In an article posted today to Supermarket News, Sprouts Farmers Market announced the locations of new stores opening in the Atlanta market in 2014 — its first venture east of the Mississippi — in what could be the beginning of a much greater expansion effort in the region. This brings increasing competition to an already crowded market.
The article text:
“Atlanta is similar to a lot of other markets we’re in, in terms of the customers there,” Doug Sanders, president and CEO of Sprouts, told SN. The fast-growing chain, based in Phoenix, distinguishes itself by seeking to simultaneously focus on value, perishables — particularly produce — and health and wellness.
“We’ve done a lot of due diligence on the Southeast, and we think Atlanta is kind of the center of that region,” Sanders said. The company said it has store openings planned for 2014 in five Atlanta-area towns — Snellville, Cumming, Dunwoody, John’s Creek and Norcross, with the first opening set for around the middle of the second quarter.
Observers said the company appears poised to grab a much larger share of the market before too long. Dan O’Neill, managing partner at Marietta, Ga.-based Columbia Properties, said he believes Sprouts already has another three or four Atlanta-area sites lined up for next year. “By the end of 2015, we expect them to be in double digits [in store count],” he said.
At Theory House, our retail design and private brand agency, bets Sprouts will continue to thrive as they focus on meeting the needs of shoppers who desire more organic and natural ingredients, but feel priced out of the market. The competitive pricing Sprouts offers will appeal to this growing audience.
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