Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a new natural grocer with an aggressive market development plan for the Midwest region, has entered into an agreement with KeHE Distributors.
Fresh Thyme plans to open its first store in April in Mt. Prospect, Ill., and anticipates opening 59 additional stores over the next five years. The agreement covers all of the planned locations and involves a wide variety of product categories, according to a statement issued by KeHE.
The stores’ signature offering will be an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables. Full-service offerings will also include a natural meat department, healthy deli foods to go, bakery goods, 400 bulk food bins, natural and organic groceries, dairy and frozen, as well as vitamins and body care products.
“KeHE’s broad product assortment and personalized and flexible approach to meeting our distribution needs make them a perfect partner for Fresh Thyme,” said Sage Horner, senior vice president of merchandising and marketing of Fresh Thyme. “KeHE’s product selection, including natural, organic, specialty and fresh offerings, aligns perfectly with the needs of the Fresh Thyme shopper.”
Over the next five years, Fresh Thyme plans to open stores throughout the Midwest, including Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas.
“What Fresh Thyme is bringing to the Midwest is a retail grocery model with a proven track record,” said Greg Leonard, executive vice president of independent retail sales of KeHE, based in Romeoville, Ill. “Their seasoned leadership team and well-conceived store design concept make Fresh Thyme perfectly positioned to capture the attention of shoppers.”
