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Retail and Restaurant Briefs 1/19/07
- Lakewood-based Vitamin Cottage opened its 24th store in November 2006. The 10,000-sq.-ft. store is located at Platte and 15th streets in Denver. The company is scheduled to open its next store in Dillon in early 2007.
- According to Progressive Grocer, Price Chopper Supermarkets is the first independently owned retailer to sign on to sell Wild Oats Markets branded natural and organic products in 115 stores in six northeastern states. Also Carteret-based supermarket Pathmark Stores Inc. will sell several hundred natural and organic Wild Oats products through its grocery chain. Wild Oats and Ahold-owned online grocer Peapod have expanded their partnership into the Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland markets with more than 120 Wild Oats branded products available on the Peapod online grocery site. Wild Oats Markets, Inc announced in January, the launch of Wild Oats Magazine with publishing partner Active Interest Media. The magazine will be a free bi-monthly publication printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Wild Oats Market will be opening a store in Longmont at the Twin Peaks Mall. The date of the opening was not disclosed. Wild Oats announced it will close eight underperforming stores, including one in Fort Collins. Wild Oats said its third quarter revenue grew 5 percent to $291.8 million from $278.5 million a year ago. Also, Wild Oats announced it will donate $65,500 to Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides health education and nutritional supplements to medically underserved communities around the world.
- Austin-based Whole Foods Market stock fell 23 percent in November after a weaker-than-expected outlook for same-store sales was reported. Whole Foods said its fourth-quarter profit rose to $39.8 million on sales of $1.29 billion. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 8.6 percent, down from 11 percent last year.
- Boulder’s Pekoe Sip House, a premium tea house, is now offering premium coffee. The business is one of only 35 worldwide that invested thousands of dollars in a new machine that combines the French press and vacuum-brew methods. Pekoe is using Denver-based Novo Coffee Co.’s estate grown beans.
- University Hill’s Flatirons Theatre is soon to be the new site of Anjou, an organic juice bar, as well as other retail establishments. The organic juice bar concept was developed by Craig King, who has also started an organic juice delivery company.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill founder and Boulder native, Steve Ells, received the Rocky Mountain News Business Person of the Year Award for 2006. Chipotle started in 1993 in Denver, and now is worth $1.8 billion with 540 Chipotle stores in 25 states and more than 14,000 workers. The chain has become known for its commitment to free-range pork. McDonald’s divested its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill after an eight-year relationship
- Door to Door Organics has opened a 2,500 sq. ft. distribution warehouse in Michigan and will begin delivering organic produce to homes and businesses in Genesee County, MI in January 2007. The company is a Pennsylvania-based family owned business. The founder, David Gersenson moved to Denver, where he started a branch.
- King Soopers owner, Cincinnati-based Kroger Co., has switched to trans-fat free cooking oil for its in store food preparation in all of its 2,473 supermarkets, which in addition to King Soopers includes City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s, QFC, Ralphs and Smith’s.
- Colorado Restaurant Association predicts Colorado restaurant sales to top $8 billion in 2007, based on figures from the National Restaurant Association. The sales are likely to be driven by growth in population and employment along with increased spending by tourists and business travelers.
- Noodles & Company has completed the relocation of its headquarters to Broomfield from Boulder. About 75 employees have moved into a 21,000 sq. ft. office space at 520 Zang Street.
- Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority has approved a new deal with Cheese Importers Warehouse to open its retail shop no later than Sept. 1, 2007, in the Coal Creek Shopping Center. The city loaned Cheese Importers $2.35 million to buy the shopping center with a promised move in date of 2005. Over the last 2 ½ years, the city and Cheese Importers have been making renovations to the center, according to the Daily Camera.
- V.G. Burgers, an organic vegan quick-stop restaurant, opened on 28th Street. Vegan burgers as well as organic salads, juices and non-dairy desserts are served. Nothing is fried on the menu and those who have dairy, soy, or wheat allergies will have options available.
- Boulder-based Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc. raised $18 million to help accelerate its plans to add locations across the country. Pharmaca currently has 12 locations nationwide. Pharmaca opened its second New Mexico store in Albuquerque in November and its third store in Boulder in December.
- Wal-Mart recently introduced its own private-labeled organic milk packaged by Boulder-based Aurora Organic Dairy.
- Boulder-based Aspen Grove Market, an online grocer, expanded its delivery area to include the city of Longmont. Aspen Grove now serves all of Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Longmont and areas east of Boulder County including portions of Erie.
- New Boulder restaurant The Black Cat features chef Eric Skokan's natural, gourmet cuisine and Highland beef produced by local area rancher Frank Silva. The Black Cat is hosting a special four-course dinner with paired wines on Feb. 27. For information contact 303.444.9110 or visit www.blackcatboulder.com.
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