JACKSONVILLE, FL - The retail market in the Sunshine State is proving to be too hot, with competition at an all-time high between both conventional and specialty grocers. For this very reason, Native Sun Natural Foods Markets is permanently shuttering its three-store chain.

“Due to the dramatic increase in the number of grocery stores in the Jacksonville area (nine new specialty grocers alone since 2015), Native Sun Natural Foods Markets will be closing our doors,” Aaron Gottlieb, Owner and Founder, wrote in a Facebook post.

While Florida is notoriously Publix territory, Lucky’s Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Earth Fare, GreenWise Market, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Kroger have all made moves in the last year or so with new stores, distribution centers, and facilities that very much encroach on Native Sun Natural Foods Markets’ home market. In addition, local news source Jacksonville Daily Record noted that national specialty grocers like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and The Fresh Market have all opened stores in Jacksonville recently, too.

“Jacksonville has grocery stores ‘sprouting’ up like weeds; crowding each other as well as the local flora,” Gottlieb continued in the post. “We are sad to say that we didn’t have a deep enough well to keep us going. We’re proud to have been your local grocer for 23 years. I deeply believe the local independent business is the heart of the community. I am hopeful that our community will be blessed with another local organic grocer in our future. As all things great come back again.”

The closure date for the chain’s three stores has not yet been disclosed.

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