DOWNERS GROVE, IL - Consumer perception and satisfaction help the wheels go round, and it’s that philosophy Fresh Thyme says has helped it see double-digit dollar growth and the opportunity to expand across the Midwest despite a challenging retail market in 2018.

“We put our shoppers first. We strive to connect with our shoppers in meaningful ways and be their go-to resource to jumpstart or help them continue their health journeys. It’s that philosophy that has allowed us to post strong growth in both store count and sales this year. We will continue to hire local residents, support local causes, and find new ways to connect with our community,” said Chris Sherrell, President and CEO. “We’re also very quick to address our customers’ needs and determine how to best serve them. In the last 12 months, we’ve successfully launched ten new stores, introduced online ordering and home delivery across all 75 of our stores, and expanded our private label offerings by 33 percent—all by being local in the way we manage and promote our shopping experience."

According to SPINS data covering the last 52 weeks ending December 2, 2018, the company saw a dollar growth of 19.8 percent over the period, which the company said in a press release outpaced almost all other retailers in the natural space, despite an unpredictable and retail environment.

Within that environment, Fresh Thyme reflected on its having opened new stores in Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, and Pittsburgh last year, bringing its Midwest store-count to 75. Looking ahead to 2019, the team said that expansion continues to be a priority with four new openings already scheduled.

The company said it will look to stock even more hyper-local products on shelves and provide technology that makes shopping at its stores a more seamless, convenient experience.

For example, 2018 saw Fresh Thyme launch its partnership with Instacart, allowing its shoppers to order online and have healthy groceries delivered directly to their homes. This level of convenience, the retailer said, is all part of the grocery chain's dedication to making fresh, organic food readily available.

In early January, Fresh Thyme also debuted a new website with a new look and content to inspire consumers. Other areas of growth the retailer recently implemented or expanded upon, and will continue to grow, include:

• Its private label offerings
• Its commitment to the community
• Strengthened in-store programming

To read all about these exciting changes in detail, find the full report here. As for the team at AndNowUKnow, you can be sure that we’ll continue to be on the lookout for the latest news in our industry to bring to you.

Fresh Thyme