Page 69 - February2019

SPROUTS
TRADER JOE’S
WHOLE FOODS
Sprouts, Winter Park, FL
Fresh produce has been a key ingredient of the success at Sprouts Farmers Market, whicho ers19,000products,90percent of which are marketed as natural or organic. The Phoenix-based chain began operations in 2002.
“Our roots don’t stop at yams and carrots,”thecompanystatesonitswebsite. “We’ve actually been loving farm fresh produce since our fruit stand days dating back to 1943.”
Stores in North Naples and Wellington are scheduled to join Sprouts’ nine Florida stores by March. In 2014, the chain entered the Southeast by opening stores in Georgia, with more openings following in Missouri, Alabama and Tennessee. In 2017, Sprouts entered Florida and North Carolina. The following year, it expanded to South Caro- lina, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington. Sprouts’ more than 300 stores are mostly in the South.
SAVE-A-LOT
Save-A-Lot is one of the rst and largest U.S. deep-discounting supermarket chains. Florida accounts for around 150 of Save-A- Lot’s 1,300 corporate and licensed stores. Owned by a Canadian private equity rm, Save-A-Lot operates in 36 states.
In 1977, Save-A-Lot started its rst store in Cahokia, IL. In the immediate years after, it embarked on an aggressive expansion. Today, Save-A-Lot calls itself one of the fast- est-growing U.S. grocery chains.
Florida accounts for 18 of the 477 Trader Joe’s stores. The Monrovia, CA-based chain rst entered the Sunshine State in 2012. In 2013, Trader Joe’s opened its rst store in Louisiana and in 2015, expanded to Birmingham, AL. The store traces its roots to the 1950s, when it began as a small convenience store chain. The rst Trader Joe’s opened in 1967 in Southern California.
“We buy direct from suppliers whenever possible; we bargain hard to get the best price and then pass the savings,” Trader Joe’s says on its website. “We buy in volume and contract early to get the best prices. Most grocers charge their suppliers fees for putting an item on the shelf. This results in higher prices ... so we don’t do it.”
WALMART
Touting itself as the largest buyer of locally sourced fresh produce, Walmart has in recent years increased the amount of locally grown produce it sells by 97 percent. Local produce accounts for more than 10 percent of all produce sold in Walmart’s stores, according to its website.
Of Walmart’s 386 Florida operations, 231 are supercenters, 97 are Neighborhood Markets and 46 are Sam’s Clubs. Eight Florida distribution centers supply the Sunshine State stores.
In 2018, the chain, founded in 1962, announcedan$11billionreinvestmentwhich would include remodeling 500 stores and opening 20 new operations.
Whole Foods operates 29 of its 476 U.S. stores in Florida. The Amazon-owned chain whichbeganinAustin,TX,in1980toutsits produce, which is the rst thing it shows shop- pers entering the stores. “It’s a visual feast of color, variety and sparkling freshness piled high for your pleasure and convenience,” the chain describesproduceonitswebsite.
“We feature local produce in season. While the de nition of local varies by region of the country, it generally means one day’s drive away or less, and it’s usually much less. We display the origin of every piece of produce we sell. To meet customer demand, we do our best to o er high quality fruits and vegetables year-round.”
WINN-DIXIE
Following a new local sourcing policy announced in 2018, about a third of the in-season fruits and vegetables sold at Winn- Dixie Stores are sourced directly from the Southeast. The chain’s 377 stores, a majority of which are in Florida, maintain a large Southeastern pedigree.
Part of Jacksonville, FL-based Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie, which started in 1925, also sells in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. It has also started remodeling stores, with an expanded selection of fruits and vegetables. “Our home in the Southeast is a beautiful, living garden, and we trea- sure all that it has to o er our customers,” according to its website. “With more than 90 years of experience in the Southeast, we know how to pick the freshest produce, with the best avors, and at the perfect time of year.”
Trader Joe’s, Winter Park, FL
Whole Foods, Tampa, FL
Walmart, Tampa, FL
Save-A-Lot, Apopka, FL
Winn Dixie, Tampa, FL
PRODUCE BUSINESS / FEBRUARY 2019 / 69