and Chris focuses on marketing and the beer program.
Over time, DeCicco & Sons has turned to financing from a large supplier, Krasdale Foods, headquartered in White Plains. The funding allowed the grocery chain to pay off its orders in installments. The chain’s business model emphasizes quality and margin over aggressive low-pricing. The company is 100 percent quality-focused, with all meat being all natural and antibiotic- and hormone-free, and produce that lasts seven days in the fridge, first picked and super-fresh.
Product Range and Store Brands
The company features some of the most diverse craft beer and cheese selections in New York, with thousands of varieties that span every corner of the world. Chris DeCicco says they sell roughly 2,500 different types of beer. DeCicco’s is also known for its massive selection of cheeses from around the world. Other notable items include store-made mozzarella, fresh guacamole, and a full-service bakery.
The stores are well known for their meat departments and their produce, which was named the best in Westchester County, N.Y. A trend Joe feels strongly about is gluten-free foods, which he continues to add to the mix at his stores. The products that tend to sell best at DeCicco & Sons locations are organic, natural, and specialty items. DeCicco & Sons is making Swedish pick-and-mix candy available through a pilot with sweets maker CandyKing, and says it is the first U.S. supermarket operator to embrace the concept.
DeCicco & Sons Naturally features meats from partner farms that align with the company’s core values of animals raised humanely without the use of antibiotics or added hormones. The chain offers same-day delivery in as fast as 1 hour.
People and Workplace
DeCicco & Sons is represented by RWDSU/UCFW Local 338. In 2025, members at DeCicco & Sons overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract that delivers wage increases and protects essential medical, dental, vision, and prescription benefits. The new agreement raises starting rates and provides across-the-board wage increases each year, and the contract protects members’ health coverage through increased employer contributions.
Payroll is the company’s biggest line item, as the company invests heavily in its team to make sure it delivers quality customer service. The company depends on hard-working employees, and its payroll expenses, as a percentage of store sales, are definitely higher than what would be considered industry average, but described as one of the company’s biggest competitive advantages. The company takes pride in promoting from within, and everyone in its corporate office has started at an entry-level position in one of its stores.
Market Position and Competition
DeCicco & Sons positions itself as an upscale, specialty-focused grocer in a market dominated by larger chains and discounters. While the stores offer upscale fare—selling humanely raised skirt steak, homemade gazpacho, and fresh cheeses—they also stock everyday staples, such as Jif peanut butter and Hellman’s Mayonnaise, so customers don’t have to make a second run to the supermarket. This hybrid approach targets affluent, quality-conscious consumers who are willing to pay premiums for superior products and service.
Although DeCicco & Sons has seen rapid growth, the cousins are well aware of the hazards of the grocery business and keep a close eye on the stores’ finances. Joe points to the 2015 bankruptcy of A&P, describing it as the ending of a chain that maybe didn’t know what the market was and wasn’t adapting. The company’s strategy emphasizes building sustainable competitive advantage through quality, local engagement, and controlled growth rather than aggressive expansion or debt-fueled acquisition.
Notable Developments and Outlook
Founder John DeCicco Sr. has reflected on the company’s flagship Sleepy Hollow location, stating “The store is so grand, once you’re in here, you won’t want to leave.” The Sleepy Hollow superstore, which opened in 2025, represents a significant scale-up from the company’s traditional format while maintaining its commitment to quality and sustainability.
The Greenwich, Connecticut location, set to occupy a 20,000-square-foot space at 11 Glen Ridge Road, is the company’s 12th store overall and marks its first entry into Connecticut, slated to welcome shoppers in the summer of 2025, pending town approval. The Greenwich store will be constructed with eco-friendly practices in mind, using Pozzotive, a building material incorporating recycled glass into concrete, and reclaimed brick and wood throughout to minimize the store’s carbon footprint. The commitment to sustainability extends to the store’s operations, as it will employ energy-efficient systems and recycle heat generated by refrigeration equipment to power hot water and in-store heating.
Each store has a PTA rebate program, where 1% of the sales go to a school district of the customer’s choosing. DeCicco says they’ve raised more than $2 million for the schools with that program. In 2023, the chain raised over $43K for the National MS Society through a point of sale campaign, a corporate gift, and engaging their employees, family and friends. The company has signaled its intent to continue measured expansion while deepening its community ties and environmental stewardship across the Hudson Valley and into adjacent markets.
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