The WholeFoods 2012 Retailer Survey Podcast is available at www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/multimedia/podcast. Tune in to hear expanded analysis and merchandising tips about growing profit, strategies for adding perishable foods, maximizing store footprint and staff compensation.

Debby Swoboda Marketing Solutions, Inc. was hired by the Southeast Natural Products Association to coproduce and manage SOHO EXPO.

According to The Oregonian, a new chain of stores called Green Zebra Grocery is expected to open this fall, starting with two locations in Portland, OR. Founded by Lisa Sedlar, former CEO of New Seasons Market, the grocery chain will feature local produce and meats, prepared foods and certain grocery items.

SPINS of Schaumburg, IL has acquired a majority interest in Third Solutions, Inc., which offers MyReceipts digital receipts.

Basil Bandwagon Natural Market of Flemington, NJ suffered physical damage in early February when a car smashed through the front of its store. No one was injured in the crash, and the store reopened the following day with a temporary front wall and door.

Data from BMC Bioinformatics indicates 27% of the 13,689 protein sequences studied can bind magnesium. This discovery underscores the importance of this mineral to human health.

Topricin Pain Relief and Healing Cream (from Topical BioMedics of Rhinebeck, NY) was featured in the fundraising silent auction at the 23nd annual MusiCares tribute gala.

Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market recently opened its 150th store with a location in Phoenix, AZ. In other news, the chain will open its first store in the Houston area this month.

NeoCell of Santa Ana, CA finished a three-month promotion in which the company pledged to give Vitamin Angels 25 cents for every product sold through their natural product retailers. The total donation was $42,000.

According to SPINS data (52 weeks ending Nov. 24, 2012), Trace Minerals Research of Ogden, UT has more than 50% of the liquid magnesium market in both dollar and unit volume brand share in U.S. natural supermarkets.

Coral Complex³ from Coral LLC of Carson City, NV was Non-GMO Verified by The Non-GMO Project.

NOW Foods is now making products in a second U.S. location with the opening of a new 165,000-ft2 plant in Sparks, NV.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine, March 2013