Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Published: Sunday, November 01, 1998

Harnetts to Open Natural Pharmacy in CA: Harnetts in January 1999 will open a 3,300-sq.-ft. natural pharmacy in Palo Alto, CA, including 2,300 sq. ft of retail space, under the management of Linda Amidon. The new store will feature an upgraded natural-cosmetics department and will offer vitamins as well as herbal, homeopathic, Ayurvedic, and body care products and books. According to CEO Anthony Harnett, the company plans to raise capital in 1999 to open new stores and will also continue to develop its private-label product line. Harnetts, which operates a store in Cambridge, MA, closed a second store, located in Newton, MA, in 1995. Harnett was the co-owner of Bread & Circus, which was sold to Whole Foods Market in 1992.

Alta Establishes Retail Division: Alta Natural Herbs & Supplements (AHS) of Richmond, BC, Canada, established a retail division and hired Piers VanZiffle as its manager. Fifteen stores throughout Canada are planned by late this month. Alta signed a three-year license agreement with The Hudson’s Bay Co. of Canada to take over the operation of The Vitamin Stores at The Bay.

Pharmacy Opens Internet Shopping Site: Raleigh Pharmacy of Denver opened an Internet shopping site at www.feelgoodfalls.com, with 12 departments dedicated to healthy living.

Nature’s Heartland Opens Fourth Store: Nature’s Heartland, the supermarket chain owned by Staples and Fresh Fields financier Leo Kahn, opened its fourth store, in Bellingham, MA. The 35,000-sq.-ft. store will stock more nationally advertised brands, and more nonfood items will be offered.

Real Food Daily Opens in Hollywood: Real Food Daily opened its second organic vegetarian restaurant in West Hollywood, CA, on Oct. 24-25. The new eatery seats 90 people and occupies a portion of the company’s 3,000-sq.-ft. facility. The cost of the project was approximately $900,000. The original Real Food Daily in Santa Monica seats 42, serves 250 people a day, and generates sales of $3,000 a day. Sales at that restaurant are up 25% from 1997, say owners Ann Gentry and Robert Jacobs, who expect to serve 500 people a day and generate sales of $7,500 a day—with a goal of reaching sales of $10,000 a day—in the larger West Hollywood location.

Cid’s Foods Expands in Taos: Cid’s Foods of Taos, NM, owned by Cid and Betty Backer, expanded into a new 13,000-sq.-ft. location at 623 Paseo del Pueblo Norte on Oct. 6.