Supervalu's Sunflower Banner Plans New Ohio Unit
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Minneapolis-based Sunflower Markets, the fledgling natural foods division of grocery wholesalerretailer Supervalu Inc., plans to open a 13,800-square-foot store at here near Ohio State University in mid-2006, as a step in a rollout of the format that one executive reportedly said could render as many of 50 units in five years.
The new banner will also open more than one or two stores in Central Ohio as part of its Midwest launch of the grocery operation.
"This is a neighborhood store format and we know many neighborhoods in the Columbus market could support a store like this," said John Sturm, director of Sunflower Markets, as quoted in the local newspaper Business First. He added that the chain could have as many as 50 stores within five years.
The Columbus site, scheduled to open between May and July and next year, is the second location Supervalu has chosen for its new Sunflower Markets banner; the first will open in Indianapolis by mid-January.
The new banner will also open more than one or two stores in Central Ohio as part of its Midwest launch of the grocery operation.
"This is a neighborhood store format and we know many neighborhoods in the Columbus market could support a store like this," said John Sturm, director of Sunflower Markets, as quoted in the local newspaper Business First. He added that the chain could have as many as 50 stores within five years.
The Columbus site, scheduled to open between May and July and next year, is the second location Supervalu has chosen for its new Sunflower Markets banner; the first will open in Indianapolis by mid-January.