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New Value-Priced Sunflower Market(TM) Makes Its Chicago Debut in Lincoln Park

Posted on: Wednesday, 23 August 2006, 12:00 CDT

Affordable natural and organic food products? It's certainly a new concept, and one that will materialize for the first time ever in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood on August 30, 2006 when an inviting new natural and organic grocery store on North Clybourn Avenue officially opens its doors.

Step inside Sunflower Market(TM), a new food market designed to meet the increasing customer demand for natural and organic foods at value prices.

"We combine delicious organic and natural food with great value; a knowledgeable, enthusiastic staff; and the feel of a modernized farmers' market," says John Sturm, Vice President of Operations for Sunflower Market, LLC.

The new 16,000-square foot Lincoln Park store, located at 1910 N. Clybourn Ave., is the second Sunflower Market store to open in the U.S.; the first is located in Indianapolis, IN.

"We're excited to roll out our first Chicagoland store in Lincoln Park, where we're certain people will embrace our concept of value-priced, great-tasting organic and natural foods," says Sturm. "The Chicagoland market is one where we plan to grow and have a very strong presence," he adds.

Low Prices in a High-Priced Sector

What makes Sunflower Market different from the competition is that it eliminates the number one reason people hesitate to buy to natural and organic foods - high prices.

"We're able to offer high quality organic and natural foods for less because our operations are built around an efficient and smart store," Sturm says.

One efficiency is the smart use of technology, which eliminates unnecessary costs (see Natural and Organic Goes Hi-Tech at Sunflower Market release). Another is its self-service orientation, which delivers streamlined operations that increase employee productivity while reducing "back-of-the-house" labor.

High Standards, Local Treasures

Sunflower Market buys only the best organic and natural foods available in the marketplace, and is a big fan of natural and organic homegrown foods - foods produced by people right in each of its stores own "backyard." To that end, Sunflower Market supports local farmers and producers who offer products that meet its natural and organic standards. Shelf tags call out these special foods as Local Treasures.

The following are among the more than 25 Local Treasures carried in the Lincoln Park store:

-- mouth-watering sweets and baked goods from Bleeding Heart Bakery

-- El Milagro's fresh authentic tortillas and chips

-- a variety of award-winning products from celebrity chef Rick Bayless' Frontera Foods

-- delicious grab-'n-go salads from Greg Christian's GoGoOrganics

-- palate-pleasing craft beers from Chicago's-own Goose Island Brewery

Sunflower Market offers the widest variety of organic produce available in the marketplace -- in a department specially designed so that the produce remains at peak freshness. It arrives from farm to shelf with fewer touch points than conventional produce. It's stocked -- in its original packaging -- directly into an all-glass, walk-in produce cooler, thus eliminating the need for extra storage, requiring less labor, reducing handling, and ensuring optimum freshness.

"Our all-glass, walk-in produce cooler is an exciting innovation and provides an appealing and unique shopping experience for our customers," Sturm says.

Other great features of Sunflower Market include:

-- a meat department that sources only the highest quality hormone and antibiotic-free meats and seafood

-- a fresh salad bar that includes a variety of garden-fresh salads, and a wide selection of "grab-'n-go" prepared foods including delicious sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, and entrees

-- a bakery that offers organic breads and all-natural pastries and desserts; cookies and scones are freshly baked everyday

-- and a seating area that's a free Wi-Fi hot spot and a great place to relax and indulge in a mouth-watering organic pastry and a cup of organic, fair trade coffee

"The new Sunflower Market brings 50 new jobs to the Lincoln Park community," says Sturm. "We've assembled a high-energy team that really knows our products and plans to spend much of their time helping customers," he adds.

About Sunflower Market

Sunflower Market is a new chain of natural and organic food markets designed to meet the increasing customer demand for organic foods at value prices. Sunflower Markets, LLC, is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. The first prototype Sunflower Market opened on January 11, 2006 in Indianapolis, IN. The Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park, IL is the site of second Sunflower Market; three additional new store openings are planned in Columbus, OH in August and September 2006, and spring 2007. Sunflower Market plans to open 50 new stores throughout the U.S. over the next five years. For more information, visit www.sunflowermarkets.com.

Source: Business Wire

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