Fresh food formats: 'Some of the sales growth numbers are really eye-popping'
Fresh stores emphasize perishables and offer center-store assortments that differ from those of traditional retailers—especially in the areas of ethnic, natural, and organic, e.g. Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, and some independents - says Willard Bishop managing partner Jim Hertel.
In 2012, fresh food format store sales surged 22.5% to $12.7bn, he says: "Some of the sales growth numbers are really eye-popping in this segment."
Among fresh format retailers, Whole Foods generated the largest same-store sales increase in 2012 at 8.7% followed by The Fresh Market at 5.7%.
With the purchase of Sunflower Farmers Market, Sprouts Farmers Market has also emerged as a considerable player in this format and one to watch in the future, says Hertel.
