In the final fiscal quarter of the year, grocery stores are increasing their footprints across the country. Natural Grocers, Sprouts, H-E-B, ShopRite, and Whole Foods recently debuted new stores.
Natural Grocers, a family-operated organic and natural grocer, shared Wednesday the opening of a location in Kennewick, Washington.
"We've been serving communities in Washington since 2014 when we came to Vancouver. We previously had four stores ininitiatives to increase their store counts Washington: two in Spokane and two in Vancouver. Kennewick is the perfect place to bridge the gap in south-central Washington—something many locals have been asking us to do for years," said Raquel Isely, VP of marketing for Natural Grocers, in a statement.
The location touts sustainable building features like non-toxic building materials and 100 percent LED lighting. Products offered include USDA-certified organic produce, organic and natural groceries, free-range eggs, pasture-based dairy, and non-GMO items.
Also on Wednesday, H-E-B revealed the opening of a location south of Houston, Texas. The 106,000-square-foot store features a True Texas BBQ Restaurant, grocery pickup and delivery capabilities, and an extensive selection of ready-to-eat and grab-and-go offerings.
H-E-B Manvel also merchandises an assortment of local products, in-store squeezed juices, and fresh-made guacamole. It has a cheese department with local and imported offerings, a meat market with cut in-store items, fresh seafood delivered daily, and a bakery and tortilleria with fresh baked goods.
On the East Coast, ShopRite celebrated the opening of its newest location in Sussex, New Jersey on Wednesday. The location emphasizes a reduced carbon footprint and has installed energy-efficient refrigeration and lighting systems. Like H-E-B, the store displays an extensive selection of prepared foods, grab-and-go items, and made-to-order meals.
The store is owned by RoNetco Supermarkets, a family-owned company that operates eight ShopRite stores in New Jersey.
“RoNetco Supermarkets has a long history of commitment to the communities where our ShopRite stores operate, and we look forward to officially becoming a part of the great Sussex community,” said Dominick J. Romano, co-president and COO of RoNetco Supermarkets, in a statement.
In Overland Park Kansas, the latest Whole Foods has been announced, opening on November 15. The store is a relocation of the existing Overland Park store that has served the area since 2007. The new, larger footprint also means the grocer can offer an expanded selection of goods and services, including an upgraded coffee bar and more than 750 local items from the greater Kansas area, sourced by Darcy Landis, principal local forager for Whole Foods Market.
On the West Coast, Sprouts Farmers Market shared Thursday that its newest store is slated to open on November 3 in Visalia, California. Like other Sprouts, the location features fresh produce at the heart of the store and displays an assortment of better-for-you products.
“On behalf of the Visalia City council I am extremely excited to welcome Sprouts Farmers Market to Visalia,” said Mayor Brian Poochigian in a statement. “Along with giving our residents access to fresh and healthy groceries, Sprouts has created approximately 100 new job opportunities for our community.”
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