FRESH THYME WILL ADD TWO MORE STORES IN OMAHA NEXT MONTH

Fresh Thyme, which first opened here last summer, will add two more stores in west Omaha next month

Fresh Thyme grocery stores will triple their footprints in Omaha with the Feb. 22 opening of two new stores focused on natural and organic foods.

The west Omaha stores are part of the Chicago-area grocer rsquo;s push to expand quickly throughout the Midwest. The chain has 48 stores now, including one that opened last summer along West Maple Road and another in Lincoln.

The company said it expects to have a total of 70 stores by the end of 2017. A Grand Island store could be in the works in 2018, and another is expected to be part of Omaha rsquo;s Crossroads redevelopment at 72nd and Dodge Streets.

Fresh Thyme launched in 2014 and expects to surpass 5,000 employees this year and has passed $500 million in annual sales, Chief Executive Chris Sherrell said, although he declined to share specific sales numbers. (By comparison, Iowa-based competitor Hy-Vee has more than $9 billion in annual sales.)

ldquo;We have no reason to slow down anytime soon, rdquo; Sherrell told The World-Herald.

Fresh Thyme stores are organized with a focus on produce, meats and prepared foods, along with a vitamin and supplement department. The company is also expanding its private-label line to lower prices on grocery items like snacks, cereals and sauces.

ldquo;We want to show that you can eat healthy at affordable prices, rdquo; Sherrell said.

The stores have a smaller footprint than a typical supermarket and don rsquo;t stock many of the biggest food manufacturers rsquo; popular brands.

ldquo;We don rsquo;t sell the Cokes and the Pepsis and the Doritos, rdquo; Sherrell said.

The new stores opening in February are at 132nd Street and West Center Road, and at 175th Street and West Center Road.

The stores will face heavy competition from established retailers in both neighborhoods. The 175th Street location is within a half-mile of Target, Baker rsquo;s, Walmart and Natural Grocers. Competitors closest to the 132nd Street location are Aldi, Family Fare, Baker rsquo;s, Walmart and Target.

Many of those competitors tout their own selections of natural and organic foods, but Sherrell said there rsquo;s demand for another option.

ldquo;Certainly the conventional stores will sell some natural groceries, rdquo; Sherrell said. ldquo;People that are looking to make lifestyle changes, they want to do it in one place. rdquo;

Fresh Thyme is holding ldquo;on-the-spot rdquo; job interviews at the 132nd Street location from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Available positions include cashiers and employees in the meat, produce, food service, grocery and vitamin departments.

barbara.soderlin@owh.com, 402-444-1336

Source: Omaha World-Herald, January 2017