Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Published: Thursday, October 01, 1998

CTEA OPENS RETAIL STORES IN UPSCALE MALLS:

Celestial Seasonings Inc. (CTEA) is negotiating for space in upscale malls in the Denver and Boulder, CO, areas for its first retail store outside the factory, which is scheduled to open in early December. A second should follow in the spring. A tea bar will be included at each location. The factory store in Boulder achieves about $1.5 million in annual sales from about 85,000 annual visitors.

EARTH FARE OPENS THIRD STORE: Earth Fare, a “healthy market and cafe” celebrated in late August the grand opening of its third store in Greenville, SC. President and CEO Mike Cianciarulo said it was welcomed with “great sales during our first month.”

NATURE’S HARVEST WILL DOUBLE SQUARE FOOTAGE: Nature’s Harvest, the 13-year-old Tampa, FL, natural foods market on MacDill Ave., will double in size to 13,000 sq. ft. in January, co-owner David Taylor said.

SHAW’S MIGHT OPEN NUTRITION CENTERS IN ALL STORES: Shaw’s Supermarkets in East Bridgewater, MA, is considering a proposal by its store manager, Arrow Corp. of Farmington, CT, to roll out Arrow Pharmacy and Nutrition Centers in all of Shaw’s 23 stores that have pharmacies. The concept, a combination pharmacy, vitamin and supplements center, was tested in two stores in Biddeford and Bangor, ME, respectively.

Randall’s Opens Flagship Store in Austin: Houston-based, 120-store chain Randall’s Food Markets opened a Flagship Randall’s store in Austin, TX, to capitalize on the city’s appetite for gourmet and healthy food products. The store, originally a conventional Randall’s supermarket, has undergone a $3.5 million facelift and expansion and will compete with specialty retailers Whole Foods Market (WFMI) and H-E-B’s Central Market in the growing Austin market. (Austin-American Statesman)

Chuck’s Opens Third Tampa Location: Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace has opened a third location in the Tampa, FL, area, a 7,000-sq.-ft. full-service store in neighboring Brandon. The store features a large organic produce section and will offer competitive prices, says owner Chuck Homuth. (Tampa Tribune)

WFMI, OATS open FL Stores: Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI) in September opened a Bread of Life Whole Foods Market in Coral Springs, FL, its fourth south FL location, while Wild Oats Markets (OATS) opened its fifth south FL location in Miami Beach.