Sprouts Farmers Market Opens Aurora Produce Distribution Center to Support its Growth Strategy Focused on Fresh, Local, and O...
23 March 2021 - 2:00AM
Last week, Sprouts Farmers Market opened a new distribution center
in in Aurora, marking its first center in Colorado and its sixth
across the country. Sprouts’ ability to offer the freshest,
highest-quality produce at a great value is supported through its
network of distribution centers, direct grower relationships, and
enhanced quality controls.
The 135,000 square-foot facility was built for Sprouts and
includes 55°F and 34°F storage and fruit ripening rooms that are
ideal for the variety of fresh produce Sprouts offers. The center
services 45 of the chain’s more than 360 stores, including all
locations in Colorado, five stores in Utah, and eight in New
Mexico.
“As we grow our footprint, we will strategically place new
stores and distribution centers closer together to maximize our
owned fresh product network. This will better serve our customers
who are looking to Sprouts for the best quality and value in fresh
and organic produce,” said Chief Fresh Merchandising Officer Scott
Neal. “The location of our Aurora facility, combined with features
such as ripening rooms for bananas and avocados, two of our
top-selling produce items, will immediately provide our stores with
an expanded selection of affordable organics.”
Sprouts is partnering with Penske Logistics as its third-party
logistics provider for the distribution center and dedicated
transportation fleet which created 70 new full-time jobs in the
market. Last year, the grocer announced it will seek to drive
efficiencies across its network of fresh distribution centers by
locating them within 250 miles of the stores they serve.
A seventh distribution center will open in Florida this summer
to expand local produce offerings and guarantee freshness across
stores in the state. Sprouts also operates distribution centers in
Colton and Union City, Calif.; Glendale, Ariz.; Wilmer, Texas; and
Atlanta, Ga.
Local Assortment and Community ImpactIn
addition to fresh, seasonal and specialty produce, like organic
cotton candy grapes, lychee and starfruit, Sprouts will distribute
local produce and floral from the new hub. Colorado stores will
benefit immediately from expanded local and organic produce
varieties, and an all-new local herb and mushroom selection,
appealing to the interests of Sprouts’ health-minded customers.
“With a distribution center in Colorado, our truck routes are
shorter and allow us to cross fewer state borders, enabling us to
partner with our local and regional farmers with more synergy,”
said Joe Hurley, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain. “We’re
looking forward to engaging with our community of local vendors
further to better serve our neighbors and customers.”
In honor of the inaugural delivery, Sprouts Aurora Distribution
Center Manager Troy Henkel led a small ribbon cutting outside one
of the building’s delivery bays. Additionally, the Sprouts Healthy
Communities Foundation presented Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) with a
$25,000 donation and a John Deere Gator to increase farming
capacity at the DeLaney Community Farm, a refugee-led community
farm located in Aurora. The funding will be used to install a hoop
tunnel greenhouse that will allow for year-round growing and
seedling germination at the farm, and ongoing farmer training.
Through the support of the Foundation, DeLaney Farm has produced
more than 65,000 pounds of fresh produce since 2019 to support
underserved Aurora communities and helped train 10 full-time
immigrant and refugee farmers. Sprouts’ ongoing investment in DUG
has resulted in 10 community gardens throughout metro Denver,
producing over 600,000 pounds of food yearly, and 31 Youth-Led Farm
Stands, which provide families with critically needed access to
fresh fruits and vegetables.
About Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. Sprouts is
the place where goodness grows. True to its farm-stand heritage,
Sprouts offers a unique grocery experience featuring an open layout
with fresh produce at the heart of the store. Sprouts inspires
wellness naturally with a carefully curated assortment of
better-for-you products paired with purpose-driven people. The
healthy grocer continues to bring the latest in wholesome,
innovative products made with lifestyle-friendly ingredients such
as organic, plant-based and gluten-free. Headquartered in Phoenix,
and one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, Sprouts
employs approximately 35,000 team members and operates more than
360 stores in 23 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts,
and the good it brings communities, visit about.sprouts.com.
Photo Assets HereContact: 602-682-1553,
media@sprouts.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ed7383f8-2466-4d4a-a2c7-82b5f35f10b2
Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ:SFM)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024