Phoenix, AZ—Sprouts Farmers Market has been named the WholeFoods Retailer of the Year for 2013. A chain of neighborhood grocery stores with the feel of an old-fashioned farmers market, Sprouts has 155 locations and counting as of April 2013. Customers can find everyday staples and value-priced specialty items in every bright and friendly store, says the company.

“When you walk into a Sprouts Farmers Market, it’s supposed to feel a little bit different than your everyday grocery store,” says Lauren Rosenblum, communications manager for the company. Mountains of fresh fruits and vegetables, barrels of wholesome grains, nuts and sweets, and full-service deli, meat and seafood counters are all featured at Sprouts. Fresh baked goods, eclectic beer and wine, gourmet cheese, vitamins and supplements and thousands of natural, organic and gluten-free grocery choices are on hand in each store’s spacious aisles.

 “Our mission is to make Sprouts Farmers Market the preferred shopping destination for our shoppers by delivering excellent customer service, superior store conditions and value to our customers every day,” says the company. The chain is spread across eight U.S. states, and has four distribution centers and about 11,500 team members. Look forward to our full coverage of Sprouts, including interviews with key company strategists, in our July Retailer of the Year feature.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, June 2013